Birthday Gift

[troublesum]

MAJOR UPDATE!!!!!!
After showing my wife the fish and suggestions you guys gave me she became very upset and told me she likes the little 6in female Festae. I also like her alot but she has not done good in the 36 gallon bow front hence why i was taking her to my LFS.
I've been keeping Cichlids over 20 years i know what's right and wrong i'm going to put the female in the 55.
NOW here is where i need help/suggestions Please do not talk down to me or tell me i need to rehome the female. BUT i want to add a male to help bring her colors out i was thinking a RTM as they dont grow big and can probably handle the aggression of a 6in female Festae or is there any male cichlid that dont grow tom big and is compatible in a 55.
My other big female killed 2 Midevils that were about her same size 8in now i got the big 11in Midas who is infertile (I GOT SO LUCKY THEY GET ALONG)
I would prefer a male that she cant breed with (i have interest in breeding) but open to suggestions for a compatible male
Tank has a AC 50 and 70 and a large sponge and will get 3 80% WC a week
Thanks and be easy on me

 

[Deadeye]

Frankly, anything she won’t kill is probably a potential breeding partner. She would probably only color up with a compatible male.
That said, any SA cichlid from east of the Andes shouldn’t be able to breed with it. Oscars come to mind first, but I would never suggest putting one in a 55.
Parachromis is definitely a no. Right off the bat, it also would get too big for a 55 and would be just as bad or worse for aggression.
Really, solo female is going to be your best bet, but that won’t be viable past 8 inches or so.
If it’s the red and black color your wife likes, red morph rainbow cichlids are an option. There’s another one whose name I can’t remember but it has the pattern of a small festae.

 

[troublesum]

You dont think a RTM is a good possibility i thought they max out around 7-8in? or is it the aggression RTM have
If i cant find a male i already thought about adding maybe 10-15 some sort of tetra or something for the top
Its not really the color my wife likes its her history I've had her since 1in 2 years ago she is the last survivor from the original 8 fry i got. Her and my big female got along until i added the Midas then my big female kicked the snot out of the little female that's when i moved her to the 36 gallon

 

[Conchonius]

I'd recommend keeping the female festae solo as a wet pet for your wife. It'd be a nice gesture after she got that 55g for you, and even if the colors fade a bit female cichlids can be healthier/more interactive solo.

And yeah, you can put some Congo tetras or something there and it'd be a cool easy-to-maintain tank.

 

[troublesum]

I'd recommend keeping the female festae solo as a wet pet for your wife. It'd be a nice gesture after she got that 55g for you, and even if the colors fade a bit female cichlids can be healthier/more interactive solo.

And yeah, you can put some Congo tetras or something there and it'd be a cool easy-to-maintain tank.

LOL i thought she got the 55 for me but she got it for the female knowing i could house her in the 55 with my WC schedule (SHE TRICKED ME)!!!!! but not bad of a trick i got a 55 out of it

 

[troublesum]

So let me ask if this is possible could i have the 6in female RT 10 Congo Tetras, and a BN? NO Live plants but i will have hides, fake plants and caves and pots

 

[Conchonius]

For a 6" festae, who had been in a 36 to start with, and with a strict WC regimen? I'd say go for it. If she gets beyond 8" or so, and the tank starts to look cramped again... well, there's always the next tank!

 

[Deadeye]

Full grown, I expect any dithers to be on the menu. They may work short term though.
As for the RTM, they max around a foot - larger than I would do for a 55. The aggression just makes it worse.

 

[troublesum]

For a 6" festae, who had been in a 36 to start with, and with a strict WC regimen? I'd say go for it. If she gets beyond 8" or so, and the tank starts to look cramped again... well, there's always the next tank!

Shes only been in the 36 gallon for about 2 months before that she grew up in my 125

 

[troublesum]

Full grown, I expect any dithers to be on the menu. They may work short term though.
As for the RTM, they max around a foot - larger than I would do for a 55. The aggression just makes it worse.

Yeah I'm actually ok if she eats the dithers for now as she has not been doing good in the 36 so if she eats the dithers it shows me she's coming out of her shell