Rays and Cichlids ?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
H

Hdeuce

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 1, 2008
217
0
0
Syracuse
I love cichlids and i have a couple in a tank now with a couple gouramis. All the LFS' told me it was impossible but other than a little bit of tag here and there they get along pretty well. Now, "I have a dream" that all fish can live together side by side as equals ... no, but really, I have always loved stingrays and manta rays ever since i was a child and i know that even for a freshwater ray a large tank is required, What I want to know is, could a FW ray and a few cichlids survive together in a tank and if so what size tank are we talking about, my thought is a lightly planted tank with black substrate and a few pices of driftwood possibly even an albino bristlenose pleco.

Let me get your thoughts and comments .
 
what kind of cichlids....
 
central and south american Right now i have convicts and an oscar
 
and what kind of ray and tank are you getting???
 
Im not sure thats kinda what i was asking for help with :D I need to know a suitable tank size , a type of FW ray that would be compatible, and what kind of cichlids it would be compatible with .
 
Hdeuce;2005682; said:
I love cichlids and i have a couple in a tank now with a couple gouramis. All the LFS' told me it was impossible but other than a little bit of tag here and there they get along pretty well. Now, "I have a dream" that all fish can live together side by side as equals ... no, but really, I have always loved stingrays and manta rays ever since i was a child and i know that even for a freshwater ray a large tank is required, What I want to know is, could a FW ray and a few cichlids survive together in a tank and if so what size tank are we talking about, my thought is a lightly planted tank with black substrate and a few pices of driftwood possibly even an albino bristlenose pleco.

Let me get your thoughts and comments .
Click to expand...

Your proposed set up is not recommended. But who I am to say no?

Rays will naturally uplift plants and wood in search of food. Cichlids might pick out the eyes of your rays, pick on their tails, or in general bully them around. If thats the the case then you must worry about a ray sucking the eyes out of your cichlid or generally eating them considering their ultimate size differences.

These are just some of the things you must consider with this combo. Is it 100% fail rate? No, stranger things have happened but the likelihood of the combo working is slim. Thou im always one to take a chance and risk, just be ready and knowledgeable about it with a backup plan when and if things go wrong!

I would suggest two different tanks. One for rays and one for cichlids!
 
It all really depends on what type of cichlids and what type of rays, aswell as the rays personality.

I use to have a 8'' male motoro that was a jerk. He took out a 13'' managuense in about a half hour. When I came to check on the jag, I only found about 4'' of him left, and a male motoro that looked pregnent.

I have kept geophagus with retics before without any problems.

It's all pretty much trial and error. With the price tags rays can carry though you really don't want to risk their saftey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom