Can I Get More?

[GouramiFanatic]

I purchased three new juvenile Firemouth Cichlids last weekend and I'm already in love with them. They range in about 1.5 - 2" right now. I'd like to get more to ensure I get at least one male/female pair. I just don't know if I'm already at my limit right now. What do you think?

Here's what I've got right now in my 75 gallon.

(1) sailfin pleco (about 10-11" - he/she is at 8 years old so I'm thinking it's done growing)
(3) yoyo loaches (about 4" long at about 6 years old)
(2) dojo loaches (about 5" long at about 6 years old)
(10) tiger barbs (all juvies at about 1" - maybe less)
(3) firemouth cichlids (all juvies 1.5 - 2" long)

If more firemouths are out of the question, would it be ok to get another schooling fish to add more life? Maybe a school of sarpae tetras or something similar?

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Sounds like your close to being fully stocked considering the size of alot of your fish. You could do a small school of a smaller tetra species tho I'm not sure how your fm's will be around them as they mature.
A 5" f.m. would probably consider a neon or cardinal tetra lunch.

 

[OBEYtheFISH]

Doesn't the sailfin plec need a minimum of 125 gallons at least?

 

[GouramiFanatic]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'll leave my tank as it is for now and hope that I get a good pairing out of the trio.

At about 8 years of age, I think that my Sailfin Pleco is full grown. It has plenty of space in my 75. I did read up on them once I got an accurate name for it (the pet store had it labeled as something different so I wasn't expecting it to get as big). From what I read, a 75 gallon is the minimum that it should be housed in. If I had the room, I would've gotten a larger tank, but my space was cramped as it was with the 75. It started out in my 46 gallon, but it quickly outgrew it so I bought a 75 gallon for home and brought it home. It's thrived here.