One more species for my 180g CA community?

[RyanM]

Upgrading my main display from a 125g to standard 180g (6x2x2). I currently have 4x Nic's, 5x Thor. Aureum/aureus and 4x Rainbows.

I want to add another group of something that would fit in well and was thinking T. Pasionis but no one locally can get them in for me. I have also considered Cribroheros robertsoni or Altifrons. Would one of those be my best bet or is there something else I should consider?

 

[PhishMon84]

You have lower stratum fish- depending on their size maybe a red bay snook, the one I had was up at the top, peaceful and responsive. I regret selling that fish.

 

[RyanM]

You have lower stratum fish- depending on their size maybe a red bay snook, the one I had was up at the top, peaceful and responsive. I regret selling that fish.

Looks like a cool fish but too big for the tank/other fish.

 

[PhishMon84]

They have potential to get huge but i haven’t seen any larger than 12-13”
Mine lived with firemouths and a male nic in the same size tank- to each, his own

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thorichthys helleri is a cooler water thorichthys like aureus. The two should do well together.

 

[duanes]

I agree with CrazyPhishMan that, because all the species you have are substrate huggers, a more mid water, or surface dweller would be more appropriate, but instead of another territorial cichlid species to further carve up the floor.
I would think a dither type Central American live bearer like sail fin mollies, or geographically correct tetras such as Hyphessobrycon, Roeboides or Astyanax would fill the bill, and help to provide comfort, and distraction of the cichlids away from each other, and give that large part of the display aquarium some action. If the natural color variants were used, they would also "not" distract from the cichlids, like some of the man induced candy colored line bred variants would.

Roeboides sp (maybe guantamalensus) above and below

Poecilia velifora below
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[duanes]

Swordtails (below Xiphorus mayae) are also a good choice for ditherers, fast moving and reproduce quickly.
I would pull pregnant females out of the display tank, to deliver in either another tank or sump, and in that way I had a constant renewable source of dither fish as they grew.

below fry growing out in a planted sump