75 gallon south american cichlid tank

[josh7]

I am sort of rethinking this Oscar idea until I can get a 125 so i know i want a black ghost knife, and 4 silver dollars. I am looking at different cichlid types Jack Dempsey, Texas Cichlid, Convict, Severum, Green Terror, which of these list do you think will go best with the ghost knife and silver dollars.

 

[Smcoyle87]

Blue Acara. But of the one's you listed Severum. I don't really know all that much about black ghosts but something is telling me that the other fish would be too aggressive for it.

 

[Smcoyle87]

Once again, I am no expert. (yet!) lol

 

[josh7]

Actually I have heard the black ghost is quite aggressive not sure if I'm right on that one but I was thinking maybe a jack would get it as a baby 5 silver dollars and the ghost but I don't know yet.

 

[CaliO]

Well I wouldn't put anything with a jack dempsey. They are more aggressive then classifed.. I've seen [2] 2" jacks torment [6] 5" convicts to death.. One by one....

The ghost will do fine in both a community or cichlid tank. They are slightly aggressive but there also only 1" tall.. As long as they have somewhere to hide... The silver dollars are community only fish...

IMO I wouldn't put the silver dollars in if I wanted a cichlid tank..The knife is cool tho..

 

[josh7]

Alright could I do a severum, firemouth, convict ghost knife and some type of small dither fish any ideas.

 

[Pton46]

If you are looking for Dithers for Cichlids....Tin Foil Barbs....They will stay the pace in growth and Fast. If you are looking for Small Giant Danios they get about 4 inches and real fast .You'll need at least 5+ danios to school and a Shoal of the Tin Foil Barbs 6+.

 

[josh7]

It's only a 75 gallon though I have heard tin foils need a 125 gallon minimum.

 

[HUKIT]

It's only a 75 gallon though I have heard tin foils need a 125 gallon minimum.

Your correct tin foils will reach 12-14" and have no business in that size tank. Buenes Aires or Congo Tetras are good choices for fast schooling fish. IMO a BGK and some a schooling fish fill out a 75g long term, especially when they hit the 16-20" mark.

 

[josh7]

Well how about this 4 silver dollars, 1 red severum, 1 Black Ghost knife I think the severum will get along with the silver dollars since IMO they are a very peaceful cichlid any thoughts on this.

 

[CaliO]

Well how about this 4 silver dollars, 1 red severum, 1 Black Ghost knife I think the severum will get along with the silver dollars since IMO they are a very peaceful cichlid any thoughts on this.

Just one cichlid should be alright. Try for a female that why it's even less aggressive.

 

[josh7]

Okay then how can you sex a red severum.

 

[CaliO]

Okay then how can you sex a red severum.

It's called venting. You flip fish over and look at their a**holes. If there two holes are the same size their male, if one hole is smaller than the other it's a female.

 

[josh7]

I'm thinking about dropping the ghost knife they just seem to big could I do a severum pair 4 silver dollars some type of bottom feeder. Or could a jack dempsey pair and clown loaches work.

 

[HUKIT]

You could certainly do a pair of Sev's or Jack's but instead of clowns which are slow growers but do get large I'd choose yoyo's instead. Then you could also keep a small school of tetras as well(depending on your pairs tolerance level).

 

[josh7]

I already have yoyos and was wanting something different at all my lfs's around here the clowns are sold at 4-5 inches is that okay to put with them with a jack or sec since they are already that big.

 

[HUKIT]

You could do clowns but at some point you would certainly need a larger tank and rehome them since they will reach 12"+...it takes a long time with these guys.

 

[josh7]

Yah I would plan an upgrade to a 125 whenever they reached 10 inches how long would that even take them though and instead of a jack pair as they seem really aggressive could I do a single jack and some silver dollars or should I just do a red severum pair. Also if you mix severum colors will different colors pair up.

 

[josh7]

Alright I won't get clowns either I just want something that's good for a 75 I think I will go with a Jack Dempsey pair and a featherfin catfish. Also could I possibly try another catfish with them.

 

[LogansMomma]

I don't know about a red severum being peaceful or not..... Mine is probably the most aggressive in my tank.... Lol
I have two tiger Oscars the red spotted golden servrum and a red devil. The severum is quite tempermental..... Especially to my red devil... But the devil is smaller.... Might just be a dominance thing... :/ when I added him he was the largest and now my Oscars are quickly out growing him... Odd behavior compared to what I've heard about severums.