Getting back into the hobby, suggestions?

[Sinister-Kisses]

Strongly disagree that a 125 is sufficient for a pair of jags long term, AND that a 90 is even close to suitable for an adult male midas/devil. I guess if you like keeping your fish in very cramped conditions sure, technically it works. But I have kept about 20 or so midas over the years, and quickly found that because I like my fish to have at least a little more than stroke-turn-stroke space, nothing shorter than a 5ft long tank is acceptable for me for an adult male. My 11" male is in a 6ft, 125gal and he makes it look like bare minimum, and he's only 2 years old so gonna grow some more.

 

[Hybridfish7]

I think you should do a colony of convicts plus some livebearers, preferably just swordtails or platies. I personally recommend the rio mongo or rio claro ones from Ken Davis, he can be reached at fishfarmusa@comcast.com. Either that or the rio bagaces ones from tuic, which would give you a few more options for tankmates.
Pictures of each:
(bagaces male and female)

(mongo male and female, claro looks the same but has a bit more blue and red)

Bagaces gives off more of an amphilophus type shape as they mature, if you're looking for a colony of smaller colorful amphilophus. I will warn you however, they are extremely prolific and fast growing, I had a 2.5" female produce 400 fry, and the females can get up to 4.5", so God knows how many a full sized female can make. Regardless, I personally think they're the most unique convict, with the yellow/purple bodies + orange fins on males and yellow/dark blue fins on females, along with the gold spangling on the females in place of the typical orange blotching. Probably the most unique thing about them however, is their purple eyes. It varies by individual, but in place of the typical blue beard of most convicts, some may come with a black chinstrap that gives off a unique profile, especially in breeding dress. I have pictures of all of this if you'd like. They also grow nuchal humps.

Mongo and claro (patuco) however are the perfect convicts in my opinion, not very prolific, only producing 100-200 fry max, and the perfect size, with males only maxing out at 5". As they mature they get (what I believe to be) the perfect cichlid shape, more of a rectangular and blunt shape, sort of like this feral one that was caught in the caribbean:

(this is the best convict I've ever seen shape wise)
But on top of that, they get the red fins like honduran red points, and blue beards in both sexes. Females get that orange spangling instead of blotching, and iridescent teal fins. Oh and they have blue eyes. Again I have pictures of all of this if you'd like. Unfortunately these guys don't get nuchal humps, but their head shape makes up for it.
Really hope you consider, I'd love to see it happen. Big tanks don't always need big fish (though male bagaces can get up to 8-10")

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

I think you should do a colony of convicts plus some livebearers, preferably just swordtails or platies. I personally recommend the rio mongo or rio claro ones from Ken Davis, he can be reached at fishfarmusa@comcast.com. Either that or the rio bagaces ones from tuic, which would give you a few more options for tankmates.
Pictures of each:
(bagaces male and female)
View attachment 1520033View attachment 1520034
(mongo male and female, claro looks the same but has a bit more blue and red)
View attachment 1520036View attachment 1520035
Bagaces gives off more of an amphilophus type shape as they mature, if you're looking for a colony of smaller colorful amphilophus. I will warn you however, they are extremely prolific and fast growing, I had a 2.5" female produce 400 fry, and the females can get up to 4.5", so God knows how many a full sized female can make. Regardless, I personally think they're the most unique convict, with the yellow/purple bodies + orange fins on males and yellow/dark blue fins on females, along with the gold spangling on the females in place of the typical orange blotching. Probably the most unique thing about them however, is their purple eyes. It varies by individual, but in place of the typical blue beard of most convicts, some may come with a black chinstrap that gives off a unique profile, especially in breeding dress. I have pictures of all of this if you'd like. They also grow nuchal humps.

Mongo and claro (patuco) however are the perfect convicts in my opinion, not very prolific, only producing 100-200 fry max, and the perfect size, with males only maxing out at 5". As they mature they get (what I believe to be) the perfect cichlid shape, more of a rectangular and blunt shape, sort of like this feral one that was caught in the caribbean:
View attachment 1520037
(this is the best convict I've ever seen shape wise)
But on top of that, they get the red fins like honduran red points, and blue beards in both sexes. Females get that orange spangling instead of blotching, and iridescent teal fins. Oh and they have blue eyes. Again I have pictures of all of this if you'd like. Unfortunately these guys don't get nuchal humps, but their head shape makes up for it.
Really hope you consider, I'd love to see it happen. Big tanks don't always need big fish (though male bagaces can get up to 8-10")

I appreciate the detailed response! Yeah honestly I agree on your opinion about how they look shape wise, they have that ideal mix of being bulky but not too bulky.
And the coloring on them all, it’s insanee. I’ll definitely look into those!

 

[Hybridfish7]

I appreciate the detailed response! Yeah honestly I agree on your opinion about how they look shape wise, they have that ideal mix of being bulky but not too bulky.
And the coloring on them all, it’s insanee. I’ll definitely look into those!

Just checking in, what did you go with?

 

[Caperguy99]

Strongly disagree that a 125 is sufficient for a pair of jags long term, AND that a 90 is even close to suitable for an adult male midas/devil. I guess if you like keeping your fish in very cramped conditions sure, technically it works. But I have kept about 20 or so midas over the years, and quickly found that because I like my fish to have at least a little more than stroke-turn-stroke space, nothing shorter than a 5ft long tank is acceptable for me for an adult male. My 11" male is in a 6ft, 125gal and he makes it look like bare minimum, and he's only 2 years old so gonna grow some more.

All else being equal, what size tank would you recommend for a single Midas male as a “wet pet?0

 

[EricTheRed]

SK says she keeps her single Midas in a 125G, so I think you already know her answer…

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

Bare minimum IMO should be a 5ft tank for a solo male midas. But I have a 5ft, 120gal up and running right now as well and I'd only put Tolken - my male - in there if I was forced to (like, his tank blew a seal or something). Looking at him in his 6ft, 125gal tank at the size he is, and knowing he still has a bit of growing to do, makes the 5ft tank look smaller than ideal for me.

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

Just checking in, what did you go with?

Well, personal stuff came up again so I didn’t get a chance to really put time back into the hobby again. All I’ve got in both tanks are just some Tiger barbs lol, don’t even feed the guys that much (perhaps like once every 2 days) they just feast on the algae.

Hopefully I’m back for good but I can’t promise that, life’s been hectic lately. Thanks everyone for taking the time to advise me, I appreciate it more than you know.

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

Granted, I’ve come down to 2 options, I can either get a male Labiatus for my 125 or go with a pair of Cubans in there. If anyone thinks a Cuban pair would be cramped in there lmk, I want the fish to be happy and healthy first of all.

For the 90, it comes down to the pair of Cons or a pair of Salvini’s, with livebearers for either. I’m leaning towards the Salvini’s more as I’ve never kept them before and I might as well try something new right?

 

[duanes]

I have kept (For quite a long time) and had a pair of tetracanthus successfully breed in a 125, but they would not tolerate any other fish in the tank, neither, other cichlids, nor dithers.

The 90 would probably work, and be best long term for smaller cichlid species like Amatitlania in a multiple cichlid community, or just a single medium size cichlid with no other fish.
few different Amatitlania/Cryptoheros species below, I've been able to keep in similar size tanks to a 90.

Cryptoheros curer left, Amatitlania myrnae, middle, Honduran Red point right

Above One of only 3 cichlid species from India, Etroplus canarensus


Above, Amatitlania nanoluteus left, Herotilapia multispinossa right

There are tons of options