What fish are compatible with SA's

[waytoodeep03]

I know this question probably has been posed over and over but I am looking for color in my tank.

I have bought a super red texas that should arrive any day but from my experience other South Americans are just bland and blah in the color department.

I know I may get ran out of town but would a full grown African be compatible with a Texas? The Texas is a female at 4 inches I was told. The africans especially those peacocks are just beautiful.

Currently I have an empty completely cycled 125 gallon with no decorations. Just black sand and black background.

 

[Rocksor]

Super red texas is a hybrid Central American fish. I would put any South American cichlid except maybe a festae of the same sex. Female salvinis may work, it all depends on the size of the tank.

 

[waytoodeep03]

Thanks and in my searching I just found out Green Terror's can be a great color.

Will all GT's get good color like this? This is beautiful

 

[duanes]

I don't consider Super Red Texas a Central American cichlid, because Mexico where Herichthys of the carpintus clade are from, is part of "North America" albeit a line bred cichlid, and agree with those who say very few South Americans would be compatible, unless the tank is 200 gallons or more
Only north or central American live bearers that are large enough to not be swallowed would be my choice. Something like sailfin mollies, but only if the tank is large enough to provide escape room, a 6ft tank or larger.
That said I am a bit anal about being geographically correct in show type tanks.

 

[Rocksor]

Super red texas is a hybrid Central American fish. I would put any South American cichlid except maybe a festae of the same sex. Female salvinis may work, it all depends on the size of the tank.

That should have read would NOT put any South American cichlid with a Red Texas, except festae. Many South american fish do not have the jaw structure to adequately compete with a Red Texas, even a green terror would be at a disadvantage and could get considerable lip/jaw damage during lip locking.

 

[waytoodeep03]

That should have read would NOT put any South American cichlid with a Red Texas, except festae. Many South american fish do not have the jaw structure to adequately compete with a Red Texas, even a green terror would be at a disadvantage and could get considerable lip/jaw damage during lip locking.

ahh you are dashing my hopes and dreams rocksor.

I really wanted to get a green terror like that picture. I got a female RT as to hopes she can be compatible with more fish.

I know a RT male would be out of the question

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

I wouldent put any african with central or south amreican fish IMO, people have made it work tho. Only thing you can do is try. You should love whats in your aquarium and not settle for somehting you are just ok with. Always be prepared to remove any fish at any time in this hobby, especialy when dealing with all these cichlids we love.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Why not just get Africans if that's your preference?

 

[duanes]

Many people think the water in the African rift lakes is drastically different chemically than Mexico, or some other places in the new world, and this is a fallacy.
The water west of the Andes (where GTs and festae come from) can be quite alkaline, and very compatible, as are much of the waters in Centrl America.
And some of the waters in West Africa, where many of the African dwarf cichlids are endemic, is just as soft, tannin saturated, and mineral free, as their their cichlid cousins in the black waters of the Amazon.
Other than temp, Lake Michigan is quite similar to the African rift lakes with a pH in the mid to upper 8s, a total alkalinity above 100ppm, and high mineral content.

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

PH really isn't a big deal unless you are trying to breed fish or have something extremely fragile. Fish get acclimated to there environment. Consistency is what they need. I have had discus lay tons of eggs in 7.8ph. They never hatched but the fish were extremely healthy they would lay eggs about once a week.