]V[ONSTER Central American Community Tanks Discussion

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aclockworkorange

Dovii
MFK Member
Jun 24, 2010
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Rose City
Having set up my own 225 gallon CA community this week, I'd like to have a discussion about the unique challenges and rewards these tanks present to hobbyists. Right away, I think the number one aspect of keeping these is undoubtedly COMPATIBILITY. Often times it seems newer hobbyists will see some tanks online on this website or maybe YouTube featuring these big aggressive fish living peacefully together and assume that there's not much to it.

It seems either these tanks seem to magically work out, work well for a while and later all hell breaks loose, or almost immediately don't work with the entire original stock. So let's talk about it!
I think a good minimum tank size for this thread to shoot for is the 180 gallon and up range, but I certainly don't want to exclude anybody who would like to contribute. Also, this thread is focused on CENTRAL American cichlids, not those from South America (if you aren't sure where your fish are from, google). I understand plenty of people mix the two as well, along with other types of fish such as bottom dwellers.

So tell us about your tank (past or present). What's in it? How long has it been running with the current stock? Have you had to remove any fish? Have you had any deaths due to aggression? Is there breeding in the tank? Are there any techniques you've found have helped you (dithers, growing fish out together, etc.)?

Feel free to post a picture, but I'd like to keep this primarily a discussion thread, so it doesn't get lost in the media lounge. :)
 
aclockworkorange said:
Feel free to post a picture, but I'd like to keep this primarily a discussion thread, so it doesn't get lost in the media lounge. :)
Click to expand...

Haven't you seen? The media lounge is where all the action's at nowadays ;)

On a more serious note, I'd also like to see what those people housing large Centrals together in communities have to say about their techniques for making such stocks work long-term. I've recently gone to more pair/solo tanks, but if I upgrade in the future I may want to give one a go.
 
I currently have a 225 gallon 8x30x18 with a la ceiba freddy pair, male red devil, syniispilum, hogaboomorum and lyonsi. Tank has nearly zero aggression except when the freds spawn but even still the majority of the fish just stay away from the pair. All fish are between 6-7" and have been raised together. What I have experienced is if you want a successful community setup the alpha fish needs to not be aggressively in charge but runs the tank still. My male fred who runs the tank is not very aggressive for no reason towards any tankmates but everyone knows hes the boss.
 
Work with all males. Breeding (or attempts) upsets the community
 
fishman09 said:
I currently have a 225 gallon 8x30x18 with a la ceiba freddy pair, male red devil, syniispilum, hogaboomorum and lyonsi. Tank has nearly zero aggression except when the freds spawn but even still the majority of the fish just stay away from the pair. All fish are between 6-7" and have been raised together. What I have experienced is if you want a successful community setup the alpha fish needs to not be aggressively in charge but runs the tank still. My male fred who runs the tank is not very aggressive for no reason towards any tankmates but everyone knows hes the boss.
Click to expand...

Wow, that tank has some crazy dims! I think you hit on a great technique with the alpha fish thing.
 
I have a 210 gallon with 2 red head cichlids about 10", 2 super red sevs 8", 10" male jag, 18" ornate bichir, 6" Senegal bichir, various cats including some syno's and hoplo's and no problems........lucky I guess!
 
I have a mixed ce/sa 300 gallon with 10"male Midas(midevil Im sure) 8" male argentea, 7" male jack dempsey, 7" female freddy, 6" female festae and a 3.5" female convict. Tank also houses 6 4" silver dollars, 4 4-5" L75's, 1 4" L147 and a 5" L204.

Most of these fish grew up together in a 90 gallon as juvies and moved into the 300 about 6 months ago. The silver dollars seem to work really well as targets. The dempsey and freddy have made several attempts to spawn as it appears are the Midas and con(the most unlikely odd-couple). The con is laying eggs as we speak. Not sure if that's even possible, but the loricariids most likely make short work of any eggs and or possible fry. The silver dollars show spawning activity all the time. No spawning from the L75's as of yet, but I'm hopeful they'll start this year and I'll probably rehouse them.

Some of you probably read my thread about my failed/successful attempt at introducing a female jag and the argentea at the same time. The jag didn't work out, but the argentea is doing great. The idea was to introduce both simultaneously to give the argentea a chance to not be the "focus" of the current tank mates upon introduction. That part worked, but the female jag just didn't mesh well the the others at all. She now occupies a 90 solo and I might keep her around to possibly introduce another fish in the not too distant future.......might sound crazy, but as long as I pull her out before she does any real damage, I'll bet this technique could work again. Thinking Lyonsi pair........ maybe........
 
Well, i currently running a 300g(10x2x2)
Residents are(since July11):

Male Lyonsi 9"
Female Lyonsi 6.5"
2 Female Cutteri 3.5"
1 Male Cutteri 4"
3 T. Pasiones 4"(2M 1F)
3 Robertsoni 4.5"(2M 1F)
1 Sajica 2"
1 Panamensis

The only aggression is really between the Robertsoni which i expected but its also minimal. The tank is quite peaceful. I used to keep almost all parachromis but was only a time bomb waiting to explode. The all male thing sounds good in theory but at the end of the day someone has to be alpha and someone has to challenge. Never again for me. I wanted my tank to have a nice mixture of cichlids and be peaceful. So far i've accomplished that. My cutteri have gone to their breeding dress so maybe they'll spawn soon, then I'll see how aggressive they get with the rest of the crew.
 
OK, I will try and keep short. :) All of my large tanks are a bit overstocked, have been dealing with a legal issue that has put all fish spending on hold. Larger tanks more space, etc.. So hopefully things get worked out soon, or else I will be selling some of my larger fish, to keep the tanks from getting to overcrowded. :)

300 gal 72x36x27 w/wet/dry. twice/wk water changes. Most of the fish have been together since they were around 4". The tank has an occasional flare up, so far quite peaceful. My male Hoga is the top fish and never attacks the others he just uses his size to intimidate. Surprised my 12" blue devil hasn't attempted to challenge him. There is a pecking order and they all follow it.

members:
Hogaboomarum pair M 12", F 8"
Loisellei pair M 11", F 5"
Uropthalmus 10"
Xiloaensis M 10"
Blue Devi M 12"
Barred red/red devil F 8"
Kraussi F 12"
Heterospila 10"
Lenticulata Pike 10"
Lucius Pike pair M 6" F 5"
Beani 5"
Grammode M 9", F 4"


250 gal, 96x25x24, 2 x Fx5's, Cascade internal filter, large sponge filter with large power head. Will be adding another Fx5 to this tank real soon.

All of these fish started out as fry, about 1" to 1.5" this past Summer.

Members:
Zonatus Pair M 10" F 8"
3 x Argentea 7"ea
2 x Black belt 7"ea
2 x Bifasciatus M 9"
Bifasciatus F 6"
3 x Regani 9", 5", 4"
Catamaco Fens pair M 7" F 6"
3 x Nourasatti 5", 2 @ 4"
2 x zonatus 4"
Breidohri 8"
Nicaraguensis M 4"
5 diff exotic plecos (vampire, gold nugget, 2 x mustard spot, bristle nose)
Red tail shark 5"

The only issues in this tank are the Alpha male is the 10" Zo, and he tries to spawn with the female BB and Zo, and is constantly flaring at the Argentea and Bifa's. Other than that, is has been a very pleasant tank. My favorite collection of fish, over the other tanks.

210 gal , 72x24x29, 2 x fx5's and 1 AC 110. Last of my larger tanks, and just like the other 2, it has a pecking order and all fish follow. Except this tank has a 12" female RTM in charge. :)

Members:
3 x RTM F 12", M 11", F 10"
2 x La Ciba Freddies 8", 5"
2 x Yellow/bumblebee freddies M 10", F 6"
3 x Blythe Loaches 5"
Choco Pleco 8"
2 x Cubans 4"
strigata pike 8"

Other than just a handful of fish, all of my fish have been together since they were small. They all started in a 150 grow out, and graduated to the larger tanks when they got large enough. I recently relocated 3 x Lyonsi, 2 x Robertsoni, myersi, 4 x Fenestratus, 2 x Breidohri, Trimac, and Istlanum from my grow out tank and into a couple other 135's. Getting these guys to coexist at a young age, has so far worked for me, in trying to get them to coexist when they get larger.
 
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