Hi, i'm going to setup a 155 gallon SA/CA cichlids tank, these fishes will be added to the tank is a Jack Dempsey, an Albino Oscar, a Green Terror and a Chocolate Cichlid, all of them are juvenile (less than 5 inches). I'd like to know if this combination will work for long term? Will they still get along when they grown up to their full size (>10 inches)
Jack Dempsey + Oscar + Green Terror + Chocolate in 155 gallons tank?
- Thread starter Layzie2311
- Start date
Especially if all are put in the tank at the same time, and grow up together, there is a chance that as adults they will have worked out territorial areas.
One of my concerns with combining South and Central American cichlids is that they often don't come from same type water.
Below is some catch location data where chocolate cichlids come from.
Note the slightly acidic pH. and almost non-existent hardness and conductivity levels.
Now some water parameter location data for an area in Mexico, where JDs originate.
Note not only the pH, but more importantly also the hardness and conductivity data differences.
If your tap water is somewhere between th two, relatively neutral, you may have lucked out, and any of those species could have healthy lives with good care practices.
If however, you have hard mineral rich (high hardness, high conductivity) water the oscar and chocolate may suffer long term, chronic, health problems (like hole in the head disease and scarring, or bloat issues)
If your tap water parameters are soft, the same type issues could effect the JD for opposite water parameter reasons.
These issues often do not rear there ugly head right away, but show up when the fish are mature ex 2 yers old, just at the time you expect your 15" oscar, or 12" chocolate to be the most impressive.
So to me, beyond the aggression issues, choosing your stock according to what works in your tap water type, long term, might be as much a major consideration.
One of my concerns with combining South and Central American cichlids is that they often don't come from same type water.
Below is some catch location data where chocolate cichlids come from.
Note the slightly acidic pH. and almost non-existent hardness and conductivity levels.
Now some water parameter location data for an area in Mexico, where JDs originate.
Note not only the pH, but more importantly also the hardness and conductivity data differences.
If your tap water is somewhere between th two, relatively neutral, you may have lucked out, and any of those species could have healthy lives with good care practices.
If however, you have hard mineral rich (high hardness, high conductivity) water the oscar and chocolate may suffer long term, chronic, health problems (like hole in the head disease and scarring, or bloat issues)
If your tap water parameters are soft, the same type issues could effect the JD for opposite water parameter reasons.
These issues often do not rear there ugly head right away, but show up when the fish are mature ex 2 yers old, just at the time you expect your 15" oscar, or 12" chocolate to be the most impressive.
So to me, beyond the aggression issues, choosing your stock according to what works in your tap water type, long term, might be as much a major consideration.
As adults, that's a rather overfull tank in terms of bioload. It will be lots of work to keep nitrates below 20ppm, I would say a minimum of 2 x 80%+ water changes every 2-3days once they all start pushing 8"+. If you want their full size, make sure you determine your tap water parameters since SA fish tend to grow smaller in hard water over the course of 10 years, simply because they spend more energy regulating the water within their bodies than they would with softer water. (not PH). The exception being the GT since it does come from harder water.
That could be challenging long term as those are big messy fish. You can always over filter and get aggressive on water changes, but it becomes a lot of work. I would let something go.
As for the water parameters, I understand why people look at wild collection data, but I feel it is misleading. Unless you are intentionally buying wild fish, your fish will not come from those parameters. All of the fish you are discussing have been bred in Florida's hard water for decades. Overtime and countless generations they have been selected to thrive in that water, because most farmers aren't able to adjust their parameters on a large scale. Many of these fish are raised in large sandy ponds and allowed to spawn on their own. There is no easy way to adjust hardness in a situation like that.
As for the water parameters, I understand why people look at wild collection data, but I feel it is misleading. Unless you are intentionally buying wild fish, your fish will not come from those parameters. All of the fish you are discussing have been bred in Florida's hard water for decades. Overtime and countless generations they have been selected to thrive in that water, because most farmers aren't able to adjust their parameters on a large scale. Many of these fish are raised in large sandy ponds and allowed to spawn on their own. There is no easy way to adjust hardness in a situation like that.
Oscar and chocolate should work fine - the GT and JD are your wild cards. I think this overall combination is somewhat common but it’s still going to boil down to individual personalities.
i have those same fish excactly, along with a severum, leporinus, 2 plecos, 6 silver dollars and 3 convicts, all in a 150. Big bioload? yes. Is it an issue? not for me, as I work from home and can do maintenance 2x a week. If working from home wasnt in the cards I'd likely add a big cannister for additional mechanical filtration.
at some point 1 or both plecos will come out, as they are both common plecos. I'll likely swap out to a single pleco that stays smaller than 12 inches.
you should be fine with thar combo in that tank.
at some point 1 or both plecos will come out, as they are both common plecos. I'll likely swap out to a single pleco that stays smaller than 12 inches.
you should be fine with thar combo in that tank.