Some Photos and a question about Chocolate Cichlids

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J

Jeapa

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 1, 2013
13
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Delaware
I am wondering if chocolate cichlid would work in my current tank. I have been debating adding one for quite some time, but keep hesitating as my current fish are working well together. I have raised my severums from the size of a quarter, and I am worried that adding a juvenile chocolate might be a little risky given their current size.

The tank is a 95g, I do 75% water changes twice a month. Current residents are:

1x Gold spotted sev.
1x Green sev
1x Blue Discus
2x Angels
1x keyhole cichlid
7x cory cats
1x small bushy nose pleco

This tank has a low Ph 5.8-6.0 and soft water. Temp 80-82. My well water is soft and acidic. For right now I don't have any plans on getting a larger tank, but may do so next year if I feel my fish need the space. I have been keeping aquariums for over 25 years, but have never had one larger than this 95. I think this tank is quickly becoming my all time favorite. I have had reef tanks in the past and although they were certainly beautiful, the personalities of my severums are a lot of fun. I have included a few photos.







 
man, your "green" severum is gorgeous deep blue. awesome.
does photo show accurate color?
 
petspoiler said:
man, your "green" severum is gorgeous deep blue. awesome.
does photo show accurate color?
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I think it is more of a very dark aqua greenish blue, the photo is pretty accurate. This severum stays very dark most of the time.

Do you think I would be inviting trouble if I added a chocolate to the mix? Thanks.
 
The only problem might be if the sevs get too territorial.as you said it might look cramped later, even if they accept the new fish.I had sevs before with a chocolate and only minor flaring and chasing.now I have a pair of chocs in a 90 with blue acaras and 2 small brasiliensis but I may need to thin out or upgrade later.your tank looks good by the way

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virgil2090 said:
The only problem might be if the sevs get too territorial.as you said it might look cramped later, even if they accept the new fish.I had sevs before with a chocolate and only minor flaring and chasing.now I have a pair of chocs in a 90 with blue acaras and 2 small brasiliensis but I may need to thin out or upgrade later.your tank looks good by the way

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Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice virgil2090. I was thinking much the same. If I add the chocolate I will almost certainly end up deciding to upgrade the tank. I am stuck on figuring out if I want to do that. I travel with work more then I used to so I need to keep things simple. I have had multiple tanks, breeding pairs, ect.. in the past, but right now my work commitments have me too busy to invest more time in my hobby.

It has been hard for me to scale back to just this one tank and I am afraid the chocolate might end up being my "gateway drug" back into full blown addiction...:nilly: I am really loving the South Americans. I kept Africans for a good while and had breeding pairs of Julidochromis marlieri and Neolamprologus leleupi, but never any from S.A. except Angels and Discus.

I like to keep my tanks clean and my fish healthy so overcrowding isn't something I want to do. Decisions, decisions. Thanks.
 
Very nice tank, Your Severums are beautiful. I Currently have two reds myself and looking to add two green and two gold to the mix. I agree they are fun to watch, thanks for sharing.
 
The chocolate would work with you current stock typically. The issue is that I personally would wait until you have a larger tank. Like you said in previous post, you don't want to overcrowd and I believe it will be they way when fully grow.

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