Just got my new 260 gallon acrylic up, running, and cycled! Loving what I've got in it.... But wanting opinions on my stocking. I have 2 fluval 5x and a magnum 350 running. Gravel vac with 30% water change weekly. I have 1 oscar, 1 jag, 1 lg severum, 2 lg parrots, 1 md jack Dempsey, 2 good-sized tin foils, and a lg clown knife in it now. Am I done? Overstocked? I have a baby oscar and grn terror in the "grow out" tank I'm trying to sell. Hoping they will fit if they ever get bigger than "bite sized"? Thanks for your responses. I DO love having many fish, but I do want them to be happy and healthy, too!
Large cichlid stocking question
- Thread starter wyowyome
- Start date
I would remove the knife fish and one of the big cichlids and you should be just right.
OR, remove two of the big cichlids and you'll be good. I know they may not fill the tank much, but not knowing how big they already are - they may be tiny still.
That said - you could have twice as many in there, and be fine - you'll just have to do a LOT more tank maintenance (water changes.) If everyone is happy, content, and relaxedly swimming around, then you're good to go.
OR, remove two of the big cichlids and you'll be good. I know they may not fill the tank much, but not knowing how big they already are - they may be tiny still.
That said - you could have twice as many in there, and be fine - you'll just have to do a LOT more tank maintenance (water changes.) If everyone is happy, content, and relaxedly swimming around, then you're good to go.
Thanks for your reply 
everyone seems happy right now. Old knifey just lays low unless he smells food...and the lfs that sold him to me as a baby would take him back In a second if I ever needed to rehome him! I was going for a ca/as cichlid tank and he's my exception and the parrots, too, I guess...but everyone is quite content and I'm fine with extra maintenance! I just love the big "wet pet" cichlids! I thought 260 would b big enough, but my dream tank still holds oscars, chocolates, uaru's, etc. lol!
everyone seems happy right now. Old knifey just lays low unless he smells food...and the lfs that sold him to me as a baby would take him back In a second if I ever needed to rehome him! I was going for a ca/as cichlid tank and he's my exception and the parrots, too, I guess...but everyone is quite content and I'm fine with extra maintenance! I just love the big "wet pet" cichlids! I thought 260 would b big enough, but my dream tank still holds oscars, chocolates, uaru's, etc. lol!
