Midas Cichlid

[TvT09]

I was wondering if anyone can provide insight on the Midas Cichlid? I recently acquired one by chance & am very interested in growing him to his full potential.

I have him in a 80gal tank with a Tiger Oscar, Bichir, Electric Yellow Cichlid, a couple of Convicts & an albino pleco. A very happy bunch indeed.

Right now, the diet going into the tank varies... I have a mix of BioGold pellets, flakes & crisps. Then I also treat with Massivore Delite, frozen shrimp/bloodworms & goldfish.

From what I have seen online, he should not have any problems with his new tank mates. So far, he has integrated well & the others are accepting him.

Just wondering if anyone has insight on what I can do to help this little fella flourish or if he can just integrate to what I already have setup.

Thanks!

 

[Jason_S]

You're going to need either a separate or a larger tank. How large is the midas that you just purchased? Most are fairly docile until they reach around 6" or so. This is when they reach maturity and their true personality and aggression will come out. The typical midas will generally not accept any tankmates in a tank of 80 gallons. In order to even attempt to keep these fish together long term I'd suggest no less than a 125 gallon and even that would be pushing it.

Also, I"m not sure how well the electric yellow will do long term with those fish. Electirc yellows are rift lake african cichlids that generally do best in colonies with a ratio of 1 male to 3 females or so. Keeping a single specimen with central and south americans who communicate amongst themselves much differently than african rift lake cichlids could lead to disaster.

 

[shamrock]

You already have a bad combo and too many fish for your 80 gallon-keep either the Oscar or Midas solo in your 80 gallon-the lab and bichir even in a larger tank will get killed anyways.

 

[Jakob]

When he grows, he could easily kill his tank mates, Midas get up to 12"+.

 

[Citrinellus]

When he grows, he could easily kill his tank mates, Midas get up to 12"+.

Yea my midas, the one in my avatar is 14 in.

 

[Jakob]

Not all get that big, but with time most of them reach 12", thats why there is a plus behind the 12.

 

[Rockbass6]

Not all get that big, but with time most of them reach 12", thats why there is a plus behind the 12.

and they get an attiude, my male attacked the net when I tried to net him, he couldn't have any tankmates, none at all. I guess its just the way they are, its not their falt. As the saying goes they are going to be the last ones standing, they are kind of nice when they are little, but soon enough you will see the midas running the tank and all the other fish huddled in the corner, begging you to save them.

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

It all really depends on the individual fish and how your setup is. Some fishes will not tolerate anything while others do just fine in community setups.


I have the following Midas setups with no problems.

75g tank with a big piece of driftwood in center of tank.
13-14" male white Midas
5-6" male Red Mota
6-7" 3 Beacon pleco


75g with driftwoods and slate rocks.
11-12" orange male Midas
4x 5-6" Cigar sharks
9x 3-6" Clown loaches
4" male Geophagus brasiliensis

55g with a just a few small rocks and white gravels.
8-9" orange male Midas
6" Synspilum
6" male carpintis
6" male Mota
4 2-3" male Marble convicts
6" Raphael catfish.

 

[TvT09]

How large is the midas that you just purchased?

He was free. He was in a tank that was getting discarded, so I had to save him. He looked too cool to let die or whatever. He is still pretty small (3+inches), but plenty aggressive to hold his own thus far.

Also, I"m not sure how well the electric yellow will do long term with those fish.

Old Yeller has been in my tank the longest & seems to run the show. He holds his own with my 11-12in oscar.

I do plan on getting another tank set up soon, but thought that I could house this set togethor for a couple of months. However, after researching, it appears that the Midas will grow fairly fast & that my time is limited...

 

[TvT09]

When he grows, he could easily kill his tank mates, Midas get up to 12"+.

Ya, he is already pretty aggressive. I will prob put him in a tank by himself for a while. He's a very cool looking fish, but does seem pissed off at the world.