So tomorrow I'm going to pick up my new tank! its 180 gallons, 6X2X2, and I'm wondering what to put in it, I want american cichlids and I don't want to have to get a bigger tank. So I'm already set on getting a baby jag, just want some opinions on some beautiful fish to add! so lets here it guys!
Suggestions for American Cichlids
- Thread starter lando
- Start date
You want to stick to centrals or are you happy to mix n match? Jags can be quite mean as they get older, a pair could work in a 6x2 if your ready for 1000's of fry 
You could do a few large cichlids 2-3, if aggression levels are low. Your bestbet would be to buy them small and grow em out together. Then maybe a little group of cons.
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You have a lot of options, it just depends how mean your jag turns out to be. Oscar, jack dempsey, convicts, vieja, texas and many more are all possibilities but at the end of the day it's gonna be trial and error 
I've found that when you get them all as juvies, they kinda figure things out and get along ok. I do suggest this though - really look at a lot of different cichlids, because there are so many, and decide what you want to add. It will help against adding fish later and disrupting the peace! Personally, some of the nicest looking Central and South A. Cichlids are the Dovii (Nicaraguan), Red Texas, Red Terror, Flowerhorns, Jaguars, and Redheads.
I know I want a male dovii, but how long could he last in this 180 with a jag and say a red Texas, ?
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Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about the Dovii. I'd say the Dovii would be the most aggressive of the three. I had a 9" Dovii that would smack the glass - literally attack and try to bite your hand - if you put your hand up to the glass. Once I put him in my 225g with a Jaguar mated pair, my Red Texas, a Flowerhorn, Pike, Red Devil, etc. he calmed down and got along. Nobody messed with him though. Could have been because I added him to their home. If it was the other way, and he was established, I don't think the outcome would have been so nice.
That to say, the Dovii that I have seen will hold their own. All depends on the personality of each fish.