Smaller Less Aggressive Cichlids

[Toby_H]

I'm looking for suggestions on small to medium growing low to moderate aggressive SA/CA Cichlids.

I already have:
Geophagus Sveni, Threadfin Acara, Blue Acara, (female) Severum... And am looking for compatible species to consider.
I don't want more than one Geo Species, so other options there will not be considered.
I'm not a fan of the Electric Blue Acaras, and already have regular Blue Acaras. Which I love.

I have a shipment coming in at the end of the month which includes two large aquariums that will be dedicated to this mix. The top will be the mix described above, the bottom will be smaller more docile fish and young grow outs for the top tank. We'll deal with juggling stocking and personalities soon enough. For now I'm just looking for additional species that fit in this category.

 

[Mazan]

Mesonauta (festivums) - medium sized and inhabit the higher regions of the tank so won’t be in conflict wit( the other cichlids.

 

[Gourami Swami]

There are lots of South American species which would work with that sort of mix, tank size will also play a part in picking the stocking.
I would take a look at Tangled Up in Cichlids stock list, they often have lots of acaras and less common South American species.

If you are doing multiple tanks, I would suggest dedicating one to Central Americans and one to south, to give you some variety. The Central Americans typically prefer harder water than south and you can do different aquaecapes to mix it up. CA tanks tend to be more of a rocky/sandy lake bed style, while many SA keepers mimic the amazon with lots of plants. Many CA cichlids are more aggressive than the SA species, but some good ones for cichlid communities are: rainbow cichlids, thoricthys species, smaller amatitlania (myrnae, septemfasciatus, etc)
Good luck!

 

[fishguy1978]

Keyhole cichlid

 

[RedRaven]

Nannacara anomala and/or Ivanacara adoketa would get my vote depending on how small and peaceful you'd like to go. If you weren't so strict with their native regions there are plenty of other suggestions such as some of the more unusual pelvicachromis species, anomalochromis thomasi, pseudocrenilabrus multicolour would be a nice choice that are quite unusual nowadays unlike in the past or even nicholsi.

 

[bkfamus]

Pterophyllum “Manacapuru” or scalare
Biotodoma cupido
Any Guianacara (more robust)

Can also consider a decent sized school of tall bodied robust characin depending on how large the tank is.

 

[Milingu]

Nannacara anomala and/or Ivanacara adoketa would get my vote depending on how small and peaceful you'd like to go.

Small yes, peaceful no!
Both species can be very aggressive and very assertive.

 

[RedRaven]

I have had them more than a few times over the years and can't say I would describe either as aggressive. Assertive sure, they have the odd squabble or display but no more unless confined, breeding or hugely overstocked.

 

[Gershom]

Nicaraguense might get bigger than you are looking for (males up to 10 inches from what I read. My pair were about 6 and 7 inches). If that’s not too big, they were peaceful and beautiful (another of the species that has more colorful females).