What species can Co exist peacefully with cichlids?

[Fish_lord]

I'm thinking of setting up a 150 gallon cichlid tank but want it to be a community tank if I do.what would mix with south American or African cichlids apart from catfish and plecostomus thanks


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[TMRC Exotics]

Africans, next to nothing. For sa/ca I would defer to the experts, some tetras and things with the more peaceful species.

Most Africans are pretty evil and need species only or groups known to work well.

 

[Fish_lord]

So basically cichlids are best off as a species on its own


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[sinibotia]

Some synodontis species with africans.

With South Americans it depends entirely on what kind of cichlids. What did you have in mind?

 

[PassengerTN]

Just a hypothetical stocking idea for you

2 Tiger Oscars
School of Silver Dollars
Kissing Gouramis
School of Tinfoil Barbs - these will get too large in time
Couple of Clown Loaches, but certainly not 15! Maybe 3-4

 

[PassengerTN]

Hold,,,,,

 

[sinibotia]

Just a hypothetical stocking idea for you

2 Tiger Oscars
School of Silver Dollars
Kissing Gouramis
School of Tinfoil Barbs - these will get too large in time
Couple of Clown Loaches, but certainly not 15! Maybe 3-4

Yes I know 15 was an exaggeration for a community tank! But at least 5 for a proper school!

 

[Fish_lord]

Mbuna and peacocks I was thinking.i like the idea with oscars with the dollars and I could regime the fish when they become to large for the aquarium.and that would give the tank a nice bit of colour aswell.what fish would you add first to the aquarium or would you recommend too as I know cichlids can be very territorial


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[Gillie]

Africans, next to nothing. For sa/ca I would defer to the experts, some tetras and things with the more peaceful species.

Most Africans are pretty evil and need species only or groups known to work well.

Not true there are plenty of West African species that would work, especially Pelvicachromis species and Anomalochromis Thomasi.

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[Fish_lord]

Not too keen on the barbs any ideas on a replacement species


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[PassengerTN]

Here's my dream African tank

Black sand as substrate
Texas holey rock as decor
Lots of Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Small Pleco

Nice and simple. Males are blue/black barred and females are yellow. Don't know why, but this has been a want of mine for a very long time lol

 

[ImACoolguy]

Mbuna and peacocks I was thinking.i like the idea with oscars with the dollars and I could regime the fish when they become to large for the aquarium.and that would give the tank a nice bit of colour aswell.what fish would you add first to the aquarium or would you recommend too as I know cichlids can be very territorial


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Mbuna and peacock mix is not for the faint of heart. It takes lots of carful attention to stocking and personality of the fish or you could have a bloodbath. For your size tan you could easily do a peacocks/haps mix


Caleb

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[NigelK8485]

I'd do frontosa as the main fish, then some haps, calvus, or Malawi eye biters for some variation. Throw in a large pleco, syno., or some loaches for the bottom and call it a day.


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[sinibotia]

I'd do frontosa as the main fish, then some haps, calvus, or Malawi eye biters for some variation. Throw in a large pleco, syno., or some loaches for the bottom and call it a day.


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No loaches with african cichlids...

Plecos and synos,

 

[NigelK8485]

No loaches with african cichlids...



Plecos and synos,

You can keep clown loaches with them.


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[ImACoolguy]

Featherfin catfish could hold its own. They are quite territorial


Caleb

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[PassengerTN]

You could do school of hatchetfish. Though they may be eaten by an Oscar when big enough


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[sinibotia]

You can keep clown loaches with them.


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No, you really shouldn't.

Why Loaches Shouldn't Be Kept With Malawi Cichlids

 

[NigelK8485]

No, you really shouldn't.



Why Loaches Shouldn't Be Kept With Malawi Cichlids

Frontosa are from lake tanganyika, not Malawi.


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[sinibotia]

Frontosa are from lake tanganyika, not Malawi.


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The general idea of the article still holds. Wildly different water conditions, and far more aggression than the loach should have to put up with.

Also, eye biters and haps ARE from Malawi.