Possible CA Community

[badisbadis101]

I currently have a pair of Convict Cichlids, a pair of Rainbow Cichlids, and 2 common plecos that i would like to house together. Would this work, assuming the tank was large enough? What size tank would i need for this?

Also, if i were to add the following fish, what size tank would i need?
-6x Swordtails (Dithers)
-Pair of Firemouths

Also, are their any other central american cichlids that would work with this mix? I would like this tank to be similar to nutty's 300 gallon, but a bit smaller (maybe a 150?). Thanks!

BTW - this tank at the moment is just an idea. All of the above fish have current homes in various tanks, but i would like to create a CA cichlids setup eventually, and wanted to include my current fish if possible.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

cons, fm's, and rainbows would be fine in a 125, probably even in something a little smaller depending on whether the cons are breeding.

 

[voss345]

get something other than swordtails as dithers, you would want something faster, id say rainbows or giant danios
If you wanted to add more fish you could add hrp's or another cryptoheros specimen
I would add a center peice fish like a bocourti, pearsi, maybe even sajic to top it off
150 would be fine, you would just want alot of territory if you have 3 potential breeding pairs

 

[badisbadis101]

i was looking into maybe a pair of a vieja species - are their any that could live in a 125 or 150? Also, for dithers, i would like to keep it Central American. Would silver dollars work (not quite SA, but close ) ?

I have a 125 right now that i might upgrade (so it would be open for these cichlids). Would that give me room for the FMs, rainbows, convicts, and a pair of Vieja, plus a few dithers?

 

[voss345]

Vieja would pretty much own all the other fish once full grown, it could work if you gave the smaller guys hiding spots lots of them, but your lookings at least a 180 if not more, 125 is full with a pair of vieja, pearsi and bocourti are just as good looking dont get as big only around a foot and are alot more mellow from my experience

 

[CTU2fan]

I agree, pearsi or bocourti would be good and not beat up the smaller guys. I'd think about swapping out the cons for HRP's so they don't own the FMs or rainbows. With those fish you might not even need dithers but keeping it CA would be tough, yeah swordtails could work, I can't think of anything else.

 

[japes]

Going to need a much bigger tank with Pearsei and Bocourti though. If those fish you've listed are breeding pairs I wouldn't recommend it at all, but if theres 1 breeding pair mixed in (.. which would be the convicts if they're not both Males) a 125 would do very nicely.

Nutty uses Swordtails in his CA community that he's recently posted an update on, housed with large Centrals; they'll be fine.

 

[badisbadis101]

okay, thanks for the input

Tanks size isnt determined yet, so stocking will not be finalized for a while, but i just wanted to get some ideas. Thanks again!