Finding Suitable Fish for Cichlids

[Mark_L]

Hey, I'm planning on filling my tank with mostly cichlids, but I've heard there are other fish that can go well with them... I was thinking on keeping my Australian Rainbowfish, Pleco, and maybe even my silver dollars.. Do they seem like they would be ok with African or S. American cichlids?

 

[Mark_L]

Also would a South American Puffer be able to go with S. American cichlids?

 

[KidFish]

I can't comment on the other fish but I think the puffer fish are pretty species only!

 

[squirrilah fish]

I kept Australian rainbow fish with African cichlids for years. I had a group of 6 2 males, 4 females. It was fine. But I recently sold them to add more cichlids. It looked kinda weird. I've also kept them with a rainbow shark, and Chinese algae eater.

 

[Rivers2k]

I cant comment on rainbows with chichlids I have never tried.

However I do have allot of puffer experience. No a south american puffer can not be kept with cichlids and as a matter of personal opinion I don't think they should be sold because they are very difficult to keep alive. I know of one person ( a very advanced puffer keeper) that was successful at keeping south american puffers and even he said he doesn't think they should be in the hobby. They are a actually a shoaling puffer they need to be in groups otherwise they get very stressed. They need allot of room minimum 125 for a group of 6 and their beaks grow much faster than other puffers and will need dental work even if they are fed the proper diet of crunchy food.

 

[Mark_L]

Oh man thanks! I would have come into some serious trouble!