Monster-Cichlinformation

[Irondale]

Monster Cichlids aren't for everyone. Despite rants and raves all over the internet not to buy them and any elsewhere place you can find info on these, people still purchase them. The rants and raves aren't out there to tell you crazy die hard fish keepers with 1000gal+ tanks you can't have them. There for people like me. When I first got into the hobby I put a pair of 4" Green Terror's in a 10gal aqaurium despite being warned by numerous keepers that it would not work. They literally slaughterd each other. I got rid of them. Good thing too.... because not all people would have.

Here you guys can give all the information on whatever species of Monster Cichlid you want.(Monster Cichlids grow to be, ahhh, how about 12"+)

My info is to not buy a Dovii because your 5gal looks empty.

PS: My monster would be my Dovii. wned:

 

[Amphilophus88]

Thats the problem in the USA, from what I read here on this forum you can buy a Midas and Oscar in every fishstore.

 

[Jason_S]

Thats the problem in the USA, from what I read here on this forum you can buy a Midas and Oscar in every fishstore.

yep, and also in just about every fishstore you will see 6", 8", 10" + oscars, usually with HITH, that have been brought in by people who bought them for a small tank.

A lot of the problem is that too many people buy into the "fish will only grow to the size of their tank" crap. Adding to that are the occasional LFS that give out that as solid information.

Just like the OP, I was very skeptical in the beginning. I rolled my eyes when the lady at the lfs told me that I could keep a maximum of 2 JD's in a 55 gallon tank. "Preposterous", I thought to myself. So what did I do? I went down to the petsmart and bought some clown loaches, bala sharks, fantail goldfish and a few others....for my 29 gallon tank.

I couldn't figure out why they started dying until I got online and started doing some research. Hey, there's this thing called a 'Nitrogen cycle'.

And now, 11 years later here I am. We live and learn but those who heed the advice they're given, no matter how skeptical they are, will have a much happier and much less expensive introduction to the wonderful world of fish and cichlid keeping.

 

[Jason_S]

oh yeah...it still took me a while to get things right. Not long after that I had a 75 gallon with (hold your breath), a 10" oscar, 6-7" midas, 3-4" green terror, 3-4" jack dempsey, breeding pair of convicts and an angel. **yikes**

 

[cichlidfish]

I agree completely, because I made those kinds of mistakes when I started keeping cichlids. I am always doing research on the fish before I buy it....I never have an "impluse buy" or "save a fish" unless I have the tank space. There are a ton of cichlids I want, but don't have for those reasons. It is more rewarding in the end, because the fish reach their full potential and live a long time. I only have 4 tanks and 5 cichlids.

 

[pcfriedrich]

Thats the problem in the USA, from what I read here on this forum you can buy a Midas and Oscar in every fishstore.

you can buy a pacu at wal mart. I'm pretty sure they had some red tailed cats, too. the biggest tanks they sell at wal mart is a 55.

 

[jimmygoogots]

ha!
1x oscar
1x green terror
1x pleco
1x firemouth
3x tigerbarb
1x rainbow shark
1x jack dempsey
1x red devil

6 years ago in a 39 g bow front tank!!

thanks petsmart fish guy.

 

[pcfriedrich]

yeah, it must've been 12 or 13 years ago, but I had an O, 5 red belly piranha, a Jack Dempsey, and a spotted gar in a 75. I added a small catfish I caught, but the piranha's ate it. the tank was fine, my roommate bought it from me. wonder how that turned out?

 

[Amphilophus88]

Haha wow.. here in Holland you really have to search hard for big cichlids. African cichlids, convicts and firemouths are easier to find.

I had a 75 gallon, and was getting my 190 within a week. So I went to buy a Green Terror and Jack Dempsey and 2 convicts, the store owner asked me about my tank size so I told him I was getting the 190 soon, he said:"well I'll see you in 2 weeks then" and he just wouldn't sell me the fish.

Of course there are other stores that sell gibbiceps plecos to everyone.

 

[Chrisplosion]

Here in the US, its not a fish store unless it carries oscars.