I need some stocking help for a 300 gallon CA Cichlid tank..

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H

hbluehunter

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 20, 2007
1,978
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Lynnwood, Wa.
Well i just grabbed a 125 last week and once that's set up i'm going to move my SA cichlids and my Geo's over to the 125 to clear out the 300..
I'll start by saying i don't know much about CA cichlids and not new to fish keeping at all.. So please don't tell me go read the stickies..:irked: I just want some help from the CA cichlid guys and gals.. :)
My question is... I want to make the move to CA cichlids but i don't want a single fish or a single pair taking up the 300.. I'd like some kind of community tank. I talked to a friend and he told me i could probably do more fish if i just stocked males with no females to throw them into breeding mode.. Is this true and also what fish do you reccomend ?? I don't want it packed full but i don't want my tank to look empty either.. So lets hear it.. What should i stock..:popcorn:
 
1. GT
2. Festae
3. JD
4. Synspillum
5. Oscar
6. Robertsoni
7. Jaguar

Just some fish to start considering that are standard American Cichlids that most people like in a tank of that size.
 
Big boys that i like.. Synspillum, Breidohri, Persei. Argentea
Medium size... Thorichthy pasionis or ellioti, salvini, Nicaraguense, Herotilapia Multispinosa (Rainbow Cichlid), Robertsoni.
In my experience the Syn is pretty chill mostly when it hits the 12" mark. Persei can be a little bossy with smaller fish. Argentea can get pretty mean. Im currently trying to raise some breidohri fry. I like growing centrals cause of the big transformation from juvie to adult. Colors just tend to explode as they get older exept the breidohri which are light in color but very sexy IMO.
I agree with your friend about all males, but i wasnt that good on sexing the fish. Usually when i buy fish i look for the most robust and colorful which tends to be a male, but like i said im not very good at sexing fish.
 
I have a mixed batch in my 300. Both male and female. I think they are actually more colorful when in breeding dress so I stock a little lighter than most.

1) Female Festae
1)Female Freddy
1)Female Convict
1) Male Jack Dempsey
1)Male Midas

6 silver dollars and and assortment of loricariids.

Most of the fish Im drawn to actually have more colorful females. Festae, Freddies and RTM's, Cons, Salvini.

I probably have room for more, but I have very few aggression issues and it's a relatively peaceful tank so far. Looking to add a Vieja but I don't want to push my luck so I might not
 
go read the stickies!!! :D










Joking Mike :) I went through this a few years ago and did pearsei, bocourti, argentea, etc. Probably easier to start with a few relatively mild species, figure out what CAs like to do, and go from there.
 
This is what's in my 300
3 T.Pasiones 1M 2F
3 Cutteri 2M 1F
2 Sajica unsexed
3 Robertsoni 1M 2F
1 Panamensis unsexed
2 Lyonsi 2 F
3 Regani(soon to be moved)

No beef as of lately.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.. :)
So far i'm liking the Regani, Argentea, Pearsei, and the Bocourti

Any idea how may fish i could have in the 300 ?? I know alot will depend of the attitude of the fish i know.. One bad apple and there'll be a killing spree.. :(
 
I forgot to add the Hog and Zonatus to my list.. Well i guess if i just do a male tank i think the 6 fish i've listed is probably enough.. Any one know if they can work together??
 
In a 300 also 6 should work fine (results may vary). If you get them all at a young age, you will have better results. I suggest you get some dithers like a school of SDs.
 
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