Non Cichlid Tankmates for H. Carpintis

[anzo1993]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for non cichlid tankmates for a male H. Carpintis of about 4inches, he’s in a 65 gallon tank all by himself with many hiding spots, I’ve tried him with a few cichlids but it always ends with him bullying them until there hiding in the corner getting attacked, that’s what lead me down the road of non cichlid tankmates , any suggestion?

 

[Jexnell]

He is at the point now that he believes all of the tank is his. Any guest will be punished into submitting or killed. I suggest you be his tankmate. Any spare time spend it near him.

 

[Wharf]

In a 6 foot footprint you would have more options...but sounds like that tank is his space. Maybe a tough medium growing pleco like a L240 might be tolerated. Most schooling dither/target fish that wouldn't be food grow too big for a 65g

 

[Deadeye]

I would’ve said large tetras or livebearers, but I agree those would eventually become lunch in the limited space.
Maybe a raphael cat if you give it a good enough hiding spot?

 

[Rtc/tsn]

I would’ve said large tetras or livebearers, but I agree those would eventually become lunch in the limited space.
Maybe a raphael cat if you give it a good enough hiding spot?

+1
In my 75 with my flowerhorn I also have a now 4” spotted Raphael catfish that has a little cave I made him of pvc, at night he also swims around a lot when the lights off and my flowerhorn is usually asleep by the heater giving the little guy time to get around

 

[anzo1993]

Yeah I think I might go for some sort of bottom feeding fish and give many hiding spots

 

[duanes]

Adding another cichlid to a tank that small, that the carpintus has established as totally its territory seldom works.
Non-cichlid dithers might work, but in such a small space, just about anything will easily cornered and shredded.
Some kind of armored pleco, could be a possibility, but even that might be iffy.
Carpintus are a very rough bunch, and at the size you have, if is only about half grown, so will be needing a much larger tank in the near future.
Below is a male I had about half grown, about the same size as yours

Below, a few months later almost 12"

You could try adding size appropriate non-cichlid dithers like geographically correct Astyanax tetras, when moving him a more adequate size (6 ft) tank.

 

[RD.]

I would pass on tankmates, IMO tank is too small.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Poecilia latipinna or Buenos Aires tetras
If you're in or within one state west of Texas, you can get astyanax

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

It’s a death sentence for anyone. Mine is the meanest most pissed off fish I have ever had. I had to remove all the fish that grew up with him, well the ones still alive. I can’t put anything with it now that he’s matured. He bites the glass, gravel siphon and try’s to bite my fingers when I drop food in.