I'm confused...can i or can't i?

[Snoozie]

Hi all,

I recently asked what would be good for stocking a 38g when I already have 6 tiger barbs and two suckermouth cats.....

I was told that firemouths would be good to go in there...So me being quite curious went down to my lfs to have a look as some cichlids and get an idea of what apart from firemouths could go in ( I haven't seen any firemouths in Aus so am looking for possible alternatives).
Anywho, my lfs proceeded to tell me that you can only put cichlids in with cichlids...and that they a need a different PH level to the fish I have.

Can anyone please confirm or deny this? I think cichlids are cool and would love to have some but if it means I would have to dispose of my current tank inhabitants then I wouldn't.

Thanks heaps!

 

[rust9000]

I had tiger barbs with severums, parrot cichlids, firemouths , green terrors, JDs oscars jade eyes and more, then i got rid of the tigers as i got boared of them lol, You could try convicts they will live in any type of water as long as the extreams are avoided.

 

[sandtiger]

Many cichlids do just fine with other fish and in various water types. A firemouth would work, also look into convicts. IN your 38g however i would suggest getting rid of your algae eaters if they are the common plecostomus. These fish produce a ton to waste and grow very large.

 

[Chad55]

Cichlids can basically live in any type of water except of course salt and brackish. Cichlids can also live with a variety of other fish. As long as they dont get hungry and eat em.

Chad

 

[rallysman]

you can. The fish care more about stability than a certain ph

 

[Snoozie]

Yay! Thanks everyone. I didn't think i had it totally screwed up....These so called "fish" experts could learn a thing or two from people like yourselves.

As to the algae eaters, I'll look into them and find out whether or not theyre the common pleco. If they are I'll find them some new homes.

Cheers

 

[Jason_S]

Anywho, my lfs proceeded to tell me that you can only put cichlids in with cichlids...

when lfs workers don't know anything about cichlids, this is generally what they tell people. I've heard many lfs workers here telling people that cichlids can only be kept with cichlids. it is simply not true. as others have already said, most cichlids can be kept with other types of fish though there are exceptions of course. basically the only true general statement you can make is that when choosing tankmates for cichlids, everything is trial and error....oh and the bigger the tank the better luck you'll have.

as for water parameters, central americans come from a general pH range of around 7.2-8.6. a lot of people think that central americans come from neutral to slightly acidic water and again, this is not true. the natural range of the firemouth can vary from pH of 7.5 to 8.6 or even slightly higher. in some places where the firemouth is found, if you checked the water and didn't know better you might think you were at Lake Malawi.

 

[scottv]

when lfs workers don't know anything about cichlids, this is generally what they tell people. I've heard many lfs workers here telling people that cichlids can only be kept with cichlids. it is simply not true. as others have already said, most cichlids can be kept with other types of fish though there are exceptions of course. basically the only true general statement you can make is that when choosing tankmates for cichlids, everything is trial and error....oh and the bigger the tank the better luck you'll have.

as for water parameters, central americans come from a general pH range of around 7.2-8.6. a lot of people think that central americans come from neutral to slightly acidic water and again, this is not true. the natural range of the firemouth can vary from pH of 7.5 to 8.6 or even slightly higher. in some places where the firemouth is found, if you checked the water and didn't know better you might think you were at Lake Malawi.

LOL...sometimes LFS workers don't really care about fish...and just say what their manager told them. Especially Petsmart...