tankmates for Jewel cichlids

[Tjend]

hey everyone just started my 30 gallon over, got it cycled , and now it has 4 jewel cichlids in it about 1-2 inches, 2$ a piece. i was wondering what good tankmates would be. also i would like some kind of fish in the tank that will help with algae. also does anyone know how to sex these.
Thanks

 

[sericinda]

Mine are odd...they share a tank with a rescue Kribinsis (tossed him in there while setting up a tank just for him and they all got along so I left him), a clown pleco, a spotted raphael catfish and a crayfish. They all get along fabulously and have for about 10 months now. The jewels and the crayfish share a cave, and the cray has molted and they never bothered him. Strange.

I'm assuming both my jewels are female, but still find it surprising they get along with the crayfish so well.

I wouldn't recommend it, but it worked for me lol

Here are some pics

 

[screaminleeman]

I have mine in with baby bluegills and a nice sized crayfish. The crayfish picked off three bluegill fry, but is not agressive toward the Jewel cichlids.

 

[Tjend]

haha i got a crawfish in with mine aswell i was walking in HEB the other day and came across the seafood section and decided to get a couple of pounds of live crawfish. it was like 40 crawfish for 4 $, i put 1 in the 30 g another in the 55 g and the rest in the stock tanks at the ranch . the crawfish in the 30g is chill and is a very pretty red and is very active. but what other cichlids would go with the jewels

 

[viejo]

Non territorial schooling fishes such as characins, barbs or rainbowfish are a better choice for communities containing jewels or most other cichlids for that matter. I'm not sure why the red hemichromis have such a bad rap, there are both more aggressive ( like some kribs ) & less aggressive species. The bright red breeding dress is designed to keep potential fry predators at a distance. As long as they respect this, no problemo. Sometimes territorial fishes feel obliged to take a stand, not a good tactic with parental jewels.

 

[Nate_N_Nicole]

Nice jewls, crayfish is awesome...