Red Devils and Brackish water

[SirChaos]

Hello all,

I've acquired an approx 5-6 inch female midas, raised in a freshwater 40 gallon hex tank with 2 cats and 1, 3 inch angel.
Can she be acclimated to my 55 gallon brackish tank or is she strickly freshwater?

Thanks

 

[Jason_S]

in a 55 gallon tank you wouldn't want to keep her with other fish because that size tank really isn't big enough for her to live peacefully with other fish. so that being the case I wouldn't even bother trying to attempt to acclimate her to brackish. some CA cichlids can live with some salt in the water but too much salt (ie actual brackish) can be detrimental to the health of the fish. it's best to not try acclimating a freshwater fish to brackish.

 

[cookiemonster]

I have read that some CA cichlids can tolerate brackish conditions as a means of swimming from river mouth to river mouth. This allowed the fish that had this tolerance to colonize and spread throughout Central America faster than those that did not have this ability. However, I would not keep a cichlid in brackish conditions full time.

 

[balton777]

I have read that some CA cichlids can tolerate brackish conditions as a means of swimming from river mouth to river mouth. This allowed the fish that had this tolerance to colonize and spread throughout Central America faster than those that did not have this ability. However, I would not keep a cichlid in brackish conditions full time.

I think Mayan cichlids are an example of that....

 

[fish boy in toronto]

i have a mayan living in salinity of 1.019 and is agressive and active as hell and has been in salt water for 5 months and it is 4.5 inches now

 

[fish boy in toronto]

i also read convicts and jacl dempsey can do tthe same

 

[TrikkyMakk]

You can get Mayan cichlids in the canals of Florida. They are well known for being able to adapt.

As far as the Midas, I would say get a bigger tank just for him, like a 90. Then you can toss in a few friends as well if you like.

 

[FSM]

A 55 is the bare minimum for a female midas. Males get more than a foot, I think, so they definitely need at least a 75.

 

[RGY]

Wouldn't keep it in brackish,not good for the Midas.Like stated before Mayan is only one i would keep long term in brackish or salt

 

[CrystalizedHairs]

Black belt cichlids have been spotted on Carribean reefs before. Just begause they can be kept in brackish to full saltwater, doesn't mean they do best there. They are freshwater fish after all.