Just thinking... Will this work?

[Stab]

Can one successfully keep a breeding pair of midas in a 125G tank with a few convicts or salvinis for dithers? That is of course providing that ample hiding places will be established for the smaller fish to retreat to

 

[balton777]

I think you'd be better off without the other cichlids if you want to breed. It would get ugly.

 

[Cross127]

I think you'd be better off without the other cichlids if you want to breed. It would get ugly.

I agree the cons and Sals will get slaughtered. Try some fast fish of non-cichlids.

 

[cookiemonster]

What they said. The larger, more aggressive midas will own the smaller cons/salvinis. Although if it worked it would be a pretty awesome tank!

 

[cichniss]

I would definately not suggest you put cons or sals in unless you want them to get devoured. I dont even think that fast non cichlid fish could survive breeding midas. Even if the fish were fast enough to escape the raging apetite and powerfull jaws of the midas the stress would soon take its toll on the fish. So if you want to breed the midas in the 125 i think it would be great as long as no other fish were housed with them. Just keep a divider handy.

 

[cichlid savage]

I would say if you have a breeding pair of Midas leave them alone in the tank. They WILL kill everything else in the tank it's only a matter of time.

 

[Bsixxx]

instead of the cons and salvinis i would add some bala sharks or tinfoils

 

[ewok]

i don't understand why you would want to keep other small fish inside? once the paid bond is established and the pair lay eggs everything else should go out. i think keeping those other fish inside, irregardless of whether there are hiding spaces is kind of cruel... especially with midas - those guys are mean!

 

[repair]

My barred Midas just spawned in my 265 with all of the other big guys in there. I left the fry in with the parents for 2 weeks and 25 or 30 made it.

 

[Stab]

The reason I was thinking about keeping the little guys is simple: I was hoping that I could establish a carefully planned semi balance by combining fish that will give way (convicts, salvinis) to larger and more aggressive midas. Considering that they would be provided with plenty of retreats, I figured that it would create a nice spread of aggression and stuff. Alas, it is not ment to be Can I keep a single male RD with some convicts or is the tank still too small?

To be honest, the question was purely hypothetical. I don't currently keep any CA fish, and the 125 is occupied by a trio of chocolate cichlids and a severum. I may want to change in the future but not for a while.