tankmates for chocolate cichlid

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japes;1611814; said:
Severums, Geophagus, Keyholes, Acara

/me looks at signature ;) They're placid giants, much less aggressive than any other 10-12" Cichlids that you'll reguarly find available. Will be aggressive while spawning, but I'd keep them with smaller semi-aggressive Cichlids like Convicts, Salvini etc, but not with Parachromis and the other big bad boys. I'm sure they can hold their own but they won't excel.

From personal experience my Male is a huge sook, has an occasional flare at one of my Severum (the one that's an inch smaller than him :p) but other than that, absolutely nothing. I even think they're Tetra friendly, though you might lose the odd one here and there if they get bored I would imagine.

agree wih everything, specially tankmates.
 
Here is what i keep with mine and they rule the tank and breed every three weeks.
110407Fish006.jpg
 
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I have mine with Uru's, Rotkiel Sev, and a geo...flareups happen but nothing major...GL.......:popcorn:
 
My chocolate is about 6inch(head to tail) in 150gallon tank and would like to add 2" to 2"1/2 inch Oscar, GT, JD and convict.. Is that gonna be a problem due to there size?
 
I have three wild caught Chocolates in my 180 from Raps.....a breeding pair and a lonely female. They are getting bigger.......5-8" male being the biggest. I love them. Cool personalities. Mine have spawned three times lately and still no aggression in my eclectic tank. My Borneo eel, Bushfish, Pink Tailed Chalceus, Plecos and Geos have no issues at all. They are gentle and really nice looking. Chameleons they are....always changing colors!!13651151365116
 
Since chocolate cichlids are a Peruvian Amazonian soft water species, I personally wouldn't keep them with any Central American cichlids.
Another reason to avoid Central Americans, would be they are on a much higher aggression level. South Americans are usually much less territorial, and often end up being dominated, to the point of stress, which can lead to diease by Centrals.
I would also avoid those South American species from west of the Andes. That areas water is also more alkaline, and harder., and they are also slightly more aggressive than their eastern cousins
Not saying they absolutely couldn't, but to me, trying to go with natural conditions, and being geographically correct with tank mates usually go hand in hand.
 
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