Looking for Cichlids initial setup advice - Thanks!

[Metalspoon96]

I recently purchased a 55 Gallon Tank and I'm currently letting it go thru its bio cycle to get ready for fish to be put in it. I really love the whole Cichlids family, but I know many of them are too big for the 55 gallon tanks. I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice and what I could place in the tank. The breeds I really like are Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, Oscar, and Convicts.

In understand 55 gallons is big enough 1 of theses fish, but what about 2? If not, how could I have one of these fish, but still have other smaller fish that wouldn't be killed. I really Like the JD and GT so any advice on how I could have a setup with either of these? I would like to have about 4 fish total if possible. Thanks!!

 

[Juxtaroberto]

How about an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey? It has a brilliant blue color, and it only reaches 8".

Sajica cichlids also look pretty cool, and then only reach 6".

There are also a few dwarf pike cichlids with very nice colors, although they have a different body shape than the fish you like.

 

[Gatorxxx420]

I personally would suggest Convicts, Cutteri, or Sajica's over EBJD's for someone just starting out really. EBJD's can be fragile, while the others mentioned are better to start with.

 

[thunderchicken]

If you want more than one fish in the 55--don't go with the oscar or ebjd. I've kept a lot of 55s and they're just too narrow--I think you know this but it's still tempting to put large fish in this kind of tank--you will be sorry later. It's just not enough room and they'll be unhappy, agro, irritated. Plus, they'll have a big bioload. What about trying some firemouths? Also, if you go with dwarf pikes as suggested, they like plants. These too are great fish but do not get big and have a very narrow body type. Good luck.

 

[Metalspoon96]

Wow I researched the Firemouths and the Sajicas and really like them. The Cutteri are pretty too. What do y'all think about this. I pick 2 fish out of this list (Cutteri, Firemouth, Sajica, Pike) and then after a couple months of learning the hobby, getting a JD electic blue? That would give me 3 fish total. OR, if that is just too much, picking 3 or 4 from that list alone.

 

[ibz_rg]

I have a tank with 6 Firemouth juveniles and a Convict Juvenile and I love it. The only thing you'll have to worry about with a high number of these fish is breeding aggression. They tend to get very territorial when spawning.

 

[fishluvr12]

You could go with A male JD and 2-3 convicts, just make sure the convicts are same sex.

 

[Aquanero]

Yes a male JD and a couple convicts would fit nicly and some Mollies as dither, I use them with my GT, they pump out pleanty of live food. There are a lot of combinations.

 

[bobblehead27]

You could go with A male JD and 2-3 convicts, just make sure the convicts are same sex.

now correct me if i'm wrong. but i was told that convicts were able to switch genders... obviously they wouldn't be switching back and forth, but i figured at a young age they were indifferentiated or something.. does this hold any truth?

 

[Gatorxxx420]

now correct me if i'm wrong. but i was told that convicts were able to switch genders... obviously they wouldn't be switching back and forth, but i figured at a young age they were indifferentiated or something.. does this hold any truth?

Nah, Convicts are one of the easier to sex. Females have orange on their bellies while the males do not. The thing I had happen was, my 2 females acted like a pair. One laid eggs and they both guarded them. Weirdo's lol.