90 Gal So. Amer stocking

[DustyLou]

Hello,
I wI'll be setting up a 90 gallon South American cichlid tank and would appreciate some advice.
I am not looking to breed, just want a colorful active tank.
My primary fish will be
1 Electric blue jack Dempsey
I am thinking of adding
2-3 parrots
1 severum
3-4 Corey's
1 bristle nose Pleco
I am wondering about a school of something, and am wondering if I should get tiger barbs or giant danios. And if I get tiger barbs, will albino, green and striped schol together?
Am I overcrouding? Which schooling fish should I get?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Rivers2k]

As soon as I saw the first fish you put was EBJD I thought to myself uh oh. But that stock list you have actually could work. I would up the corries to minimum of 6-8.

As far as schooling don't do tiger barbs or danios you don't want anything hyper active. I would do cherry barbs or lemon tetras some other larger tetra.The reason I say this is EBJDs stress out very very easily, stop eating, and die. They are very sensitive fish and it is very hard to get them past the 3" mark.

 

[DustyLou]

As soon as I saw the first fish you put was EBJD I thought to myself uh oh. But that stock list you have actually could work. I would up the corries to minimum of 6-8.

As far as schooling don't do tiger barbs or danios you don't want anything hyper active. I would do cherry barbs or lemon tetras some other larger tetra.The reason I say this is EBJDs stress out very very easily, stop eating, and die. They are very sensitive fish and it is very hard to get them past the 3" mark.

Thanks for your advice. I think I'll go with the lemon tetra. I was looking to add some yellow. I think maybe the green severum.
Do you think 3 parrots is too much? They seem to like to be in groups.

 

[Rivers2k]

Thanks for your advice. I think I'll go with the lemon tetra. I was looking to add some yellow. I think maybe the green severum.
Do you think 3 parrots is too much? They seem to like to be in groups.

parrots are hit in miss some are very aggressive some are very passive. depends if they go with the midevil side or synspilium side really they also very greatly on sizes I would start with the two and add them after you have the EBJD established.

 

[Freakgecko91]

I'd just forego the parrots all together. They'll pester an EBJD literally to death. Also, if this is your first jump into south/Central American species, I would recommend avoiding the EBJD altogether. Not an easy fish to keep


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Rivers2k]

I'd just forego the parrots all together. They'll pester an EBJD literally to death. Also, if this is your first jump into south/Central American species, I would recommend avoiding the EBJD altogether. Not an easy fish to keep


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

All Very True.

Have you thought of the Electric Blue Acara? I have not kept them but anything has to be easier to keep than the EBJD.

 

[DustyLou]

Yes first attempt at s. American

I have a tropical 55 gal for the past 10 years, but this will be my first attempt at s.a. Chichlids.
Now I'm really confused. I found some info on the web that said EBJD is easy to keep.
Maybe it means if you can get it up to 3".
Basically I just want several large colorful fish that might interact with us and a schol of smaller ones.
I am open to suggestions.
Thanks

 

[Freakgecko91]

EBJD are notoriously weak genetically and rarely make it past the 3" mark. They usually just Wither away.

Having "several large cichlids" in a 90 really isn't gonna be a good plan long term. A 90 is only going to 4 feet long which means restricted territory space. I would pick a pair of moderately sized cichlids, throw in a school of tetras, add some hoplo or porthole catfish and call it a day


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Rivers2k]

when they say easy maybe they mean temperament. They are less aggressive than regular Jacks. But anyone that has tried them will tell you they die really easily. I have tried 3 times and I have lost all 3 and I never lose fish.

I have to disagree with freakgecko on this. He is right that overstocking large cichlids does not work but I don't think you are overstocked with your selection.

 

[jmats]

If you are looking for a fish with personality you could always try oscars. Jacks are usually shy (of course there are exceptions) and will hide behind rocks or in planted areas. Just beware oscars are basically a biohazard to themselves, so you might need to slim down on the other fish you are planning to stock and make sure you filtration is able to handle the bio load.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[DustyLou]

Thanks for the advice. We had our hearts set on the EBJD. Now I don't know. They're too expensive at the pet store, but I see them on eBay cheap. I thought maybe I would get two on eBay and hope one survives.
My hubby wants a blue fish.
I can't find much info on thr electric blue arca (spelling?) you suggested.
I think Oscar may be too big in my 90 with other fish.
I have at least decided on the yellow tetra, thanks for the suggestion. They look beautiful schooling on you tube.
I am in the process of making a sand waterfall now,so I still have time to decide.

 

[Freakgecko91]

Care for an electric blue acara is the same as a blue acara, aequidens pulcher


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[jmats]

Why don't you try Africans instead of American? There are a lot of blue fish.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[mikem691]

Why don't you try Africans instead of American? There are a lot of blue fish.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Stop it! LOL just kidding........

 

[petermanmitch]

Have you thought about having African cichlids instead of s.a? A lot more colors and I think easier to keep


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[petermanmitch]

With Africans there are a lot more colors and easier to keep


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[DustyLou]

I thought of afracians but there were so many to choose from and form 3 different lakes. I did like the blue dolphin.

 

[jmats]

Africans can be rather confusing because there are different lakes and different categories of fish. Not to confuse you, I will not even get into it. If you like the blue moorii (blue dolphin) you can basically choose any haps or peacock cichlid from lake Malawi. Just DO NOT get any mbuna type cichlids.

Here are a list of haps from lake Malawi
http://livefishdirect.com/store.php?cid=5&pg=3
And here is a list of peacocks
http://livefishdirect.com/store.php?cid=3


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[petermanmitch]

Lake Malawi are the most common ones I have found at your local pet store. If you go to a specialist pet store the choices will be greater.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Rivers2k]

my vote is for american cichlids. Africans have bright colors but aren't very relaxing IMO they are always chasing each other. They don't have the personality or the patterns of american cichlids.

Also don't get EBJD off ebay they will not survive.

Electric Blue Acara is very easy to care for. Very tough fish. mix those with some orange or red fish and you will have a great splash of color.

If blue is all you are looking for my top choices are.

1. Honduran Red Point. (they have a beautiful blue metallic sheen that doesn't show in pictures).

2. Electric Blue Acara

3. Electric Blue Rams. You could get a few pairs in a 90 and breed them

4. Nicaraguan Cichlids (one of my favorites Blue and Yellow)

More aggressive side (wont work with severum or parrots)

1. Texas Cichlids
2. Geophagus Brasilines -pearl cichlids (yellow and blue)

Stick all these into google image and pic what you like.