You guys suggesting JD, GT, and severums do realise how long and fat they get right?
A 3ft long tank is suitable for cichlids no larger than 8" but that is pushing it, not just because of the length but you also have to consider how fat a fish gets once it matures. While the gallons are great in a 3x2x2, the footprint is all off for cichlids. JD, GT and severums all should hit upwards of 8" easily within their first year with the right care, I know JD's hit at least 10" and GT's hit 12" when mature and allowed to live properly. None of them are exactly subscribing to weight watchers either when mature.
Now before the size police ask for photo evidence, consider that many people do not prepare for large fish, ie by placing them in a tank too short and realising later that it is too small. This means they rehome them taking many away from the like of this site but most die due to being placed in completely unsuitable environments because of bad advice from people who either have little or no experience of said fish and/or don't read up on said fish before giving advice. Trust me use the search function and look at some photographs and progress threads before throwing a potential 10"+ chunky fish in a small tank.
Silver dollars can reportadly hit 8" long, but for the size police we will say 6", and swim like torpedos. Also remember that these fish at 6" are not slight in stature, they are very tall bodied fish. 3ft of tank space is too small for the neccessary group of 4+ to keep them happy and spread in-fighting.
I would suggest fish such as firemouth, female salvini, convicts, honduran red points, rainbow cichlids, dwarf cichlids, sajica, etc; would be more suitable to a 3ft long tank. Put simply it is too short for most of the fish suggested in the thread already, add an extra 12" in length and you would have a world of possibilities open up to you.
A 3ft long tank is suitable for cichlids no larger than 8" but that is pushing it, not just because of the length but you also have to consider how fat a fish gets once it matures. While the gallons are great in a 3x2x2, the footprint is all off for cichlids. JD, GT and severums all should hit upwards of 8" easily within their first year with the right care, I know JD's hit at least 10" and GT's hit 12" when mature and allowed to live properly. None of them are exactly subscribing to weight watchers either when mature.
Now before the size police ask for photo evidence, consider that many people do not prepare for large fish, ie by placing them in a tank too short and realising later that it is too small. This means they rehome them taking many away from the like of this site but most die due to being placed in completely unsuitable environments because of bad advice from people who either have little or no experience of said fish and/or don't read up on said fish before giving advice. Trust me use the search function and look at some photographs and progress threads before throwing a potential 10"+ chunky fish in a small tank.
Silver dollars can reportadly hit 8" long, but for the size police we will say 6", and swim like torpedos. Also remember that these fish at 6" are not slight in stature, they are very tall bodied fish. 3ft of tank space is too small for the neccessary group of 4+ to keep them happy and spread in-fighting.
I would suggest fish such as firemouth, female salvini, convicts, honduran red points, rainbow cichlids, dwarf cichlids, sajica, etc; would be more suitable to a 3ft long tank. Put simply it is too short for most of the fish suggested in the thread already, add an extra 12" in length and you would have a world of possibilities open up to you.
