Opinions on "Overcrowding" SA/CA Cichlids

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H

Headrush

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2007
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Upstate New York
I have seen numerous tanks with Africans packed in there to spread out agression. Until recently I haven't really seen this as applicable to the SA/CA tank set ups, at least the ones I have had. Now I have a 90 with only 2 cichlids left in it (GT died recently), a male FM around 4-5" and a female JD 6"+. She only backs down from the big Pleco I have.

After speaking with the owner of my favorite LFS, who is actually a biologist, he explained to me that his losses dramatically increase when he has 3-4 cichlids in a tank as opposed to 5+. I can clearly see his reasoning here, and we spoke for almost an hour about different possibilities. So I am considering adding a "few" 3-4 young cichlids to this set-up, but am not sure how to deal with the big JD. She really isn't showing a lot of agression, and generally is peaceful, but I don't want to send 4 new fish to their deaths.

If I find a new home for her do you think stocking this 90 with 5-6 sa/ca cichlids will curb their agression by spreading it out?

I am not concerned with my water quality as I change water every weekend and run 2 AC110 HOB filters + 2 powerheads. I feed once per day (which will change with young fish of course). Water is very good quality, low pH

I know some people will disagree with "overcrowding," but clearly ALL opinions are welcome

For now species of interest are:
Male GT!
Thorichthys species like the "Mixteco" blue to go with the FM
I was considering the GT as the only "large" species if I can find a home for the JD

:popcorn:
 
I'm okay with it as long as you keep the water quality good and the largest fish still has plenty of room to swim and turn.
 
I think you will be ok with the JD. She is the largest by far, and will be the alpha in the tank. This is an advantage because you know what she is capable of and what her tendencies are. If you start new, then an alpha will emerge, and might or might not be a great asset to an aggressive community tank.

I have no experience with this, but am very interested to see if it will work out for you. Good luck.

P.S. I would think that species that are closely related would not be a good choice to mix because of 1.) conspecific aggression and 2.) cross breeding.
 
CichlidAddict;1063223; said:
I'm okay with it as long as you keep the water quality good and the largest fish still has plenty of room to swim and turn.
Click to expand...

The biggest fish would be a GT so 48" x 24" x 18(?)" should be no prob.
 
hmmm... interesting topic here. i've seen some nicely managed but what most would deem to be overcrowded tanks. it really is a balance.
first things would be water quality. if you can make sure water quality is top notch then i think you've already crossed a major hurdle. keeping a bunch of juvenile CA/SA cichlids together from a young age could be a good way to get them used to one another. it also would work well as a way to diffuse aggression amongst a lot of fish. however, there will always be someone at the bottom of the ladder, so you might need to do some intervention now and again.

i say give it a try, but be prepared to move furnishings around or add more or even take away some. be prepared for some tattered fins every now and then as well. also, be prepared with a spare tank in case things don't pan out as you might want them to.

i've had a fairly crowded tank before when i was first getting started, but for whatever reason things were still kind of ok. i think my set up was something like this:

55 gallon
- 2 pairs of convicts
- 1 jag (yes, feel free to flame me now :D )
- 1 male severum
- 1 geophagus
- 1/2 mbunas (hahaha)
- 2-3 rams (yes i know, i was smart back then :screwy:)
- 1 or 2 plecos
- 6-8 tiger barbs and some various dithers
- 1 pair of kribensis

it should have been complete mayhem with the jag eating my rams (i was cursed with impulsiveness as a child) and the convicts thrashing everything else in between but there was somehow a weird balance. don't get me wrong, there were fights that erupted but nothing died from the fighting. :popcorn:
i WOULD NOT recommend this 'set up' to anyone, but hey i've done it before and i'm guilty as charged. i also had 2 other 55's with other stuff and i guess i just kind of moved things between tanks as things happened. again, NOT RECOMMENDED, but i've lived and learned from my experiences.
keep us posted ;)
 
I'v never had a really big problem, when i had my 90 up, i had an O,2JP's,RD,2FM's, a small jewel, and a pleco, RD wouldn't let the JP's under his rock but besides that, it was cool,

I gave those fish away, but started up a 75 gal a while later, and now it has 1 8" O, 5" RD, 6" JP, and the same Jewel and everything is cool,

have fun with it!!

Pon.
 
yes I am fully aware there will be some battles, however this type of set-up prevents one fish from taking a constant beating. Agression should be spread throughout the tank.

Now I'm wondering what the magic number of cichlids will be?? I say 5-6
 
Repair's 265 is the true meaning of crowding to prevent aggression.....Stevo does a fantastic job and with the tank being on a drip system, it is a thing of beauty. Here is a link to the barred midas I picked up for him in the tank. FYI...I have never seen a death in this tank....

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56966

It works, just have to Filter, Filter, Filter.......Steve has 3 of my babies in that tank, and I could not be happier to see them grow and be so healthy in that enviorment.
 
i say go for it. just make sure you keep up on water changes and filtration you should be good. post pics of the fish when you finally get them
 
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