Possible Tankmates for a Rotkeil?

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OnlyOnATuesday

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 4, 2011
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United States
Hello All :)

First of all my Tank:
55 gallon
2 55 gallon whisper filters, 1 30 gallon whisper in tank filter
T5 lights
Pool Filter Sand substrate
Heavily planted
~0 Amm/Nit and ~10 Nitrate

My Fish:
One Rotkeil Severum (~1.5 inches)
Ten Von Rio Tetras (Flame Tetras ~.75 inches)

What other types of cichlids or larger fish roughly the same size as the Severum would fit well? Preferably SA species only, no CA.

What types of Bottom feeders can I be considering? Shrimp, cats, plecos, all options again preferably from SA

And all need be relatively gentle with plants, Thanks in advance and I can't wait to here your suggestions! :)
 
I would recommend one of the mesonauta (festivum) species. Insignis are nice and have some yellows and blues.

Be careful with the severum and your plants. All the sevs that I have ever kept were tough on plants. I even feed romaine to supplement their diet.

As far as bottom feeders, you could try some of the smaller fancy plecos or cory cats. Both are from SA and should get along with your sev.
 
Welcome to MFK! Honduran Red points or Sajicas are options. I just would just stay away from mated pairs. Many cichlids can be aggressive when breeding. Some Cory cats could work for the bottom area. There are a few larger species that could live in the 55 with the Rotkeil but I don't think their temperament would be compatible in the limited space of a 55. I'm sure more members will give you a few more options.
 
Rotkeils are cool looking fish.. i had an 8" Pair of Rots in with a Pair of Fenestratus some Cichla and super red severums. Also know someone who had them with ST (Dats) just fine as well.. there are alot of combos IMO that you could do it all just depends on the aggression of the other fish. plus always helps to have some dithers to take the attention off the fish you dont really want messed up
 
Thanks guys!

The Super Red Severum and Flag Cichlid look about the best to me, how will I be able to sex the Super Reds, or my Rotkeil for that matter without venting? (The Super Red especially since it would be at the LFS)

Also I like Dats, but I thought they were too big?
 
Typically with severums, males have "squiggles" around the face and females do not. This will work for the rotkeil, but I'm not sure on the super reds. It seems like all of them have the markings on their face.
 
Thanks jon!

Would there be a possibility that I could have 3 male Severums (Rotkeil, Green, and Super Red) all living peacefully in just a 55?

Or is 3 pushing the limit? I'm not concerned about filtration/parameters but more with aggression.
 
Depends on the fish. I have 4 males in a 120 and the largest is a bit of a bully. There are always some nipped fins and a little chase back and forth. Once yours get to be adult size, I would guess you will eventually get some territorial disputes. If you keep it all males, you may have better luck as there won't be any females to squabble over.
 
IMO 3 severum with two efasciatus would not work. The 55 is two small. You could do a pair of rotkeil. I have mine in with biotodoma cupido and they work nicely together.
 
Severums (Gold,Green,Red which you prefer or all) Festivum, Sajica,Keyhole,Temporalis, Angels are some options you may try
 
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