Looking for some SA gentle giants

[neutrino]

+1 on uaru fitting the bill you're describing. Not always the showiest fish in terms of color, more impressive in size, peaceful behavior, etc. But there is an orange type-- will not get into some debate on taxononmy, nomenclature, etc. --but what some call a sp. orange. Not always easy to find, though.

I've seen H. psittacus go both ways-- other people's tanks, yet to keep them myself. Have seen adult parrots be just fine with discus, severums, peaceful geos, but also heard of them getting nasty.

On another note, I've kept severum (rotkeil) and angelfish (Peruvian scalare) together and they paid little attention to each other for the most part. Not as likely to work in a smallish tank, and may not work with the occasional nasty severum-- which ime usually has a lot to do with the sev feeling crowded, I've taken on literal killer sevs that were just fine in a larger tank after I got them. But from my experience, it can be done with rotkeils with no problem at all with sufficient tank space.

Beyond cichlids, have you considered arowana, stingray, or some of the larger fancy plecos?

 

[Aquanero]

I agree with Uaru, Chocolates, Parrot can be a toss of the dice. I'll throw in with a group of Altum Anglefish a few Festavum or a Choco or two and a school of mid sized tereas.

 

[darth pike]

Also keep in mind a lot of people mix their centrals and SA cichlids in larger tanks ... coming from a central point of view, parrots would indeed seem peaceful. From a SA point of view, not as much.

The only other 4 SA cichlids I can think of off hand that get around the size you are looking for are actually quite a bit more aggressive than the parrots (umbee, ven pike, cincta pike, festae).

 

[Mythic Figment]

+1 on uaru fitting the bill you're describing. Not always the showiest fish in terms of color, more impressive in size, peaceful behavior, etc. But there is an orange type-- will not get into some debate on taxononmy, nomenclature, etc. --but what some call a sp. orange. Not always easy to find, though.

I've seen H. psittacus go both ways-- other people's tanks, yet to keep them myself. Have seen adult parrots be just fine with discus, severums, peaceful geos, but also heard of them getting nasty.

On another note, I've kept severum (rotkeil) and angelfish (Peruvian scalare) together and they paid little attention to each other for the most part. Not as likely to work in a smallish tank, and may not work with the occasional nasty severum-- which ime usually has a lot to do with the sev feeling crowded, I've taken on literal killer sevs that were just fine in a larger tank after I got them. But from my experience, it can be done with rotkeils with no problem at all with sufficient tank space.

Beyond cichlids, have you considered arowana, stingray, or some of the larger fancy plecos?

I do love my severums and have never owned a nasty one, though I have heard of the occasional mean sev. My ultimate goal for my sevs would be to have a large 200+ gallon tank and have 4-6 severum in there.

I guess for me, the true parrots are a gamble because not a lot is known about them from a hobbyist standpoint. I will look into the orange uaru, but not looking good so far. I think I will stick to the idea of severums and chocolates with them.

Either way, I just learned that a 240+ gallon tank is a long ways away due to personal and financial complications, so I will have to pass on the true parrots for now. Thanks for the advice everyone!


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[neutrino]

I do love my severums and have never owned a nasty one, though I have heard of the occasional mean sev. My ultimate goal for my sevs would be to have a large 200+ gallon tank and have 4-6 severum in there.

Had a group of six (or eight at one point? can't remember) rotkeils in a 135 once with red head geos and Peruvian scalare angels for a while. Made a nice tank, actually. IMO you'd have even more flexibility with a longer tank.

So far I've kept quite a few green, gold and rotkeil sevs, with notatus, inirida, and others on my list to try some day. All so far have been similar in temperament ime-- I've heard people say rotkeils are more aggressive, haven't seen it with the 100 plus rotkeils I've raised. I've had spawning pairs of each of the above three types that honestly were still not an issue in a decent sized tank.

I've kept sevs and green terrors together with no problem at all (gold seam-- and don't someone start up with me over "true" and "false" green terrors). Will it work in every case? Don't know, but it's worked for me, to the point that in one tank a gold sev and a large gt were good buddies and hung out together.

 

[bbortko]

Had a group of six (or eight at one point? can't remember) rotkeils in a 135 once with red head geos and Peruvian scalare angels for a while. Made a nice tank, actually. IMO you'd have even more flexibility with a longer tank.

So far I've kept quite a few green, gold and rotkeil sevs, with notatus, inirida, and others on my list to try some day. All so far have been similar in temperament ime-- I've heard people say rotkeils are more aggressive, haven't seen it with the 100 plus rotkeils I've raised. I've had spawning pairs of each of the above three types that honestly were still not an issue in a decent sized tank.

I've kept sevs and green terrors together with no problem at all (gold seam-- and don't someone start up with me over "true" and "false" green terrors). Will it work in every case? Don't know, but it's worked for me, to the point that in one tank a gold sev and a large gt were good buddies and hung out together.

My only sev experience is my 9" rotkeil and a 4-5" green. I've seen the green back down the rotkeil many times but the rotkeil will stand up to my bellycrawler, iporangensis, and melanurus all are about 8".