How many cichlids?

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futurestep9169

futurestep9169

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
52
Location
Michigan
I have a 55g with a Pleco, a Firemouth, and a Tiger Oscar. I know, I know - I'm overstocked. I am getting rid of the Tiger Oscar. I want to add an electric blue, electric yellow, and a jewel cichlid. Is this too many fish? How many cichlids can I have without overstocking? I want lots of colorful fish!

Thanks in advance!
 
Are you replacing the firemouth to? You should try to pick only one type of cichlid as in sa/ca, african rift, african riverine and there are others i just am drawling a blank
 
Andrew McFadden said:
Are you replacing the firemouth to? You should try to pick only one type of cichlid as in sa/ca, african rift, african riverine and there are others i just am drawling a blank
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Well which family are all the really colorful cichlids (i.e electric blue and electric yellow and jewel cichlid)?
 
futurestep9169 said:
Well which family are all the really colorful cichlids (i.e electric blue and electric yellow and jewel cichlid)?
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They are all really colorful if you look around, some will be kinda hard to find then others. The jewel is a African riverine cichlid and the others are Malawi. The firemouth is a new world cichlid.
 
Andrew McFadden said:
They are all really colorful if you look around, some will be kinda hard to find then others. The jewel is a African riverine cichlid and the others are Malawi. The firemouth is a new world cichlid.
Click to expand...

I had no idea there were so many types of Cichlids! Guess I need to do more research. Thanks for the info. Can I order them online?
 
If your Pleco is of average size then I think you could have at least 5 chichlids I recommend rams because they don't get to big but they are peaceful and vulnerable
 
Keep the firemouth and get rid of the Oscar as you said. Get the electric blue too! And then maybe some silver dollars, or clown loaches. You could also get a rubber lip or bristle nose pleco as well. Elecric yellow is an African cichlid. They are much to aggressive for your tank, and need to be kept with other Africans only. The Jewel is also an african... BUT.. It should not be kept with Mbuna like the electric yellow. Do some googling on this stuff before you buy.
 
Nathanpopp said:
Keep the firemouth and get rid of the Oscar as you said. Get the electric blue too! And then maybe some silver dollars, or clown loaches. You could also get a rubber lip or bristle nose pleco as well. Elecric yellow is an African cichlid. They are much to aggressive for your tank, and need to be kept with other Africans only. The Jewel is also an african... BUT.. It should not be kept with Mbuna like the electric yellow. Do some googling on this stuff before you buy.
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Well I got LFS to take my tiger Oscar - with much reluctance lol. I kept the firemouth and got 2 silver dollars and 4 tiger barbs. My common Pleco is in there too. LFS said no no no when I asked if I could get an electric blue. You guys think otherwise?
 
Also, I just had to add - my firemouth cichlid who has been in hiding since the day I got him, seems to now think that he is a silver dollar. He swims right along with them, exploring the tank and trying to play catch up with them. So cute!
 
The Silver Dollars should be kept in groups of at least four ideally. Otherwise they can be quite skittish. The Tiger Barbs should also be in a larger group too either 6 or 8, otherwise you could find they will nip the fins of your other fish.
 
chew valley said:
The Silver Dollars should be kept in groups of at least four ideally. Otherwise they can be quite skittish. The Tiger Barbs should also be in a larger group too either 6 or 8, otherwise you could find they will nip the fins of your other fish.
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Hmmmm ok. I will go back and get some more.
 
I have 4 centrals in my 55 with 2 dwarf plecos, and 2 orange chromides, 2 angels and various schooling fish, they do fine.
The centrals are female convict, firemouth, rainbow and jade eye.
The plecos are flash and clown.
 
Fishy Smell said:
If it was a Bolivian it probably wouldn't. I had a firemouth live with one, although the firemouth certainly let it know who was boss to start with.
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That may be your experience. But taking a 3" inch fish and putting with a big aggressive cichlid, it's not going to last long.
 
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