starter cichlids

[Tiller11]

Do african community.... I mean like whats been said u cant have like guppys.... But there is a wide variaty of african cichlids u can get.... Mix n match.... Get the smaller ones n u could get away with like 15 or 20 of ur filtration is up to par

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[Anchovie]

Silver dollars, tinfoil barbs, Pictis cats, hatchetfish, pleco. Thats top, middle, and bottom swimmers that are all beginner friendly. One or two of each will do just fine in a 55. Though you'll get more enjoyment out of the silver dollars if you have 5 or 6 of them. Angels are nice community fish, but they like a higher temp and lower ph than most community fish. No need for cichlids in a community. Theyre not nice neighbors.


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[David R]

4' long is too short for a big active fish like a tinfoil barb IMO.

Who ever suggested the Geophagus Sp. 'Red Head Tapajos' was on the money IMO, they're colourful, active, relatively peaceful and will exist happily with other non-cichlid fish. Skip the A. heckelii though. Get a group of 6-20 Tapajos (and maybe thin them out as they mature) and keep them with some tetras, corys and smaller plecs and you'll have an interesting and fairly peaceful community with cichlids.

 

[Evilking]

I would recommend Bolivian Rams or Kribensis (sp). They stay small, very peaceful, easy to find and keep. You could also look into Firemouths too!

 

[Azedenkae]

Yeah no on the A. heckelli. Red Head Tapajos should be fine.

No on the firemouth either, most Thorichthys species will actively chase down other fish to eat. Guppies, bettas, even juvie cichlids actually.

 

[ryansmith83]

Thirded -- ditch the Acarichthys heckelii. Even a single specimen will grow large and boisterous. They are not a good fit for a 4' tank.

If you don't want to do the orange head geos and would rather have some Central Americans, I'd also recommend rainbow cichlids (Archocentrus multispinosus). They are a small growing, peaceful fish that have nice mustard yellow coloration and will turn bright yellow/black when spawning. I have had pairs form and spawn in a 55 gallon without giving other fish too much trouble. You can also mix them with smaller, more peaceful community type fish.

I would not add tinfoil barbs or silver dollars. They tend to grow too large for a 55 gallon tank. You can get some deep-bodied tetras or some type of cool pencilfish.

When it comes to fish who are forgiving of water quality, rainbows are probably slightly hardier than geos. Geos tend to develop HITH unless you keep up on your water changes and filter maintenance. This isn't to say that rainbows can/should be neglected or improperly cared for, but they tend to be tougher in the event that your water quality isn't up to par.

 

[joe jaskot]

Look into dwarf cichlids. Lots of colorful and peaceful ones. Too many to name. Just do a google search.

 

[cl0wn knife]

id say rams. (mikrogeophagus ramirezi)

 

[jonclark96]

+1 on staying away from the heckelii. They aren't the easiest fish to keep, especially in a four footer. Rainbows are a good suggestion as well. You could also look into archocentrus centrarchus. They are a hardy, mid-growing central american that are a blast to keep. When they spawn, they'll "hang" their wigglers in plants and other vertical surfaces in the tank.

 

[Azedenkae]

Hm, come to think of it, Nanoluteus might work as well.