Looking for Cichlid suggestion
- Thread starter tyson5711
- Start date
+1
DarylMac
kewpiefishypewpie
for the Andinoacara family. Lovely gentle fish with beautiful markings. Be careful about buying a pair though, because they can be a little aggressive when breeding.
Electric Blue fish are a minefield, although they are very VERY beautiful, in my experience they are very fragile, timid and sickly compared to the original versions, although you may get away with one in your tank due to the low aggression levels. I don't know if we just get bad stock in the UK, or even just my area, but I have never had any 'EB' fish survive into adulthood, and I tried for years.
Also +1
DarylMac
to JD aggression when spawning. They can be secret psychos! Perhaps not best kept as a pair if you want to keep aggression down.
DarylMac
kewpiefishypewpie
for the Andinoacara family. Lovely gentle fish with beautiful markings. Be careful about buying a pair though, because they can be a little aggressive when breeding.Electric Blue fish are a minefield, although they are very VERY beautiful, in my experience they are very fragile, timid and sickly compared to the original versions, although you may get away with one in your tank due to the low aggression levels. I don't know if we just get bad stock in the UK, or even just my area, but I have never had any 'EB' fish survive into adulthood, and I tried for years.
Also +1
DarylMac
to JD aggression when spawning. They can be secret psychos! Perhaps not best kept as a pair if you want to keep aggression down.
If I went with a jack it would more than likely be a regular jack and definitely not a pair. I know those guys can be ruthless in breeding mode. But wasn't sure if a single one with a group of keyholes would be ok or if I should just avoid them totally.
As far as the EB's go, around here it seems like the EB jacks don't typically do well. But my LFS usually has EB Acaras in and they range from small to quite large (likely close to full grown) so wherever they get them from seems to be good stock.
I'd also considered a melanurus or perhaps a nic or two but unsure of them as I have no experience with those. I originally thought of some sort of a geo but can't really find any that don't need groups and would be ok in the lower temps
As far as the EB's go, around here it seems like the EB jacks don't typically do well. But my LFS usually has EB Acaras in and they range from small to quite large (likely close to full grown) so wherever they get them from seems to be good stock.
I'd also considered a melanurus or perhaps a nic or two but unsure of them as I have no experience with those. I originally thought of some sort of a geo but can't really find any that don't need groups and would be ok in the lower temps
Dojo's are not tropical fish, but more a temperate species.
Geographical correctness not withstanding, if it were me, I ould not keep keyholes or JDs or any tropicals with the dojos, but maybe something like Uruguayan temperate cichlids, that don't require a heater.
examples might be
Australoheros "red cabal" (or any Australoheros)
Gymnogeophagus any species
or southern South American Crenicichla (or other southern continental pikes)
all the above are small even to not overwhelm a 75 gal, and non-aggressive enough to be housed together.
There are also plenty of other cool water species of Corys, tetras, and others that would work.
Geographical correctness not withstanding, if it were me, I ould not keep keyholes or JDs or any tropicals with the dojos, but maybe something like Uruguayan temperate cichlids, that don't require a heater.
examples might be
Australoheros "red cabal" (or any Australoheros)
Gymnogeophagus any species
or southern South American Crenicichla (or other southern continental pikes)
all the above are small even to not overwhelm a 75 gal, and non-aggressive enough to be housed together.
There are also plenty of other cool water species of Corys, tetras, and others that would work.
Thank you! That's exactly what I am looking for.
Unfortunately I have the dojo's now so I'd like to keep them so I'm looking for something that would go with them. The gymnos are the first fish I considered but was scared off because they need those really cool waters that I can't provide during the winter. While I can keep the tank right at 75 or a little lower for the majority of the year, in the summers it does creep up to 76 or 77. But there is no way I can drop the tank into the 60's. So I'm not sure if all of the gymnos need the wintering season or if any would be ok without it as long as the temps stay in the low-mid 70's the majority of the year.
Probably will not be doing a schooling fish in this tank. Was just looking for some suggestions for something peaceful enough to go with some dojos and like cool water.
I'm not a purist (which is probably obvious since I'm keeping dojos with cichlids) which many take offense to but I do appreciate everyone's help.
Unfortunately I have the dojo's now so I'd like to keep them so I'm looking for something that would go with them. The gymnos are the first fish I considered but was scared off because they need those really cool waters that I can't provide during the winter. While I can keep the tank right at 75 or a little lower for the majority of the year, in the summers it does creep up to 76 or 77. But there is no way I can drop the tank into the 60's. So I'm not sure if all of the gymnos need the wintering season or if any would be ok without it as long as the temps stay in the low-mid 70's the majority of the year.
Probably will not be doing a schooling fish in this tank. Was just looking for some suggestions for something peaceful enough to go with some dojos and like cool water.
I'm not a purist (which is probably obvious since I'm keeping dojos with cichlids) which many take offense to but I do appreciate everyone's help.
Gymnogeophagus balzani might be a good fit then. They don't need quite the cool down that some o f the others like. I didn't find balzani aggressive at all
For cool downs, I often put my Gymnos in an unheated tank in my basement where temps easily dropped to low 50'F.
balzani.
For cool downs, I often put my Gymnos in an unheated tank in my basement where temps easily dropped to low 50'F.
balzani.
Thanks. And I intend on keeping what I want...but I also want to make sure that I give it the best chance of success too. With so much varying information out there with fish care and temperature requirements, I was hoping to find some folks with more practical knowledge. And that's exactly what I've found.
The Red Ceibal is indeed a very pretty fish though I'm concerned about finding it.
The balzanii was actually the first fish I thought of but seriouslyfish scared me off with the very low temps in the 60's during the winter months. But keeping them in the low 70's should be ok during winter?
If I did 2-3 Balzaniis with a few dojos (possibly a couple of hoplo cats but they may go in my 125) would there be anything else you would suggest including? Other cichlids. The pikes are interesting but have always thought they were a predatory fish and was concerned about the dojos. Full disclosure though I've never really researched them much
The Red Ceibal is indeed a very pretty fish though I'm concerned about finding it.
The balzanii was actually the first fish I thought of but seriouslyfish scared me off with the very low temps in the 60's during the winter months. But keeping them in the low 70's should be ok during winter?
If I did 2-3 Balzaniis with a few dojos (possibly a couple of hoplo cats but they may go in my 125) would there be anything else you would suggest including? Other cichlids. The pikes are interesting but have always thought they were a predatory fish and was concerned about the dojos. Full disclosure though I've never really researched them much
Weather loaches take temps into the 50s'F and don't need a heater, that said low 70s should work, and if you got a more Brasilian strain of balzani, it should be fine.
If you get balzani, a harum of 1 male to 3 females often works very well.
I kept 2 males with 5 females, they spawned regularly, but even then aggression was un-noticed, mostly just display.
If you get balzani, a harum of 1 male to 3 females often works very well.
I kept 2 males with 5 females, they spawned regularly, but even then aggression was un-noticed, mostly just display.
The tank they are in now do not have heaters but living here in the south it's hard to keep the temp any lower than 77 in the summers. But most of the time it stays right arond 74 or 75 without any effort. I'll be building a canopy so I can put some fans on it and have better heat ventilation than the glass hoods i have now. So hopefully I'll be able to drop it another degree or two with those improvements.
By that would you say that something like the dwarf pike compressiceps would not be a good mix with balzanis and dojos?
By that would you say that something like the dwarf pike compressiceps would not be a good mix with balzanis and dojos?
