What cichlids can go into an 85gal hex?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Say that to my Green Texans lol. In case there's a misconception, I am saying they're not the most aggressive american out there, not by a long shot. Most cichlids are aggressive, just to what extent and Green Texans aren't THAT aggressive. They won't actively chase other americans with a killing intent. They can be territorial, but more than likely will hide when cover is provided, or get along relatively well with other americans. Of course each cichlid has their own personality, so there is most definitely some really aggressive Green Texans out there, but they're mostly okay. My friend has a very tame Jag, doesn't mean all Jags are tame either. People call a species 'aggressive' or 'placid' or whatever when referring to them in general, with the understanding that some individuals differ
 
Madness said:
It is a HEX tank. No cichlid out there wants to be in a 20 gal tank. Essentially that is what an 85 hex is, it has no more floor space than a 20 gal reg tank. IMO those tall hex tanks are worthless and are only good for Angels, Discus or small dwarfs, or tetras. You want a large fish get a larger tank.
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This is where I have to step in and disagree. As someone who's kept discus for a long time and bred angels for 15+ years, they are no less cichlids than any of the other fish listed. Just because a fish is tall and laterally-compressed does not mean it is suited for a tall hex or cylindrical tank. Discus especially need a larger footprint because of their hierarchical nature and the fact that you need at least 4, but preferably 6, individuals to neutralize the conspecific aggression often seen in them. A cube tank would probably be great for a single bonded pair of discus or maybe growing out a small group of juveniles up to a point, but there still will come a time when they'll reach adult size and it'll be hard to escape each other when chasing/fighting/spawning.

Angels are a bit more forgiving just because they don't usually have the bulk of discus, but they still get aggressive with each other once spawning begins. You could probably do a group of four adults in there with some top and bottom dwelling fish, but it could still get nasty if and when the angels spawn, depending on how large the adults end up being. It also depends on whether or not you keep wilds or wild-crosses, or domestics. Anyone who's kept wild or wild-cross angelfish will tell you that they're much more feisty than domestics. I had a wild group of 12 Peruvian scalare that slowly picked off the weakest in the group in a 125 until I only had three left.

If you're going to do angels, get a group of four or five juvenile fish with some deep-bodied tetras or hatchetfish to fill out the top level of the tank and maybe a pair of dwarf cichlids and some cory cats for the bottom. The idea in a tall tank is to occupy all levels. The problem with South American cichlids, as someone mentioned to you in the Pike section, is that they all tend to want to occupy the mid and lower levels of the tank, and there just isn't enough floor space in a tall tank to accommodate more than one or two cichlids.

I have a 60 gallon cube tank that I kept a pair of angels and one small port cichlid in. This worked out fine. You just can't go stocking it with large cichlids, and you have to accept the fact that you won't be able to keep several fish in it without aggression/territorial disputes. Now all I use the cube for is growing out fry because it's pretty worthless as long-term tank for adults, IMO.
 
I know this is CA/sa chiclids but there are some nice African chcilids that could go in there maybe that have awesome color maybe a kenyi( I do not know much about them other than they are aggressive) or fire mouths for a CA/sa
 
Whats your feelings on Blood Parrots? They stay short,are aggressive and would have plenty of swimming space
 
Madness said:
It is a HEX tank. No cichlid out there wants to be in a 20 gal tank. Essentially that is what an 85 hex is, it has no more floor space than a 20 gal reg tank. IMO those tall hex tanks are worthless and are only good for Angels, Discus or small dwarfs, or tetras. You want a large fish get a larger tank.

To the guy that said Green Texas are not aggressive. WRONG, Carpintis are just as if not more aggressive than the Texas.
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even though it is short it is wide and gives some extra usable floor space...
 
Agreed.. none of those big boys would fit as a single, let alone as a pair. I have an O, GT,RD,JAG, Salvini, Red Tex, JD, and Convict growing out in a 135, all 2-3ins. By spring they will be in an 8ft 475 gal, and still may be crowded if some of my CA's are males. DONT CROWD BIG CICHLIDS!!!
 
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