old world cichlids comprise the african cichlids, both rift lake and not rift lake, and would include the handfull of asian cichlids. New world cichlids come from the americas, and include texas cichlid, jack dempsey, oscar, angel & discuss fish. In my fifty five I have a breeding pair of jack dempseys and a school of seven giant danios. One day, I'll move my jacks, and set up my fifty five with lake malawi cichlids. I've thought about moving the bichir into both of these situations, but I think my jacks might kill him (he's only 6", the jacks are 7" and 9"), and I'm not sure about the africans, but I suspect they might kill him too.
Ok...so the 55 is gonna be restarted...
- Thread starter Amaroq
- Start date
I am very doubtful your african cichlids could kill him but ive read a story in which a guppy killed a bichir, it choked on it and died. Maybe ill make the 55 a jack dempsey tank? Would i be able to have a breeding pair in there? or maybe set it up as a Green Terror/Jack Dempsey tank, is that possible in a 55 with the bichir? If it is possible how big of a water change weekly? Also if i do set up the 55 as a JD tank should i try and get a small-ish school of silver dollars in there for dither fish? I cant see me being able to put in Giant Danois with the bichir cuz he might eat them or should i not even bother? Like i said the bichir is gonna get around 12 inchs long 14 at max.
Thanks,
Spencer
Thanks,
Spencer
My bichir is currenty in a 75 with peacefull sa cichlids, and a few tetras and tiger barbs. He can't seem to catch the tetras or tiger barbs, but if I were to introduce another tetra or tiger barb, he would snatch it up while it ligered in shock. I imagine if one of those fish became ill or fell behind the school\shoal it would be lunch. He's a juvenile, only about six inches. I thought about moving him into a 55 gallon with my breeding jack demseys BUT when jds are breeding, they are crazy aggressive, they will work as a team to destroy anything large enough to be a threat to the fry, they will then rip up any plands and rearrange the rocks as they see fit to nest, and they will build 2 or 3 nests on the bottom. I can't see this as a good enviroment for my bichir, they will definitely percieve him as a threat, they tried in vain to kill a 15 inch pleco before he moved to the bigger tank.As far as my experience with silver dollars, I bought two, after I had success with danios. The jacks shredded them over night, no time to save them. They were to big and slow, I guess. Danios are iffy, my friend keeps a jack in a 30 and tried danios after seeing mine, his became lunch immediately; they didn't have room to get away. Danios don't stop moving, they sprint constantly, and they chill as a fast moving school. In the fifty five they have room to sprint away from the jacks, and at 4 inches long, they aren't an easy swallow, so the jacks chase them then leave them alone, making them perfect dithers. My school of 7 has lasted almost 2 years, through 2 fry. I couldn't imagine my bichir eating them, but I've never seen a full grown one in action. I keep a few mbunas in a 30 gallon in my office, they are the most aggressive feeders I have ever dealt with, also some of the most hyper fish. They pick at any slow moving fish with a seemingly one track mind. I would worry that this constant pestering would result in damage to my bichir, or the loss of an expensive african cichlid! Right now, he stays in a seventy five with a severum and a jurupari, a couple of smaller plecos, and some tetras and barbs. If he eventually eats the tetras and tiger barbs, I'll get rosy barbs! Again, the bichir I have is juvenile, I've never owned a full grown specimen.
My guy is just a little fart as well just around 5 inchs 
so he's got a bit of growing to do, now ive been told a JD would outgrow my 55 is this true? I cant see it being true becuase you have 2 in your 55 and if 1 was to big you'd be way overstocked. About the green terror and jack mix, possible or not? If not what are some meduim to large cichlids able to live happily in the 55 with lots of personality?
Thanks,
Spencer
so he's got a bit of growing to do, now ive been told a JD would outgrow my 55 is this true? I cant see it being true becuase you have 2 in your 55 and if 1 was to big you'd be way overstocked. About the green terror and jack mix, possible or not? If not what are some meduim to large cichlids able to live happily in the 55 with lots of personality? Thanks,
Spencer
Firemouths are awesome in my experience, loads of bark, and a bite that doesn't damage too badly. I've never seen a full grown green terror, to my knowledge, so it's hard to judge its size by "max size 10" to 12". I think maybe they are larger than a jack and smaller than an oscar, I'm really not sure, maybe someone here can clarify for us. Most of the medium sized semi aggressive cichlids do alright together as long as everyone has enough space, and you don't have a breeding pair, like I said, cichlids are crazy defensive parents. Maybe a firemouth, a jack, your bichir, and the silver dollars you were talking about. Dither fish help to divert aggression away from your larger, more expensive fish. I had my first jack, a female, for five years in various community tanks. It was completely placid with the other fish until it got it's mate, and that's when they shredded the silver dollars. If the green terror is small enough it might work, but I can't recommend from experience.
