Pairing cichlids when the female is larger?

[Velocifish]

I'm new to cichlids so sorry if this is common knowledge. I couldn't find anything relevant when searching.

I have a 6.5" female Midas cichlid and a 5.5" male Flowerhorn. Both are just pets that I don't want to breed, but I do want to pair them in the same tank. In addition to the size difference, the female is faster and meaner while the male is clumsy and shy. Can they learn to love each other or is it a recipe for disaster? They're currently in a divided 90g, but I'm considering a larger tank after doing some more research.

 

[duanes]

Larger....female cichlids that don't see a male as a potential mate will easily kill them.
It has happened to me a number of times, when a male I had, didn't meet the females expectations.
And when you consider it, if not to mate for a cichlid, what is the point?
It may fit your idea of an attractive tank, but to the fish an impotent male is using up valuable real estate and resources, unless she sees your tank as large enough.
In the case of midas or other similar size cichlid, that may mean a tank of over 200 gallons.

 

[Velocifish]

Thanks for letting me know. I'm not going to let them to mingle if that's the case.

I knew bigger males was the norm so originally I purchased the flowerhorn much bigger than the female midas at the time. However, he arrived very sick and took a couple months to recover and eat normally so she rapidly outpaced him in growth.

Anything I can do to safely get him to grow faster and/or slow her growth so they can be compatible?

 

[Rocksor]

Don't ever slow the growth of your fish. If the male is in a different tank, increase to 30-50% water changes every other day, and you should see an increase in growth.

 

[Velocifish]

You're right. I meant more along the lines of avoiding also speeding up her growth. But thank you, I'll move him to a different tank and give him plenty of water changes.

 

[Velocifish]

What size difference would make it safe for the flowerhorn to have another shot at having a girlfriend? Identical size? An inch bigger? More?

 

[duanes]

When cichlids are young, they seek safety in numbers of other cichlids from predators, but when mature the term "friend" is usually not realistic.
Most of the time any other cichlid is either a potential mate, or a competitor to be vanquished if space is limited.
Cichlids will sometimes tolerate some "non" cichlids as tank mates, because in nature they watch other aimless/dithering species like tetras, or live bearers to judge the threat of oncoming danger (like birds) , and they are not in competition for the same resources. And in times of need, they eat them.

 

[Deadeye]

The male being a flowerhorn won’t make it easier, they are notoriously hard on other cichlids, most have to be kept alone, and pairs often can only be together while breeding.
Devils aren’t much better, but not as bad as flowers.
Best to just keep them separate.

 

[Velocifish]

That sucks to learn. I was told by someone that keeps flowerhorns that they're monogamous and act like the fish they're hybrids of. Regardless, I'm buying another tank this weekend so they'll have their own digs soon enough.

 

[Deadeye]

That sucks to learn. I was told by someone that keeps flowerhorns that they're monogamous and act like the fish they're hybrids of. Regardless, I'm buying another tank this weekend so they'll have their own digs soon enough.

They still pair like other cichlids…just are hyper aggressive.