novice cichlid lover

[Mess54]

I have a 75g tank with 2 oscars 4&5",1 Jack Dempsey3",1 Convict3"& a 3"pleco.The tank is fairly mellow except the Convict which is very aggressive,even with the smaller oscar.I also have a 2" Jaguar cichlid in another tank that will go in the main tank also,In researching this fish size projections vary from12-20".
I plan on purchasing a bigger tank soon,and any advice on size for this mix of fish and advice/comments on the fish would be greatly appreciated!

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

If soon is within a month than that would be the best advice someone could give you. You need atleast 100 gallons with 2 Oscars and any other cichlid. Most people that say "purchasing a bigger tank soon" usually cannot get a big enough one soon enough. What size tank do you have the Jaguar in?

 

[Mess54]

The Jag is in a 30g,and I've been looking at a 125g &180g.I could purchase the 125 now,but would have to save alittle longer for the 180.

 

[DanDanUK]

The Jag is in a 30g,and I've been looking at a 125g &180g.I could purchase the 125 now,but would have to save alittle longer for the 180.

180 gallon would be great for the 2 Oscars and the Convict and Jack dempsey and pleco they could live there happily for the rest of there lives but if your thinking of adding 2 Jag's in there as well 1 of 2 things you'd need to do.

1 get a larger tank maybe a 240gal because jag's and Oscars grow very large and can become very territorial.

2 you may wanna get rid of the Convict and JD because the ferocious temprement of the Jaguar cichlids they would more than likley kill them.

 

[Fry]

the thing with cichlids is you can never tell if they'll get along, there are exceptions to every species' temperament, it's largely trial and error but they have a better chance of getting along if they grow up together and contradictively larger specimens of some species become more mellow as they become older, definitely save up for at least a 180 for a large-cichlid community

 

[Mess54]

Thanks for the input!How old is your 8.5" Jack?How large can I expect mine to get in a 180g or bigger?

 

[rook45]

i would say the bigger the tank the better

 

[Mess54]

I moved the convict to a 10g this morning,he just is to mean and disruptive.The Jack is much larger(thicker especially)than the jag,so I'm hoping growing them as juveniles will help them be tolerant of each other.I appreciate your input!

 

[Peanut_Power]

Eh, I've seen oscars, jags, cons, and FESTAE in a 180gal...no prob. Main thing is to keep them UNPAIRED! Once they pair up the aggression really starts to fly.

As for now...your tankz will work just fine for a couple months, since they are small. YOU DO need to get your butt into gear and get a much larger tank though, and decide what fish you really want to keep cuz they are gonna grow...and you are gonna have to make decisions...

 

[Tongue33]

I had my oscar in a 40 for 3 years with an eel, and some 4 and 5" african, as well as a MOno that was 7" and a 5" male Convict with two females.. that was interesting.. In the last two months I've put him in a fifty five. All I could afford.. Read my signature... THreee years in a forty... I just bought a 150 2 days ago. If I were you I wouldn't waste my money on a 125 if you want a 180.. The sooner the better is not going to save you money or help you get your 180 SOONER... If you want the 180.. your seventy five will be just fine for quite a while with such small fish.

Personal preference is the factor here... If you want the facts... All our fish live in river or lake or the ocean. Nothing you buy will be big enough.. SO get the one you want. Not the one that's going to make you wait longer to get the one you want.

unless you want 240 or more then you might want to buy something now LOL.

I cannot waiit to get my 150 up.. But I am buying a house in the next 30 days so I kinda need to... DOn't want to be taking down a 55,40, and a 150.....