Salvini /Firemouth/convict
- Thread starter Kvandy
- Start date
I agree about the 55 being too small for more than 2 adult cichlids that reach 5".
And that a shoal of geographically correct dither fish such as mollies would be the alternative if 2 cichlids seems sparse.
In nature most Central American cichlids like convicts, salvini or Thorichthys share their biotope with shoals of live bearers, or tetras.
A couple examples below in my videos of first Rocio (JDs) with Poecilia velifora.
Eden2
and in another spot uropthamus and live bearers (note the amount of available space in each)
Azul imovie edit
and a video from further south where tetras, and Parachromin share waters
Aktun Ha
I recommend you lower volume to here my breathing and clearing of the snorkel.
And that a shoal of geographically correct dither fish such as mollies would be the alternative if 2 cichlids seems sparse.
In nature most Central American cichlids like convicts, salvini or Thorichthys share their biotope with shoals of live bearers, or tetras.
A couple examples below in my videos of first Rocio (JDs) with Poecilia velifora.
Eden2
and in another spot uropthamus and live bearers (note the amount of available space in each)
Azul imovie edit
and a video from further south where tetras, and Parachromin share waters
Aktun Ha
I recommend you lower volume to here my breathing and clearing of the snorkel.
Your convict is a female, by the way. Jewel cichlid would probably be a good choice for tankmate, more than salvini (which tend to be really nasty)
I also agree with duanes that some swordtails in there would be a good addition.
If this were my tank, I would keep the convict, and add some A. Nanoluteus. They are like smaller, less aggressive, more colorful convicts. Could probably add 4 in there, plus the swordtails. You will probably get at least one pair, but these guys stay real small (3-4" max), so if you had enough hiding spots for the other cichlids, they would probably be fine in the 55.
Wetspottropicalfish.com has nanoluteus in stock
I also agree with duanes that some swordtails in there would be a good addition.
If this were my tank, I would keep the convict, and add some A. Nanoluteus. They are like smaller, less aggressive, more colorful convicts. Could probably add 4 in there, plus the swordtails. You will probably get at least one pair, but these guys stay real small (3-4" max), so if you had enough hiding spots for the other cichlids, they would probably be fine in the 55.
Wetspottropicalfish.com has nanoluteus in stock
Thanks for telling me my convict was female. I had no clue as to what sex it was. I still haven’t bought other fish for the tank yet , still looking at all the possibilities. What attracted me to the jewel was the colors. The yellow convict looks real nice and I like the fact I could keep a few of them in a 55
I agree a 55 is probably a reasonable tank for nanoluteus, whether of not you convict will tolerate another Amatitlania in its territory is the only questionable part. Some nanoluteus I had below.
male above, female below
male above, female below
With any luck, your female won't be too aggressive and it would work, though there are no guarantees when keeping multiple cichlids in the same tank. My females have never been all that mean, though I have had some crazy males.
Although it is true, males are commonly much more aggressive than females, unless all cichlids are put in a tank at the same time, a female can become highly territorial, hyper aggressive, and refuse to let any other cichlid( or perch like fish) share its habitat.
I had a large female Tomocichla tuba kill 2 males, before she accepted an individual she would spawn with, and then killed him, soon after they spawned in a 150 gal tank.
Same thing happened when a female Vieja fenestrata killed any male in her tank.
This seems to happen most when females are the same size, as the males.
Normally males are much larger, giving them the advantage.
Below the female tuba with a string of wrigglers, after she offed the male.
I had a large female Tomocichla tuba kill 2 males, before she accepted an individual she would spawn with, and then killed him, soon after they spawned in a 150 gal tank.
Same thing happened when a female Vieja fenestrata killed any male in her tank.
This seems to happen most when females are the same size, as the males.
Normally males are much larger, giving them the advantage.
Below the female tuba with a string of wrigglers, after she offed the male.
