Best American cichlid pair/single male for 75 gallon?
- Thread starter HybridFinatic
- Start date
if you read the posts of above from duanes Gourami Swami. I should not have to explain much more. Also a 75 gives 18 inches of width not 21
I am not saying that an Oscar or a red devil can fit into a 55 or 40 gallon. I said jack dempseys.
I believe what you are saying is true but your talking about in a natural environment, being bodies of water in Central America but we’re talking about fish that are bred to be sold in the fish keeping hobby who know they are in a fish tank.
You may be personifying fish too much-
Whether or not they are aware of what contains them or not they will do their best when we do our best to mimic nature.
I do think many ppl overstate tank sizes but I feel it comes from a place of concern and experience.
If you provide better than min. Requirements you fish will be easier to keep thriving.
This hobby has many barriers to entry cost and space being the largest. We don’t need ppl who leave the hobby after 1 year because they have mAde their aquarium a ton of work- because of either not having patience, not taking advice or wanting to keep every fish all at the same time.
Duane’s has pictures of his tanks and nature to back up his arguements- we’re lucky to have someone who follows through with experiential and empirical evidence.
That being said it’s your tank- and just like fishing stories what you choose to share with the world is up to you- whether you exaggerate about success or quantify success as a snapshot in time it’s all up to you.
Shouldn’t get defensive over something that seems to be ego driven just because it differs from what you would like to be reality.
I bred midas in 75’s until the male got to like 6-7”s after that it was incomplete divider ( which I don’t like) solo wet pet or selling the fish and breeding something else in its first year of life.
My devils went from 1/2”- 9-10” in under a year- so You don’t have as much time as you think you do for a backup plan.
If your only goal is breeding a million fry- then sure but a bruiser in a diveses 40b- reminds me of an old zoo on MA thatbjad the saddest gorilla in a tiny enclosure- sure the zoo can say they have a gorilla but who could do anything but
Pity that poor animal
All, The age old arguments. I think most of us (Duane being the spokesman) and Tigertalon are just coming from different perspectives of fish keeping (at least that's what I think).
I'll add my two cents to try to bridge the gap:
1. Duane is spot on with a message a couple pages ago that started the argument.
2. Tigertalon is correct. You can keep those fish together in a 75; people do it all the time. They will likely not live as long as they should, will foul up your water but for me, I just looked at the primary occupant (my beloved Oscar) and realized she would be happier, engaging and healthier without Tank mates. They were gone by the time she reached full size.
3. I believe that those of us that have the more endearing Cichlid species (large wet pets) and others here that have succumbed to multi tank syndrome (I have it just rent so...) have a different standard for our fish than most. We hold ourselves to a higher level of responsibility with our pets which is the reason that Duane is providing some conservative (which is always better) estimates.
4. Our young HybridFinatic friend has obviously drank the MFK Kool-Aid (good for you) which should max his chances of enjoying the hobby long term. Your mind and heart are in the right place. Once you own a true wet pet (you do with that FlowerHorn who would love that 75 gallon to himself for life); you're goals will stay with what's better for your fish friend then how to keep more fish.
5. A large tank also is much more forgiving than a tank that is at max capacity... I can leave my Oscar or midas for 3-4 days without guilt in her setup. The tank (90 gallon - 75 for my young midas) is overfiltered and can handle it. a 75 with a pair of large cichilds would be a big concern left for a weekend. And trust me in college this is something you will want to do.
A PAIR or Oscars, Midas, Red Devils or any Amphs will require a lot of water changes (every second day) in a 75 and it would still be painful to watch I think. However these species would be my recommendation for a for a SINGLE wet pet without having to be obsessed with maintenance or your system crashing... I have 3 female convicts in with my Oscar. They probably don't have the highest quality of life but... they're convicts... sorry to the convict lovers out there...
For pairs: I haven't done it but have read most everything out there and hear that JDs, GTs, Motos would fit in their as a pair but would listen to those who have actually done it.
Personally: Most of us got hooked on the hobby when we first owned an Oscar (or red devil). There's a reason for that, due to there large territories in nature (basically as far as they can see) you will be their tank/roommate. My first Oscar hooked me into the hoby for life. In fact I did Discus for a couple years and was bored to death... so they had to go. My new Oscar is 2 years old and obsessed with everything I do and constantly trying to make eye contact with me. I hope my Midas (first amph that I have owned) lives up to its reputation in being similar. Your friends will think he/she is cool.
Lastly: Go for a 90 or 110 instead of the 75. Same footprint and equipment just taller; most importantly more water. I hate my 75 its too short; I'm actually looking to buy a 110 as a replacement.
I'll add my two cents to try to bridge the gap:
1. Duane is spot on with a message a couple pages ago that started the argument.
2. Tigertalon is correct. You can keep those fish together in a 75; people do it all the time. They will likely not live as long as they should, will foul up your water but for me, I just looked at the primary occupant (my beloved Oscar) and realized she would be happier, engaging and healthier without Tank mates. They were gone by the time she reached full size.
3. I believe that those of us that have the more endearing Cichlid species (large wet pets) and others here that have succumbed to multi tank syndrome (I have it just rent so...) have a different standard for our fish than most. We hold ourselves to a higher level of responsibility with our pets which is the reason that Duane is providing some conservative (which is always better) estimates.
4. Our young HybridFinatic friend has obviously drank the MFK Kool-Aid (good for you) which should max his chances of enjoying the hobby long term. Your mind and heart are in the right place. Once you own a true wet pet (you do with that FlowerHorn who would love that 75 gallon to himself for life); you're goals will stay with what's better for your fish friend then how to keep more fish.
5. A large tank also is much more forgiving than a tank that is at max capacity... I can leave my Oscar or midas for 3-4 days without guilt in her setup. The tank (90 gallon - 75 for my young midas) is overfiltered and can handle it. a 75 with a pair of large cichilds would be a big concern left for a weekend. And trust me in college this is something you will want to do.
A PAIR or Oscars, Midas, Red Devils or any Amphs will require a lot of water changes (every second day) in a 75 and it would still be painful to watch I think. However these species would be my recommendation for a for a SINGLE wet pet without having to be obsessed with maintenance or your system crashing... I have 3 female convicts in with my Oscar. They probably don't have the highest quality of life but... they're convicts... sorry to the convict lovers out there...
For pairs: I haven't done it but have read most everything out there and hear that JDs, GTs, Motos would fit in their as a pair but would listen to those who have actually done it.
Personally: Most of us got hooked on the hobby when we first owned an Oscar (or red devil). There's a reason for that, due to there large territories in nature (basically as far as they can see) you will be their tank/roommate. My first Oscar hooked me into the hoby for life. In fact I did Discus for a couple years and was bored to death... so they had to go. My new Oscar is 2 years old and obsessed with everything I do and constantly trying to make eye contact with me. I hope my Midas (first amph that I have owned) lives up to its reputation in being similar. Your friends will think he/she is cool.
Lastly: Go for a 90 or 110 instead of the 75. Same footprint and equipment just taller; most importantly more water. I hate my 75 its too short; I'm actually looking to buy a 110 as a replacement.
Oscars hooked me too- I made the mistake of switching to Malawi for a spell and got nothing out of it.
I personally do not see any more value from a 90, than a 75... unless you are keeping discus and angels.
Tall tanks don’t afford more real estate and are more difficult to clean-
The best suggestion from a 75 would be to a 4x2 120
Thanks Donny B! yes I have looked into the 90s and 110s but I still have to go with the 75. My lfs’s don’t sell 90s and rarely get in a 110 and I’m going to purchase a 75 tomorrow from petco that is on sale. I do understand the benefits of the extra water volume but like CrazyPhishMan said these tall tanks especially the 110 are difficult to clean. Also would do the 120 but I do still live with my mom so I had to agree on a tank size. And the 120 is too deep for the area I’m allowed to keep the tank. I don’t plan on keeping a pair in the 75 but while I’m growing a group out, if some decide to pair up I’m not going to stop them. Once they get to big or aggression sets in I will do what seems right.
Just a good excuse to post a pic of my year old RD- from the line Rapps has last winter, got them at 1/2” Isla Zapatera- I believe they came to him by way of Rusty wessel
