Synspillum & Blackbelts as tankmates?

[insularway]

I have a pair of Red Head cichs in a 55 gal, & just added 2 baby Blackbelts. I'm guessing the Blackbelts are the more aggressive of the two, hence bein added last.

Think they'll be OK together? So far they're all swimming around together just fine. The snyspillum are much larger but are very tolerant of their smaller tankmates.

Thanks for any comments,
Jay

 

[shamrock]

IMO a 55 gallon is too small for those fish. And since they are in the same family-Vieja-you may have aggression problems.
Synspillum get anywhere from 12-14 inches BBs a little smaller but still large as well.
What I would do is keep one Black Belt and keep your Syn pair, then convert to maybe a 90 gallon tank or something a bit larger. But you will need a larger tank.

 

[rich_one]

IMO a 55 gallon is too small for those fish. And since they are in the same family-Vieja-you may have aggression problems.
Synspillum get anywhere from 12-14 inches BBs a little smaller but still large as well.
What I would do is keep one Black Belt and keep your Syn pair, then convert to maybe a 90 gallon tank or something a bit larger. But you will need a larger tank.

I agree.

-Rich

 

[Gruff Master]

They can work in a large aquarium together, but as mentioned yours is far too small for even one of those fish for life IMO. Aggression may not be an issue now, but in those tight confines it will happen sooner or later.

 

[Amphilophus88]

IMO a 55 gallon is too small for those fish. And since they are in the same family-Vieja-you may have aggression problems.
Synspillum get anywhere from 12-14 inches BBs a little smaller but still large as well.
What I would do is keep one Black Belt and keep your Syn pair, then convert to maybe a 90 gallon tank or something a bit larger. But you will need a larger tank.

Blackbelts get just as big, I have a 13 inch female and I saw a male Blackbelt in a fish store not to long ago and he was huuuuge.

To the op: In that tank size your blackbelts will destroy your Synspilums in time, or each other.

90 Gallon is still too small for 3 of these fish. I'd keep 2 Blackbelts but it can still get ugly in a 90.

 

[darippa]

55 is kinda small. I used to do it back in the day but sooner or later it turns into a battle royale. On the good news, a 110 would work. Right now I have 5 Synspilum 4 Blackbelts 2 Zonatum 1 Texas 1 Freddie 1 Argentea 4 Rubripinnis and 1 Dempsey in a 110 averaging 5 to 7 in and all getting along. I thought for sure it wouldnt work but the Central Americans arent too aggressive this time around. They were all raised together from 1in.

 

[insularway]

OK thanks for the replies guys. I really like both species & I'm kinda torn on who to take out. I'm leaning towards keeping the synspillum & maybe throwing the Blackbelts in my 110 flatback hex. It's full of turtles but they can never catch any fish.

So am I able to add ANY other fish to the 55 gal w/ the red head cichs? They don't have to be cichlids.

Jay

 

[buddha1200]

Those blackbelts will end up destroying those syns,in a 55 you cant add to much of anything syns grow fast and big and when they feel crowded will kill their tank mates. Although they are mellow for the veija family they are still tough fish and can kill tank mates easily.In another few months that tank will be way to small. Black belts are way more aggressive than syns even at small sizes,mine took over a 180 at 5 inches and had to be moved all fish were larger and they were all raised together.

 

[insularway]

Any suggestions on what non-cichlid species I can safely add?

So far everyones getting along & growing nicely. I'm pulling the Blackbelts & putting them in another tank soon.

Jay

 

[orbit]

Watch the turtle water parameters... They are dirty as hell compaired to fish.