Most active/personable 5-8" cichlid?

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swifty

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 13, 2013
268
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California
Looking for a single fish for a future 40b, that will currently be in a 20g long growout. I've narrowed down my options to these:

-lone Red jewel
-Female Salvini
-Female jack dempsey
-male convict
-2 female convicts (the pair would almost act as one I assume)
-blue acara
-rainbow (again, if i can find one)

-open to suggestions?

I already have a 7 month old firemouth with dithers in my 29g and he is as active as can be. I'd like something similar, and these are the ones I've seen come up.

Any previous/current owners of those listed want to share some experiences? I basically am looking for an active fish, that can be active without dithers, and still have decent human interaction.
 
The convict or possibly those related-HRP, sajica, cutteri, panamensis

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swifty said:
Looking for a single fish for a future 40b, that will currently be in a 20g long growout. I've narrowed down my options to these:

-lone Red jewel
-Female Salvini
-Female jack dempsey
-male convict
-2 female convicts (the pair would almost act as one I assume)
-blue acara
-rainbow (again, if i can find one)

-open to suggestions?

I already have a 7 month old firemouth with dithers in my 29g and he is as active as can be. I'd like something similar, and these are the ones I've seen come up.

Any previous/current owners of those listed want to share some experiences? I basically am looking for an active fish, that can be active without dithers, and still have decent human interaction.
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My personal vote is for the blue acara, but be careful where you get it from as many are hybrids mixed with green terror. If it will be alone, this shouldn't pose an issue either way.

Salvini would work, but shoot for a male because their normal colors are prettier than the females. Unfortunately, I feel salvinis are prettiest when in breeding dress. Same for the jewel. Breeding dress is just so much prettier.

The convict route works well too. I would go the route of 2 females because the orange belly gives them more appeal IMO. Two female cons can "pair up" sometimes, but it is fairly uncommon. even if they did, they would be in the tank aline and wouldn't hurt each other most likely. Get a convict relative would be good too. Cutteri would have the same requirements. If you get Honduran red points, they are much more docile than regular convicts and you could keep 2 males in a 40 breeder. HRPs are also commonly hybridized with convicts, so make sure you get them from a good source if you go that route (Jeff Rapps has them in and they are pure HRP).

Rainbow cichlids would also work. They are docile enough that two males or females could be kept in a 40b.
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I have a small green terror in my tank with large Oscar tank mate he is very active and have been working out well
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MORE OPTIONS FOR YOU

CICHLIDS:
Female green terror
Blood parrot-- (Lots of personality)
Grammode-- (dovii in a smaller package)
Five Star General Cichlid
Electric Yellow Pair
Lyonsi Cichlid
Auratus Cichlid
Oscar-- (controversial if 40 is big enough)
Kribensis

PREHISTORIC FISH:
Senegal Bichir
Albino Senegal Bichir
African Brown Knifefish
Black Ghost Knife
Ropefish

CATFISH:
Synodontis
Group of pictus
Lima shovelnose
Raphael Catfish

OTHER FISH:
Leaf Fish
Leporinus
Red Tail Shark
Rainbow Shark
Peacock Eel






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I have 2 full grown firemouths and a pictus cat in my 40B. I just threw in a 5" male salvini because I had to separate him from a female.
 
get a green terror, Cuban cichlid, or red tiger mota. don't let anyone tel u tht u cant have any of these fish I just mentioned cuz the chances of any of these fish reaching over 8 is quite slim. I say u get something nice don't waste a whole 40 gal on a stupid salvini or jewl. its bare minimum but still 40 g can hold 1 single bad ass fish. just gotta keep the water quality up
 
jagsandpits said:
get a green terror, Cuban cichlid, or red tiger mota. don't let anyone tel u tht u cant have any of these fish I just mentioned cuz the chances of any of these fish reaching over 8 is quite slim. I say u get something nice don't waste a whole 40 gal on a stupid salvini or jewl. its bare minimum but still 40 g can hold 1 single bad ass fish. just gotta keep the water quality up
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eexcuse me sir, Jewel cichlids are NOT stupid. they are just as personable as an oscar and are pound for pound IMO one of the more aggressive cichlids in the hobby. he asked for a 6-8 inch cichlid and jewels can get 6 inches EASILY! Not many cichlids are as beautiful as a full grown 7 inch male red jewel cichlid.
 
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