Relatively peaceful Cichlids

[Sundew]

If you have had the Aro for 2 years then he is going to be large enough to eat alot of the previous suggestions. I am currently growing out some red bay snooks that I hope will live with my aro in a 300g planted tank. Plans are set to get the tank this summer so the snooks (2.5"-3") are gonna need to do some growing so they don't become food for the aro(15"-16")

So far the Aro has never eaten a live fish. It is about 16" long, there are Rainbow Cichlids and at least one Jurupari that are only about 3-4 inches. The Aro is definitely the boss of the tank, as he cruises the fish either turn their sides to him or move out of his way. From day one at 4" he has eaten FD Krill, cut up cubes of fish, and market shrimp, as well as an occasional live cicada or cricket, even eats (grudgingly) Tetra Sticks. So far very mellow but I hear they get a little bit cranky with age.

As the fish grow the tank is getting crowded:

80 gal.
Silver Arowana 16"
5 Severums, average 4-6"
3 S. Jurupari 3.5 - 5"
3 Rainbow Cichlids 4"
2 Striped Rhapael cats 4"
1 pig of a Red Hook 6" (eating machine)
5 Silver Dollars 3-5"

I am going over to Orlando in about 2 weeks to look at a 600+ gallon vat with window and all the fish will go in there. With enough driftwood and large plants, I think the other fish will be fine. If all goes well and I get the vat, will add some Geo. brasiliensis and 2 more Rainbows I have in quarantine. If not, I have an empty 135 and will divide the fish.

But to make things worse, two of the Rainbows are trying to spawn and have all the fish (except the Aro) on one side of the tank! When the Aro got to close the male Rainbow tried to mouth its ventral fin in a brave (and futile) effort to move it! The Arowana acted as if the fish was never there!

 

[Sundew]

Check out some of the mellower pike cichlids.

Hmmmm...Looked at some Orange pikes and some with red fins at the LFS, but don't know much about them. A freind has some of the orange and they seem to get along with his Severums. I have heard they are killers! terrors! not to be trusted!, but see them in the LFS in with other cichlids, mostly just laying around. Which ones would be considered 'mellower?'

 

[Sundew]

Not sure about blue acara, but keyholes are pretty mellow. And festivums (used to be C. festivus but maybe changed). Uaru are supposed to be peaceful but I haven't kept them so I can't speak firsthand.

I bought some festivums in Georgia last year (I have not seen them locally in Florida for years) but they all sickened and died in quarantine. Think they had the shimmies (gill flukes?). Would like to find more one day.

 

[davidefc]

blue acaras and firemouth are fine

 

[davidefc]

but the Blue acaras and firemouth must be full size or they will be feeder fish 4 the aro

 

[captainawesome]

firemouths rule.