i've had 8 piranhas with a common pleco 2-3" bigger than the piranhas and he picked on them. i'd say get an adonis pleco but he would outgrow the tank fast. they are a pretty agressive pleco though. you could always go to petco and order a 6" pleco for like 20$. you still haven't posted size of cichla so i don't know if this will help u or not. but check your lfs they constantly have large unwanted or overgrown plecos. GL
Yea I think in a lot of cases it is a toss up when it comes to american cichlids. I am finding that they should be around the same size to sport a chance of survival.
HEY MAN! I just happened to have an African lace cat that is about 7" you might wanna pick him up cause im in Florida too, its basically the same fish that guy was recommending.
