Large SA cichlid for a 55g?
- Thread starter yemista7
- Start date
Typically a flowerhorn can live in a 55. By SA do you mean strictly SA or also CA? I would do one of the following:
SA:
Chocolate
Mid sized geophagus
Severum (maybe 3)
Green terror (or other acara)
CA:
Convict (pair)
Red Tiger Mota
Yellowjacket
Jack dempsey
Texas/Carpintis
Cuban
Hybrid:
Blood Parrot
Flowerhorn
I probably missed a dozen, but these are ones that I would do.
SA:
Chocolate
Mid sized geophagus
Severum (maybe 3)
Green terror (or other acara)
CA:
Convict (pair)
Red Tiger Mota
Yellowjacket
Jack dempsey
Texas/Carpintis
Cuban
Hybrid:
Blood Parrot
Flowerhorn
I probably missed a dozen, but these are ones that I would do.
Bigger is better with any fish, but what I’ve heard is that flowerhorns are usually good. I would just look for some of the smaller breeds of flowerhorns, just to give it a bit more space.
Something like a Thai silk stays smaller.
Something like a Thai silk stays smaller.
A flowerhorn should always be housed by itself. Ask others how they know. Please buy non-gmo
Any fish that doesn't get past 9" in total length. I've put a 12" in a 55g for quarantine purposes only, and it didn't turn that easily.
To me a 55 gallon is only large enough for a cichlid that max's out at 5.5".
Any fish larger and you'll need to be doing every other day water changes to keep water quality adequate.
A 55 is basically the size of puddle, and even with overkill filtration keeping nitrate at a chronically safe level will take effort.
Any fish larger and you'll need to be doing every other day water changes to keep water quality adequate.
A 55 is basically the size of puddle, and even with overkill filtration keeping nitrate at a chronically safe level will take effort.
Yeah unless you plan on upgrading in the short term you shouldn't get any large cichlid for a 55 gallon tank. My definition of large is 12" and up, which is gonna be most if not all flowerhorns from what I've seen
I agree with Duane on this. Don't put an 8 - 10" fish in a tank that is 13" wide. While there may be enough physical space, it'd be like you never leaving a studio apartment. The large fish I've seen in 55s either sit listlessly in one place or they nervously pace up and down the tank. I use 55 for growouts or for breeding tanks for small to medium cichlids, up to the 5 - 6" range. And even at 6" that's pushing it because if a male turns on a mate, there's nowhere to really escape.
A 75 gives you a good bit of extra width. For a single wet pet I'd go no smaller than that.
A 75 gives you a good bit of extra width. For a single wet pet I'd go no smaller than that.
Biggest fish I’ll put in a 55 is a Jack Dempsey, but they aren’t the most fun wet pets. A community of angels fish, tetras, and German blue rams will be a fun interactive display. And some angelfish can get pretty big over time like atums.