Stocking 2 tanks.

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Okay! So, my 220 gallon came in. Reinforced the floor, set it up, cycled, etc.

In my 130 gallon right now, I have:

2 Oscars
2 jack dempseys (pair) the female runs the tank, aside from the peace keeping oscars
1 electric blue jack
1 green terror
1 red devil (or Midas hybrid)
1 Convict
1 Red Texas
1 Pleco

The catch is, I’m picking up a Jag for the 220. My thoughts are putting the convict, red devil, red Texas and the pair of jacks in the 220 with the jag and leave everything else in the 130.

Does that seem the most sensible, considering I’m getting a jag?

Just looking for other opinions, and know this place is full of folks a lot more knowledgeable than I am.

Some pics for your troubles:

 

[Bertie07]

I would say that those are your best bets being that they should be able to all hold their own, my only worry is that a convict can be mean but a 13-14” male jag would easily be able to take down a convict, as well don’t assume it will go well as lots of the time jags don’t accept tankmates

 

[justarn]

Yeah then you will have a south american 120g and big central American setup. Only downside is the oscar will be a bit cramped once fully grown and maintenance will need to be fin level WC maybe bi weekly.
Could you not lose one oscar?

 

[Gourami Swami]

I think you've got the right idea. I might recommend a parachromis loisellei as a Jag alternative, because even in a 220 Jag's are mean fish and the loisellei would be easier to deal with. But if you're set on Jag give it a shot. 130 will be a little bit on the full side. But keep up with maintenance and you should be ok.

 

[justarn]

Or a Freddy or la cieba

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Yeah then you will have a south american 120g and big central American setup. Only downside is the oscar will be a bit cramped once fully grown and maintenance will need to be fin level WC maybe bi weekly.
Could you not lose one oscar?

I'm not sure if my Oscars are a "pair", but they're definitely best pals. Syncronized swimming and I've actually observed what I perceive to be genuine affection from the two towards one another. I couldn't break them up. I'd rather get rid of the green terror, who is awesome.. but, still.

The filtration is there, and water is great even with all of these fish right now in the 130. I can only see their situation improving. They're 9-10 inches right now, and seem to be very happy.

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

I think you've got the right idea. I might recommend a parachromis loisellei as a Jag alternative, because even in a 220 Jag's are mean fish and the loisellei would be easier to deal with. But if you're set on Jag give it a shot. 130 will be a little bit on the full side. But keep up with maintenance and you should be ok.

Those are definitely cool fish. There just so happens to be a juvenile Jag at the LFS, cramped into a 20 gallon. He's maybe 4-5 inches. I'm looking at it like a rescue. It's been there a long time, and I told myself if it's still there when my big tank gets set up, its definitely going in it!

 

[duanes]

You have (and will have) a number of cichlids that can reach 15 inches, and some that only reach a little over half that.
I would put the largest growing cichlids, in the largest tank (oscars, managuense, Amphilophus, texas, and maybe the convict due to its aggressive nature).
And the smaller less aggressive type in the smaller tank, (JDs, GT,) Although the JD "runs" the tank now, once the jag is added, there may be a coop d'tat.
JDs usually suffer when kept with large aggressive types like Jags, Midas, maybe even the Texas and especially EBJDs tend to get beaten down.
I also consider oscars non aggressive, and slightly wimpy when housed with North (Central) Americans like jags and Amphilopines, but in the larger space, their size may save them.

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

You have (and will have) a number of cichlids that can reach 15 inches, and some that only reach a little over half that.
I would put the largest growing cichlids, in the largest tank (oscars, managuense, Amphilophus, texas, and maybe the convict due to its aggressive nature).
And the smaller less aggressive type in the smaller tank, (JDs, GT,) Although the JD "runs" the tank now, once the jag is added, there may be a coop d'tat.
JDs usually suffer when kept with large aggressive types like Jags, Midas, maybe even the Texas and especially EBJDs tend to get beaten down.
I also consider oscars non aggressive, and slightly wimpy when housed with North (Central) Americans like jags and Amphilopines, but in the larger space, their size may save them.

This had crossed my mind as well, as my EBJD is definitely the least aggressive fish in the pecking order. But the main culprits in chasing him are the other two JDs. So, I thought seperating them would be best. Maybe with the switching of tank mates, they could have enough territory to leave him alone?

And to be honest, right now the aggression isn't bad at all. It's really the female JD and Red Devil that go at it, as the JD corners the Red Devil. The male JD will also jump in like they're a tag team.

The female JD is bigger than the Jag by a sizeable amount right now, but I know that will change. I guess I have some thinking to do here. The good thing is with two decent sized tanks I can try my best to find the best tank mate chemistry.

 

[DownWithTheCichlids]

Thanks for the replies by the way, very helpful and useful information that I will definitely be using.