Tankmate for dempsey and acara

[camb1988]

Hey all, at the moment am keeping my 1 inch dempsey and 1 1/2 inch acara in a 55 gallon tank. Have been planning in the next few months to pick up a 100 gal tank off a friend. Have read that its best to let the cichlids you plan to keep together grow up together. Was wondering what some of you seasoned experts would suggest. I was thinking a gold saum but dont no how that would go? Would my aggressive acara kill him as they look alike or would he be able to handle himself? Any advice would be appreciated

 

[mbeatrice]

the acara is not aggressive its just bigger and is just bullying the smaller fish ....the jd out grows the acara and prob will kill it.....

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I'd go with perhaps a firemouth, but would not add another acara in order to avoid problems later on

 

[Loves severums]

another tankmate could be a Rainbow cichlid.

 

[gomlin]

I had thought Acara were pretty low aggression. The things I have read suggested they are good for a SA community type setup. I was thinking of putting a pair of them or similar size cichlids in my 125 when I get it converted from African to SA. Other fish would include a group of Geos, a couple Severum, a couple Angels, and some dither fish. Would they not be a good choice? Thanks,

Jim

 

[Sab_Fan]

I'd go with perhaps a firemouth, but would not add another acara in order to avoid problems later on

+1 . . . was thinking exact same thing . . .

if you add a Saum, you can expect trouble . . .

 

[Sab_Fan]

I had thought Acara were pretty low aggression. The things I have read suggested they are good for a SA community type setup. I was thinking of putting a pair of them or similar size cichlids in my 125 when I get it converted from African to SA. Other fish would include a group of Geos, a couple Severum, a couple Angels, and some dither fish. Would they not be a good choice? Thanks,

Jim

Blue Acara are relatively low aggression - - e.g., compared to a GT - - but that doesn't mean you might not get a tough fish . . . if you add a pair, then you add increased risk because they would get more aggressive when breeding

one BA should get along well with the other fish you suggested . . . where you get into trouble is when you add conspecifics (similar fish), like GTs, Port cichlids, etc. . . .

 

[camb1988]

i agree with sab_fan they are generally not aggressive. I think i just got a dick of a fish as acaras are known for their good temperament.