planning new tank, question about Cichlasoma festae

[adamsfishes]

Hi all,

I'm planning a new tank in the 150 gallon range, probably 5x2x2. It will have a big wet/dry sump w/UV so will be able to handle a decent fish load.

I was wondering if it would be ok to keep a single female Cichlasoma festae with some other smaller, less aggressive SA cichlids.

The other fish I really want to keep is a few Acarichthys heckelii, plus smaller cichlids like Apistos and Checkerboards.

I also want to include a school of Pencilfish and a single catfish.

Do you think this setup would be ok?

 

[ehh]

Apistos? You mean snacks?

 

[adamsfishes]

That would be unfortunate. I know the females don't get as big as the males, but if they get big enough to eat 3-4" fish, then obviously that won't work ...

I'll have to decide what I want to build around. Would it be likely to get along ok with the heckelii?

 

[duanes]

I have not found festae to be overly agressive with cichlids their own size, that theu have grown up with.
That said, anything remotely small enough to fit in their mouth is a goner.
I agree with ehh, any of the Apistos, checkerboards, and pencils would eventually all become snacks. As long as the heckelli are same size or larger, probably not a problem.
I have kept festae with many similar size cichlids without a problem in 150 gal tanks, and larger.

 

[adamsfishes]

Duanes, thanks for the thoughtful reply. Nice fish.

So yeah, I'm not gonna get a festae then because I do want some smaller fish. Beautiful fish though.

I need to think about this some more ... as far as bigger fish go, the only thing I'm sure about it at least 1 heckellii. I think I want to have maybe 4-5 fish in the 5-8" range plus some smaller fish.

Considering some of these species for the larger fish:

• Acarichthys heckelii (Threadfin Acara)
  
• Australoheros Oblongum (Chanchito)
• Cryptoheros nanoluteus (Yellow Dwarf)
• Laetacara curviceps (Dwarf Flag)

Appreciate any more thoughts anyone has on these fish and the numbers that might work ... or other fish to consider.

If anyone knows of a red fish that would fit with other mostly peaceful mid-sized cichlids, let me know. I really like the looks of the bigger red cichlids.