Is this tank stock ok

Oscar_fishkeeper

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 5, 2020
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Yes, I agree with other members. This won't work long term and you should take out most of the fish in this tank or rearrange them in different tanks. You could keep the Oscar and 2 Severums but you would still be running a risk and I don't recommend it. You could also try with one of the JD's if they happen to be peaceful and not aggressive in a 125. Maybe lose the rest except the 2 Severums, and fill with Dithers and Angels or something similar. You also wouldn't have to upgrade to a much bigger tank than a 90+ Gallon instead of the 125+. In the end it'll be your choice, hope you keep us updated!
I’m thinking breeding pare of red terrors because I’ve bred lots of raimbow cichlids raised them and sold them but will the male grow to big for my tank
 

Joshuakahan

Potamotrygon
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Jul 9, 2019
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My fav goes red terror Oscar jd sevrums vegia catfish maybe I could do breeding pare of red terrors I’ve bred lots of fish in my smaller tanks so could I do that ma
Then I would keep the festae and syno cat, just make sure the cat has plenty of hiding spots and sell the rest.
 

Oscar_fishkeeper

Exodon
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Dec 5, 2020
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I agree with the others that say as adults, (even as semi-adults) your tank will be overstocked, for a number of reasons.
Most cichlids are fine together as juvies, they congregate and shoal, as a defense mechanism against predators, but as they age they become more and more independent and territorial, and that's when they start hurting each other.
But determining what to keep and what to not keep, may have to do with components of your tap water, your particular water parameters.
So I would suggest either calling your water provider, or downloading your cities EPA water quality report and finding out what's in your water.
If your tap water is soft (7 grains or less, hardness 100ppm or less) , has a low pH (7 or below) , and relatively mineral free, then it would be better for the oscar and severums..
If your water has a high pH (above 7) , is hard ( above 7 grains, or 200ppm and above) and mineral rich, the terror and JDs may be better choices.
You may ask, why?
The oscars and severum (and the bacteria that they are surrounded by in nature) are evolved to live in South America where the waters east of the Andes that are soft, where pH is neutral (7) to below 5-6 for severum), and mineral poor.
The waters in Mexico where JDs have evolved, and water west of the Andes where the "Terrors" come from, are more alkaline with pH near 8, and often mineral rich (and so are the bacteria that inhabit those water).
The reason I mention the bacteria, is that as cichlids age, "if" they are forced to live in water they are "not" evolved to live in, they are often plagued by chronic bacteria they have a lack of immunity to. The result is scarring from diseases like hole in the head (HLLE) or digestive tract maladies, and the more crowded a tank is, the faster water quality degrades, creating a bacteria laden soup, to infect the fish.
In order to dilute that soup, many more water changes and much more maintenance are required to keep water quality up to where the fish are able to ward off these chronic diseases.

I was younger than 11 when I started fish keeping and didn't have access back in those ancient times to that info, and as such, I crowded tanks, with fish that didn't belong together; that didn't react well to my tap water, and because of that, I killed many
all my fish seem healthy I’ll post a vid in the morning of my Oscar he’s 8 inches and I have a bit of fish in the tank the now but I rescued them because they where in tiny tanks like 5 gals 10 gals so that’s why it’s overstocked the now they’ll be gone in about a week
 

GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 17, 2020
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I’m thinking breeding pare of red terrors because I’ve bred lots of raimbow cichlids raised them and sold them but will the male grow to big for my tank
Green Terrors are known to be easier to breed with good tank conditions, so you could possibly breed a pair and sell them off. I would just make sure you have the time past school, and any other activity to properly take care of the little ones as you're only 11. Your tank should be large enough to do it. There is mixed emotions on whether a pair would work long term living with each other after mating, so I've went to outside sources. Below are a few links about keeping a breeding pair and them just residing together. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!
https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/green-terror-cichlid/#:~:text=couple of weeks.-,What Size Aquarium Do They Need?,tanks its aggressive temperament decreases.
https://en.aqua-fish.net/articles/guide-keeping-breeding-green-terror-cichlids .
 
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BIG-G

Goliath Tigerfish
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Dec 12, 2005
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I would suggest keeping the Severum and doing some Tetras and maybe a pleco like a couple Bristle nose or the Oscar could make a nice personal wet pet.

It may be possible to keep a pair of Festae but I would discourage it in this case.

These fish do get quite large and aggressive.
You will first have to get a pair that will cohabitate.

Just getting a male and female will not guarantee that they will pair or even stay long in the same tank without killing each other.
The best way to obtain a pair would be to start with a group of smaller fish and let a pair form naturally.

I would normally suggest to anyone wanting to breed festae to start with a 6ft tank at least a 180.
I’m not going to say that a 5x2x2 tank isn’t possible. The 2ft width would be the only reason. With proper maintenance and filtration and plenty of experience keeping large cichlids it could be done.

You will need to be able to recognize when aggressive behavior is getting out of hand and be able to step in.
Most will divide the tank to provide a safe place for the losing fish.
This is where the extra tank length comes in.

These were mine and you can see that these fish need space when they are full grown.
ECF4CFEC-D958-4CF8-BBEB-F6DA1E669B2D.jpeg8497795D-325A-4A35-BE67-22261814BE42.jpegC6DF3897-378B-42EB-BD16-8D38DE97B42F.jpegCE5AE4F7-7396-4B03-92C2-B620B2F7045B.jpeg
 

Joshuakahan

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jul 9, 2019
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I would suggest keeping the Severum and doing some Tetras and maybe a pleco like a couple Bristle nose or the Oscar could make a nice personal wet pet.

It may be possible to keep a pair of Festae but I would discourage it in this case.

These fish do get quite large and aggressive.
You will first have to get a pair that will cohabitate.

Just getting a male and female will not guarantee that they will pair or even stay long in the same tank without killing each other.
The best way to obtain a pair would be to start with a group of smaller fish and let a pair form naturally.

I would normally suggest to anyone wanting to breed festae to start with a 6ft tank at least a 180.
I’m not going to say that a 5x2x2 tank isn’t possible. The 2ft width would be the only reason. With proper maintenance and filtration and plenty of experience keeping large cichlids it could be done.

You will need to be able to recognize when aggressive behavior is getting out of hand and be able to step in.
Most will divide the tank to provide a safe place for the losing fish.
This is where the extra tank length comes in.

These were mine and you can see that these fish need space when they are full grown.
View attachment 1445728View attachment 1445729View attachment 1445730View attachment 1445731
Those are beautiful, making me want a festae lol
 

Oscar_fishkeeper

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 5, 2020
67
33
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24
Those are beautiful, making me want a festae lol
I would suggest keeping the Severum and doing some Tetras and maybe a pleco like a couple Bristle nose or the Oscar could make a nice personal wet pet.

It may be possible to keep a pair of Festae but I would discourage it in this case.

These fish do get quite large and aggressive.
You will first have to get a pair that will cohabitate.

Just getting a male and female will not guarantee that they will pair or even stay long in the same tank without killing each other.
The best way to obtain a pair would be to start with a group of smaller fish and let a pair form naturally.

I would normally suggest to anyone wanting to breed festae to start with a 6ft tank at least a 180.
I’m not going to say that a 5x2x2 tank isn’t possible. The 2ft width would be the only reason. With proper maintenance and filtration and plenty of experience keeping large cichlids it could be done.

You will need to be able to recognize when aggressive behavior is getting out of hand and be able to step in.
Most will divide the tank to provide a safe place for the losing fish.
This is where the extra tank length comes in.

These were mine and you can see that these fish need space when they are full grown.
View attachment 1445728View attachment 1445729View attachment 1445730View attachment 1445731
I’m thinking If I make hiding spaces for the female where the male cant get in would that be ok and I’ll see if I can find a breeding pare then If that doesn’t work I could get red terror with silver dollors maybe
 
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