Stocking advice

[Catman123]

Hi guys new member here. I have been in and out of the hobby for the past few years and recently decided I want to get back into it. I currently have 55 gallon tank with 2 spotted Raphael catfish, 1 featherfin synodontis and a clown pleco. I would like to add just one nicely sized fish as the centre piece for the tank. I am thinking some sort of south\central American cichlid. I would like a fish with a bit of personality. I believe my tank is a bit too small for an Oscar which would have been my first choice. I have made a short list:

Green terror
Red terror
Jack Dempsey

I just want your guys advice to see if one of these fish will be suitable and which one would fit my situation best! Really just looking for a nice solitary centrepiece fish. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Buphy]

Welcome! Good call on the tank not being big enough for the Oscar, you already have the right idea. Of the 3 listed, the JD is your best bet, but if you end up with a particularly large male, then it still won't be enough. GT will take a while to grow so if you have to potential to upgrade, that could be doable. My personal recommendation would actually be something smaller. Electric blue acara, electric blue Jack Dempsey, thorichthys species (most commen is meeki, or firemouth cichlid, though there are many other pretty ones), or maybe a severum, though you'll have to be careful because some species do get too large for a 55... Anyways, just my thoughts but I'll let other members chime in. Again, welcome to the forums.

 

[pops]

Welcome, i agree with Buphy , with a 55 you are real limited on a larger center piece cichlid that does not have the potential to either get to big for the tank or be to aggressive. JD would probably be best bet, but as stated, unless the tank is just for the JD good chance he out grow the tank with current fish in. and far as a Oscar is concerned you are right, even with only Oscar in the tank its to small,

 

[Catman123]

Thanks for the welcome and the replies guys! Would a jack dempsey bother the catfish or do they just keep to the middle levels?? I really don't want something like as severum or acara even though they're great fish its just I wanted kind of an aggressive\lively fish with attitude. JD seems the best bet maybe. What about a red terror?? Too big\aggressive??

 

[ehh]

Red terror would out grow the tank.

 

[Catman123]

Okay that's a red terror ruled out!

 

[pops]

think with tank size might be better off looking at rams, or another type dwarf cichlid,

 

[Buphy]

The problem you're going to run into with the JD is once they're alone, they like to just hide. The additude you seem to be looking for is going to come with larger fish that need a minimum of either 75 or even 125 gallons. Severums are also far more interactive than you give them credit for.

 

[pops]

yup, my male JD hid allot, even while breeding. come out to eat, breed then back in his hole to sleep.

 

[tobegr]

You could try ex Cichlasoma Grammodes,very slow grower. male max eventually at 12"( It will take a very long time) very good personality and very colorful