Help needed w/ tank upgrade! :)

[Karmachica]

Excited to announce that after 7 months of suffering from multiple tank syndrome, I've expanded my addiction to "bigger" multiple tank syndrome and FINALLY purchased a 55g long for my cichlids
My current 29g has:
1 male sunshine peacock
2 female sunshine peacocks

I'm excited to provide them with an appropriate size home when they move to the 55g and I will no longer feel like a bad fish parent here when everyone tells me my tank is too small for them lol
With that being said... I know upgrading from a 29g to a 55g isn't that extraordinary in terms of size but I was hoping to be able to add a little more stock once the new tank is situated properly.
I'm not interested in getting rid of the 3 cichlids that I have, so what suggestions does anyone have for adding more stock in terms of quantity, male/female, and I'm open to any species - not sure if that would even be an option though.
I'm not looking to make my tank stock complicated, or to add stock only to find out its a recipe for disaster - just looking at my options and planning things the right way.

Thanks in advance for any opinions or advice during my new adventure of tank upgrading

 

[Karmachica]

Anyone? :/

 

[cgthebeast]

Excited to announce that after 7 months of suffering from multiple tank syndrome, I've expanded my addiction to "bigger" multiple tank syndrome and FINALLY purchased a 55g long for my cichlids
My current 29g has:
1 male sunshine peacock
2 female sunshine peacocks

I'm excited to provide them with an appropriate size home when they move to the 55g and I will no longer feel like a bad fish parent here when everyone tells me my tank is too small for them lol
With that being said... I know upgrading from a 29g to a 55g isn't that extraordinary in terms of size but I was hoping to be able to add a little more stock once the new tank is situated properly.
I'm not interested in getting rid of the 3 cichlids that I have, so what suggestions does anyone have for adding more stock in terms of quantity, male/female, and I'm open to any species - not sure if that would even be an option though.
I'm not looking to make my tank stock complicated, or to add stock only to find out its a recipe for disaster - just looking at my options and planning things the right way.

Thanks in advance for any opinions or advice during my new adventure of tank upgrading

I would help but I'm clues when it come to cichlids. It's pretty late at night, but I'm sure somebody will post something

 

[Karmachica]

Lol thanks

I'm just going to check out the stocking calculator thing on here & go from there while I do more research - I forgot about the stocking calc available here

 

[cgthebeast]

Lol thanks

I'm just going to check out the stocking calculator thing on here & go from there while I do more research - I forgot about the stocking calc available here

Sounds like a plan, sorry I couldn't be much help :{)

 

[Karmachica]

I looked up tank mates for my peacocks and I think I know what I want.
I currently have a trio of either sunshine peacocks or German red peacocks(1male-2female)

Through my research I think I may go with:
A trio of Placidochromis Electra or common name-Deep Water Hap?

Here's a pic of them:




Does anyone have these? Does anyone know if this would work?

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

If you want to add more peacocks you want to keep multiple females to just a few males. You could do another group of peacocks or some smaller haps. Most Victorian haps should be okay in a 55 with some peacocks.

 

[Mogurako]

Placidochromis electra get to be 5-6" and are a very active fish. Like all Haps I wouldn't keep them in anything smaller than a 5-6' tank.

 

[Karmachica]

First let me start off by saying thank you for your responses and I do value everyone's opinion especially because I'm the one asking for help in the first place.

I read a lot of posts here and do a lot of my own research online to gain knowledge of this hobby and to avoid making mistakes at the expense of my fish. I also understand that what works for one tank might have a different outcome in a different tank.

I'm not the 'hobbyist' that saw cool fish at the store, bought them and afterwards decided to look into what I bought... I'm the 'hobbyist' that saw a tank at a friend's house that was disgusting, had 3 poor unknown fish in it, and instead of turning my back on her flushing them- I rescued them - I took them home with their tank, cleaned it up, researched them, narrowed it down to Aulonocara Baenschi Malawi peacocks.

My fish are amazing & I've learned more about cichlids in the past 7months than I've learned about my cats in the past 10years. The biggest issue that always came up about my fish is that I need a 55g - and then I could add a few more. It's always 'everyone needs a bigger tank' and I understand that fish have requirements. Just like people- we can survive in a cardboard box but we won't thrive in one. Well I would certainly thrive in a mansion... But I can't afford it so I live in an apartment. Lol

I haven't even had the pleasure of setting up my new 55g (4ft long) and I'm already feeling discouraged of 'you need a bigger tank'. I can't go bigger than a 55g where I live for fear of my tank ending up in my neighbors living room below me due to weight.

I'm thinking I will either move my 3 peacocks to the 55g and in 10years when they die I will revisit the idea of what to put in my tank- Or just return my new tank and find someone that has a 3,000g tank with room to spare and is a cichlid expert.- I just feel like unless I'm living in a house made of concrete with a gigantic wallet and a gigantic tank - I'm never going to have more fish than my 3 peacocks housed 'properly'- like ever. Lol

-Oh yeah.. Did I mention they had babies and 2 survived and they're adorable and almost an inch long? Lol I will stop looking into what I can add and just focus on taking care of what I already have & I guess figure out if I can even do that.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

You can defiantly add more than just your three peacocks to a 55. Just shoot us some ideas and I'm sure mog and I can help you find the perfect compatible stock.

 

[Mogurako]

You can defiantly add more than just your three peacocks to a 55. Just shoot us some ideas and I'm sure mog and I can help you find the perfect compatible stock.

I agree don't get discouraged just because certain fish won't work. There's a multitude of fish that will work in your planned 55. Is there certain colors you are looking for?

 

[haleybeth30]

I think most would agree the friendlier mbuna species are compatible with peacocks. They are smaller, could maybe pick up a few more fish that way..

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I think most would agree the friendlier mbuna species are compatible with peacocks. They are smaller, could maybe pick up a few more fish that way..

In a 55 a mixed African tank can be pretty risky IMO

 

[haleybeth30]

oh ok, stand corrected. I have a yellow lab and hongi with my peacocks, the mbuna are an inch smaller for now, though. I suppose it's true things could get ugly when mbuna get bigger in a 55. I have a 75g, soon upgrading to 125...

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

oh ok, stand corrected. I have a yellow lab and hongi with my peacocks, the mbuna are an inch smaller for now, though. I suppose it's true things could get ugly when mbuna get bigger in a 55. I have a 75g, soon upgrading to 125...

I have a 125 mixed and don't have any problems. Yellow labs may work, typically are pretty nice.

 

[Karmachica]

My reasoning/concerns about adding are a combination of aggression and possibly adding a little more color - but I'm not particular about the color or species at the expense of what I already have.

My male peacock (while I do enjoy having him) he can be kind of a ?!&#%! .. If u know what I mean.. It's not all the time but there are moments that he will not leave my 2 female peacocks alone & while I understand its a breeding thing, he stresses me out just watching him sometimes so I can only imagine how the females feel. - so with that being said, I will most likely be adding another female.

The reason I asked about the Placidochromis Electra was because
1. They were on a compatibility list with Aulonocara peacocks for a 55g
2. I read that since their appearance was slightly different than peacocks -it would help reduce aggression compared to adding more peacocks since in that situation it might add competition and cause more aggression.
3. I liked their appearance, thought they may add a little diversity to the tank, and the black stripe by their eye makes them look a lil 'hood lol IMO

At the end of the day, I'm ok if my stock idea wasn't the best and will keep looking into other possibilities. And I do appreciate everyone giving their advice and sharing personal experiences because that's the reason we all come here. I will look into other ideas and continue my research.

Looking ahead- although this may take patience on my part, I might wait until my 2 babies grow up more and then make a decision after that. If both my babies end up being males, then I won't really be able to add anything except a bunch of females. I know waiting that out will take forever though as I understand some males don't show color for a long time.


Cichlids.Are.Complicated.