Stocking suggestions for new CA/SA 40 gallon setup

[Fergy]

My wife just got a promotion, now has her own office and wants a tank in there. My AC's are going to get moved into a 135 soon and it will free up the 40, which I want to set up for her and was thinking CA/SA setup and I am looking for suggestions.

Her criteria are:
1. Variety of species
2. Colorful
3. Not going to outgrow tank
4. compatable and not rediculously aggressive

I don't know much about new worlds other than Oscars, don't have time for research, so I thought I would see what you all think.

We would love to see some pics if anyone has a similar setup

Thanks in advance

 

[Gruff Master]

Same sex Hoduran Red Points with a school of barbs, tetras, or mollies would look nice. I say same sex because I'm sure your wife doesn't want to deal with breeding pairs attacking everything in her tank at her job. Plus I doubt she will want to deal with pulling fry either. HRP will be easy enough for a person unfamiliar with CA/SA cichlids. There are more options that others will offer. I see that you say that you don't have time to research these species but you should definitely do some reading on your own. People will give advice but it's still always good to read up on the species that are mentioned. Don't base your decision on just how pretty a fish is either. Some of the best looking CA/SA cichlids can be absolutely brutal and totally inappropriate for a 40 gallon set up. Read the species stickies on this forum too. They will help you. Best of luck to you.

 

[VRWC]

Id probably go with (and I have in the past) a pair of Honduran Red Points or A. sajica with a large school of colorful tetras. Either that or some dwarf pikes.

 

[Gruff Master]

VRWC was reading my mind. LOL

 

[VRWC]

haha! Yea, youre right though. Unless they want tons of babies, same sex pairs would work better. Too bad the OP isnt closer. I have 5 HRP males in a 55 all above 3" that get along great that Id gladly give 4 of away. They are from the HRP pair in the above picture.

 

[Fergy]

Thanks and guess I should have said don't have much time for research, I will definately do a little once I get a few suggestions and have some ideas.

 

[901MFKer]

A planted angel fish tank would be nice. You could get a school of 4 or 5 angels and some neon tetra with a nice small fancy pleco and
maybe some glass catfish.

 

[smitty03281964]

I would stay with the dwarf cichlds.

 

[brackishman]

da potato puffer

 

[FishFreak95]

I would also say a couple of sajicas and a mixture of colorful tetras and guppies. Sajicas tend to stay smaller and are less aggressive than convicts. So you would have a chance with tetras. Maybe add some firemouth but tetras and guppies could be in trouble.