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