Wanted: American Cichlid for 63-g-tank

[GermanDude]

Hi everybody!
Please excuse my limited language skills, I live in Germany and never used to speak english since the last millenium.

I have a pair of angelfish and one female 3-inch blue acara in a 48x16x20 and would appreciate suggestions for additional fish.

I like amerivcan cichlids and think about 2 or 3 mildly-agressive new tankmates.No pairs, just single-fish.
They should be colorful and tolerate plants like Anubias or Echinodorus.

Why am I asking here, instead of german forums?
Because of the attitude of most users there.
I have often been told that my angelfish are to big for a 63-g for instance; or singly kept cichlids would severly suffer from lack of a partner...
That is why I ask here.
Fishkeepers in the US are more relaxed about my concern, I presume.
And it would be kind if you like to share your experience.

Thanks for reading, have a nice day!

 

[fwprawn]

Welcome - There's a lot of bad energy on here too - so you aren't alone - but I think we can help!

Have you thought about Keyhole Cichlids? Those would be a fantastic addition. I also like Kribs, but they might be a little too nippy for the angelfish.
Rainbow Cichlids are great also. Nicaraguense would be a good match, but it will get too big.

 

[xraycer]

Perhaps a couple of rams and a shoal of neons/cardinal tetras

 

[GermanDude]

Hello!
Thanks a lot for the quick answer!
Are keyholes not quite pale brownish?
I never saw any colorful ones, unfortunenately.
But maybe I just have not seen all kind of them.Are there local population, which show more colors, maybe?
I do really appreciate your advice, but I have 2 more tanks( 63 and 45 g).And there are living kribs in one and lived rainbow cichlids once You could not know that.It is nice to know you like the same.
But I am looking for something new.The nicaraguans are beautiful.I think you are right they get pretty big.
It is not easy to find what I seek...4- 6 inch and colorful.
Bye

 

[fibbingbear]

Rams would make a good addition. Have you thought about any order fish besides cichlids? Clown loaches, cories, tetras. If you want colorful cichlids, you can always try discus.

Sent from my VS910 4G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Blue Bear]

Discus for color and beauty imo.

 

[Murrayt]

+ 1 on Discus. Beautiful Cichlid's which can work well with Angelfish.

Otherwise, Keyholes or Acaras will probably work.

Willkommen to the forum!

 

[GermanDude]

Hello again!Wow, you are really fast, thx!
I kept a lot of fish for many years and i fell in love with american cichlids.I also enjoy watching my rainbowfish, tetras and livebearers, of course.
One of my 63s looks pretty empty now and a little more cichlids would be fine.No tetras, barbs or any other noncichlids
My angels are very gentle, even when breeding.
I think it would be risky to put a breeding pair of other same sized cichlids in there, because of the limited space.
Little group of keyholes could work, or Krobia.
But they are not colorful, I think.
Is there anything similar in size and temper with brighter color?
There are so many cichlids.I do not know all of them.
I discover more and more, for myself.
Greetings

 

[GermanDude]

Sorry for doubleposting, how do i edit my post?Danke für das "Willkommen"!
Discus are very beautiful fish, but as far as I know they are hard to keep.
Is it true that they have a pecking order, which means harmful stress for the weak ones?
Except they are kept in bigger groups of 8-10, because the aggressions are divided?
Ok, that is said about angelfish too, but they seem OK as a pair.
Might it be an option to purchase a breeding pair of discus as tankmates for my angelfish and one acara?
And do not they grow up to 8 inches sometimes?

 

[Murrayt]

Discus have a pecking order, but they aren't as fragile as most would think. They are the most colorful and peaceful Cichlid's for their size. Another option which you may like would be an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey. Great color and not very aggressive. Other than that, Kribs, Keyholes and Acaras are the best for that size of tank.