What order to add fish?

[Buphy]

So I’m going to be setting up my 125 in a month or 2 and I think I have the stock picked out. Only problem is, I don’t think I can afford the fish all at once. That being said, I’m trying to figure out the best order to add the fish to avoid and aggression or territorial issues. What order would you add them in?

- Heros Notatus
- Geophagus Mirabilis
- Crenicichla Regina (or maybe compressiceps)
- Denison barbs
- Royal pleco

 

[duanes]

Because each cichlid is so vastly different shape and look from the other, I don't think that territoriality will be an issue.
I usually only gets problematic when their are different species but similar body shapes, which usually means they have similar innate territorial and feeding needs.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I agree with duanes, none of these are particularly aggressive, should be OK either way. But I would probably add the dwarf crenicichla first, so they are not dropped into a large tank full of much larger fish and get intimidated.

 

[duanes]

I agree with GS, and if it were my tank, I'd add the notatus last (being what I consider the most territorial).
If they were all juvies, I wouldn't worry either way.

Here's what I would consider "troublesome" combinations.
Notatus, any Vieja, and Etroplus suratensus, because all are primarily all vegetarian and all similar shapes.
An other bad combination, H carpintus, P polleni, Rocio octofasciatus, all similar shape, all blue spangled, all territorial.

or another bad combination, Any Parachromis, with any pike cichlid, and any predatory African like eg, Nimbochromis, all similar shaped, all predatory, all highly territorial.

 

[Buphy]

Not planning on adding anything else. Did consider hoplarchus psittacus but I’m pretty sure they get too big for my 125... thinking of starting with the denisons so they can get some size before adding anything else. The mirabilis are probably gonna be the hardest for me to get so they will be as soon as they’re available.

 

[ryansmith83]

Wet Spot has small tank-raised mirabilis now.

 

[neutrino]

Size is another factor imo, which in this case will probably coincide with the comments above, anyway. For example, if mirabilis are 1-1.5" (size listed at Wetspot) and notatus or crenicichla were 3-4", I'd add the geos first and let them grow a bit-- or another option is to temporarily divide the tank and let the geos grow a bit, something I've done in some cases.

On the other hand, ime 1" geos in a fairly large tank can be skittish without dithers, unless there's a mess of them. If fish from your list are all available and similar size, and budget permits, it wouldn't worry me to add them together in a 125 (assuming up to speed filtration to support them).