I'm looking for a fish that can hold its own against a convict cichlid in a 30 gallon tank. It has to stay small enough to live in the 30 gallon tank. Breeding would be nice, but that's not a priority. Tankmates would be "common" fish like white cloud mtn minnows and platies. Possibly a large-ish catfish as well. Filtration is an AquaTech Power Filter (30-60 gallons). Additionally, there's an Aqueon circulation pump (500 gph) in the aquarium as well. So far, there's only a piece of hornwort and a banana lily plant in the tank as well as 8 white cloud mtn minnows, as the other fish are in a tub outside. I'm thinking either Thorichthys meeki, or Cleithracara maronii, as they're both relatively cheap and easy to find. But are there any other fish that would do well in such a tank? It has to be a fish that's not too picky about water quality (pH, GH, KH, etc.). Water changes are done with the waste water from the RO/DI filter for my saltwater and planted tanks. Suggestions?
Thorichthys meeki vs. Cleithracara maronii?
- Thread starter ichthyogeek
- Start date
Either central will absolutely destroy a keyhole cichlid. I've seen apistos dominate them. Despite their size, keyholes are one of the most passive, shy cichlids I've ever owned.
Both the convict and firemouth will eventually at the minnows and platies. What are the dimensions of the tank?
I'm fairly certain it's a 36X13X 16 inch tank.
welsher7
I've yet to see the convict eat the bigger minnows in the tub, but I know that he's eating at least some of the fry, which I'm okay with. Same with platies.
Ok, so if firemouths are out, then what can I get that will offset the convict? Surely there's something that can offset the convict? If not one of the SA/CA cichlids, then maybe one of the more placid africans? If so, I'll just post a question on the African Cichlids forum...
welsher7
I've yet to see the convict eat the bigger minnows in the tub, but I know that he's eating at least some of the fry, which I'm okay with. Same with platies.Ok, so if firemouths are out, then what can I get that will offset the convict? Surely there's something that can offset the convict? If not one of the SA/CA cichlids, then maybe one of the more placid africans? If so, I'll just post a question on the African Cichlids forum...
Male or female convict? A 30 gallon really isn't a lot of room for a "community" cichlid environment long term. You might be able to get away with a female convict and a female of another of the more robust cryptoheros species (panamensis, cutteri, sajica). Opposite genders have a high likelihood of hybridizing. Your best bet would be to pick a pair of a single species and go from there.
Yeah, a tank that size would be okay for a pair of small cichlids maybe, but mixing them as a community isn't going to work. I tried a male convict with all sorts of things in a 29 gallon as a kid and the convict eventually destroyed them all. Until my LFS suggested a salvini, which promptly killed the convict. So I'd say mixing Centrals in a tank that size is a crapshoot either way.
It's a male. He's got the characteristic flowing fins, as well as a slight hump on his head (nuchal hump maybe?) So I guess this means that none of the options work at this moment, do they?
I'm getting slightly desperate at this point...so would a julidochormis work? Not an mbuna, but one of the tanganyikan cichlids? Or do they still need super hard doctored water?
I'm getting slightly desperate at this point...so would a julidochormis work? Not an mbuna, but one of the tanganyikan cichlids? Or do they still need super hard doctored water?