Multiple species in one tank?

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MissMaddylyn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 28, 2012
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Green Bay, Wisconsin
Just wondering. All the info I've been reading says that cichlids are aggressive. Im setting up a new 135 gallon tank and really love the different colors available. Is there any way it can be done? Or should I pitch the idea right away?

My list includes midas, ebjd, chocolate, gold strain severum, red front or blue zaire, red bahia and or a convict. Not necessarily all, but a few, depending whats available at my lfs.

Dont know if it matters but also going to get a datnoid and a bichir.
 
My dats beat up my geophagus so i dont know how well that would work. i know chocolates should mix well with other fish, they are pretty mellow. Severums also arent that bad
 
MissMaddylyn said:
Just wondering. All the info I've been reading says that cichlids are aggressive. Im setting up a new 135 gallon tank and really love the different colors available. Is there any way it can be done? Or should I pitch the idea right away?

My list includes midas, ebjd, chocolate, gold strain severum, red front or blue zaire, red bahia and or a convict. Not necessarily all, but a few, depending whats available at my lfs.

Dont know if it matters but also going to get a datnoid and a bichir.
Click to expand...

The midas i wouldn't mix with any of the others. But the rest could work, however, i would keep an eye on the ebjd. As they can be very sensitive unlike their normal counterparts. I wouldn't allow any pairs tofl form as that would cause havoc.

Remember that although 135 gallons seems big it isn't really that large. So with cichlids its either low level stocking to reduce aggro, or high level stocking to reduce aggro. Each have their drawbacks. The first being you have less fish. Or the other means you have to be very strick with your params.

As ever though, its trial and error.
 
I'm thinking low level stocking for now, because I AM new to such a big tank. Those were just a few I liked, I would only get 2 or 3 cichlids at the most I think. I want variety and beauty, but don't want to over crowd and have my fish unhappy.

Another question, are females less aggressive? I could try to go that route if it would help. And this is probably a dumb one, but if I somehow end up with a male of one specie and a female of another accidentally, will I have to worry about then crossbreeding?
 
I'd suggest one of these four combos. Don't mix them together...

- midas, red bahia and or a convict (probably OK)
- ebjd,
- chocolate, gold strain severum (likely OK)
- red front or blue zaire (don't know enough about Africans)
 
MissMaddylyn said:
Just wondering. All the info I've been reading says that cichlids are aggressive. Im setting up a new 135 gallon tank and really love the different colors available. Is there any way it can be done? Or should I pitch the idea right away?

My list includes midas, ebjd, chocolate, gold strain severum, red front or blue zaire, red bahia and or a convict. Not necessarily all, but a few, depending whats available at my lfs.

Dont know if it matters but also going to get a datnoid and a bichir.
Click to expand...

As others have mentioned, the chocolates are calm and non aggressive. Severums are usually placid as well. Convicts can be feisty (they mate constantly), but are fairly harmless due to their small size. Bichirs do well with any species that are not aggressive or small. Although I have no first hand experience, I would still advice against Datnioides microlepis (Indonesian Tiger Fish) in a tank as small as 135 gallon...
 
the chocolate,sev and possibly the ebjd could work together.it may help to get young fish,let them grow-up together.i would try to get a schooling fish also.yes some species can crossbreed.sexing is not always easy,especially at small sizes.ask your LFS if they would trade/take back some fish.then you can get a few of each when small,then grow out to get males
 
like others have said the chocolate would work well but the midas will probably end up being a mistake. instead of a convict i would recommend a few HRPs or a Nicaraguan cichlid pair that just my opinion though
 
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