Sunfish with Cichlids in my 75 Gallon

[Everything Fish]

Hello all, I am new to this forum so I don't know any of you. For the past month or so I have gone back and forth SO many times about what to stock in my 75 gallon. I will definitely be doing one or two SA or CA cichlids but have also wanted natives for so long. I think if I choose the right sunfish and the right cichlids that they will coexist pretty peacefully. As far as water parameters: temperature is 75.5F and ph is 7.6. Water changes are 40% weekly. I will also be doing a few catfish in the tank including a Striped Raphael Catfish, either a Jaguar or Four Line Pim, A Sailfin Pleco (I know the pleco gets to big but I already have it and it will be upgraded in a few years, 2 more than likely), and MAYBE a spotted raphael but probably not. In addition to my 6 Giant Danios.

Here is where it gets a little confusing. I am getting the cichlid(s) in about a week and a half and I am not getting the sunfish for a few months when I can go get one born last year so its of size but not gigantic. I will be catching the sunfish either with a dipnet or rod and reel w/ bent barb on the hook. So I need to have the cichlids not kill the sunfish on sight, what should I do about that.

So what would be some good sunfish and cichlids to go with the other fish I listed? Some cichlids I like are Green Severums (almost a definate), firemouths, Blue Acaras, Convicts, Thanks guys!

 

[Everything Fish]

Nevermind, I think I will just go all cichlids.
I will make a new thread under cichlids.
Can a mod close this thread please.

 

[henningc]

Too bad, it is a nifty idea. Jonah's Aquarium has expertise and sun fish.

 

[Everything Fish]

You think it's a good idea, others have said otherwise many times to me. Maybe I will attempt it, I just don't want to bring in disease from outside into my tank. If I did try it would this work:

1 green severum
1 pumpkinseed or bluegill
6 giant danios
1 striped raphael catfish
1 sailfin pleco (2 years only)
1 jaguar catfish
1 spotted raphael catfish

 

[Wy Renegade]

I wouldn't. Not only do you have potential disease issues mixing the two, but the temperature needs are significantly different as well.

 

[nshepler]

I've kept bluegill with some of my cichlids for years, they tend to do better with South American cichlids though. Given enough space for a bluegill to grow they aren't much different than some cichlids. I've never had any problems.

 

[nshepler]

Temp could be a problem though, deepening on what you want to keep.

 

[Macdaddydaze]

I've always kept blue gills in my track and Sun fish and have never had a problem I say do it

Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 5020N using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[ezy33]

I wouldn't. Not only do you have potential disease issues mixing the two, but the temperature needs are significantly different as well.

I had a friend that wiped out all if his tropical fish by adding a Blue Gill to his 125 gallon system.

 

[henningc]

SOLUTION-Buy another tank. I'm going to do a natives tank this summer and want to do a stream ecosystem. I've kept sunfish of several varieties and they are pigs. They will eat until the burst. They are neat and make a lot of cichlids look whimppy.