Oscar or no?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
From that stock list.. i think an Oscar is a bit much.. you'll start to find issues later on with an Oscar.

Also Pink tails are ok.. but skittish.. make sure u have a well enclosed top for the tank.. They are jumpers... I have Two Red Tail Chalceus right now and I find the two sometimes not get along.. fighting over food.. Heard that odd numbers are better....
 
I'd leave it as it is minus the oscar. With a carpintis pair and festae, thats pushing it already with cichlids. The BGK could be ok as long as they arent very aggressive. The BGK will need a hiding spot. Bigger BGK can defend themsleves, but towards a really aggressive cichlid its gonna cause alot of problems for the BGK.

Oh BTW, Im not sure if salvinis get over 6-7 inches. Some guys like to say they've seen ones that are 8-9 inch but thats hard to believe, and if it were true thats certainly not the norm.
 
Liking the idea of the Female Festae with the Carpinte pair, but not sure whether I would subject an O or a Sev to a tank stocked with fish of a much higher level of aggression. Like others have suggested maybe a Salvini, Cuban or a cichlid of a similar level of aggression.
 
Its not really the aggression issue, as its more a space issue. The size of the tank will make it cramped for all those fish when they are full size. Now, also add in the fact if the carpintis breed, its not gonna give the other fish much space. I say leave it as it is, minus the Oscar. Dont add anymore cichlids.
 
If you really want an Escondiodo pair why stress them.............the female festae will easily want all 4 ft of your tank bottom as will the escondido's. I'd say loose the female festae keep the O if you have to have a large cichlid. And Yes Male Salvinis can get a robust 6-7" and will aggressively want 2' of tank bottom - the escondido's are no match for a pissed off full grown Salvini niether is the female Festae. Charcins usually work well in packs 6 or more. If you get the pink-tail make sure it's at least as big as the SA/CA's or they'll eat'em.

Personally if you really want the Escondido pair make sure they are the largest dominant fish with no territorial disputes. 120 gal seems like a lot of tank space but when it comes to New World Cichlids it really isn't especially breeding pairs and mixed species.
 
i have a 10+ inch BGK in with my 12 inch oscar and have never had a problem mixing the 2, the O completly ignore's the BGK even when he is waving his tail in the O's face.
 
yeah im putting several pvc pipes under the driftwood so the BGK would have multiple spots to get away if it has to and will be getting the BGK and the chalceus before any of the cichlids so they will be bigger, my tank is actually 5ft long which is why i thought it would work, and i already have festae fry growing out, i dont think my tank is big enough for more chalceus and i heard they either do well alone or in groups of 6 which is why i was just planning on getting one, so the chalceus would swim up top and the BGK would be at bottom with cichlids being all in between, thanks for the advice about them jumping i do have a tight fitting glass lid on the tank and could put a weight on it when it gets bigger if i have to, so you guys think to just put 3 cichlids in there? i guess i could put dithers in so spread out aggression but yeah i thought it would be kind of cramped with the O which was why i was thinking of putting a smaller cichlid in there instead, so you guys dont think another cichlid like a cuban or something else that stays around 10in would work? the tank is going to have alot of driftwood pieces sticking up to break sites and create territories, i figured the carps could have territory on one side of tank so rest would be open for the other guys, i think it would def be stress on the carps if the festae is only picking on them so thats why i thought should do another cichlid
 
Otherone;3587239; said:
the female festae will easily want all 4 ft of your tank bottom as will the escondido's. I'd say loose the female festae keep the O if you have to have a large cichlid. And Yes Male Salvinis can get a robust 6-7" and will aggressively want 2' of tank bottom - the escondido's are no match for a pissed off full grown Salvini niether is the female Festae.
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This isnt true at all. Ive kept festae m & f with every incarnation of my tanks and have never had a female festae take over a whole tank...ever, from a 55, 75, 90, 125 & 265. A breeding pair, yes, single specimen, no.

Carpintis arent all that aggressive in general or when spawning (compared to other CA's) IME...and sorry but a salvini, at best, would survive an *** whipping from a female festae of the same size. This isnt even a likely comparison. Most Sav's would run when in that situation. I cant think of any Ive had or seen/read about on here that were any different.
 
yeah thanks scott thats what i was thinking which is why i was thinking of some other kind of cichlid that gets a bit bigger so she at least gets a run for her money LOL
 
Sarah88;3587551; said:
so you guys dont think another cichlid like a cuban or something else that stays around 10in would work? the tank is going to have alot of driftwood pieces sticking up to break sites and create territories, i figured the carps could have territory on one side of tank so rest would be open for the other guys, i think it would def be stress on the carps if the festae is only picking on them so thats why i thought should do another cichlid
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Id definitely say get something besides the Oscar. It will be the least aggressive cichlid in the tank with the Carpintis & festae and will make the mess of all other fish in the tank combined. Cubans are semi prone to bloat, so keep that in mind. Id personally go with some Honduran Red points or a female RTM.

The balance of her and a carpintis pair should work out well. It did with me anyways a few yrs ago.
 
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