So I'm looking to get a Texas cichlid. It will be going in a 75g tank. Currently housed are 2 Hondorus red points, convict, firemouth and 2 Jack Dempsey's. All the current fish are at 4 inches or less. With the fish I have now they are aggressive but none of them beat each other up or really annoy each other. What I'm curious on is the addition of the Texas. I feel the convict and jd's will be fine too as they don't take any crap. The hrp are bigger so they should be ok. My firemouth is bigger as well just a little more passive. Thoughts on adding the Texas?
Texas cichlid tankmates???
- Thread starter Jeff5347
- Start date
It could work or not. The fish are still juvenile so the cichlid hierarchy will change over the course of 3 years. However, you do have quite a bit of fish already so bio-load and territory will become an issue as time goes by. You'll have to swap fish out and put other fish in different tanks. A full grown adult male JD will overtake the whole 4 foot tank. If you end up with a true Texas cichlid like H. cyanoguttatus, then that should be in a tank of its own.
Another problem you have is if you end up with a breeding pair across the different species. They will control the whole tank and kill or make life miserable for your other fish.
Another problem you have is if you end up with a breeding pair across the different species. They will control the whole tank and kill or make life miserable for your other fish.
Your tank is already fully stocked man, I would definitely not add a texas cichlid and expect it to work with your fish. I wouldn't add any more fish at all, you may end up having to remove some when they are larger as well.
I agree with Rocksor, your tank is already pretty much fully stocked, but as adults will be overstocked.
Adding a new cichlid to an already stocked tank is always iffy, because the current fish have set up a territorial hierarchy, and see the new guy as a threat.
If it makes it the first few days, then later on the Herichthys will be too aggressive for fish like the fire mouth, and maybe the other.
In my opinion a 75 is only large enough for 2 was cichlids, and then only temporarily because they will eventually outgrow it.
If you decide to try it anyway, let us know periodically who the first casualties are, and who the last cichlid (or cichlids) are left standing.
The carpintus in this pic is only about half grown, and he and his mate shared a 100 gal tank, by themselves.
Adding a new cichlid to an already stocked tank is always iffy, because the current fish have set up a territorial hierarchy, and see the new guy as a threat.
If it makes it the first few days, then later on the Herichthys will be too aggressive for fish like the fire mouth, and maybe the other.
In my opinion a 75 is only large enough for 2 was cichlids, and then only temporarily because they will eventually outgrow it.
If you decide to try it anyway, let us know periodically who the first casualties are, and who the last cichlid (or cichlids) are left standing.
The carpintus in this pic is only about half grown, and he and his mate shared a 100 gal tank, by themselves.
Ok thanks guys. For now I decided to hold off. Really itching for a bigger tank. I do roghly 2x a week WC. I've had most of these fish 3 or so years now. It seems there growth rate has slowed down. The FM doesn't look any bigger , the convict was a juvenile so he is at 1.5 now and the jds seemed to have stopped ( at least what it looks like) growing
Aprrciate the advice.
Aprrciate the advice.
Slow growth often has to do with high nitrates, and the build up of other metabolism byproducts.
Two water changes per week sounds good, but if they are not large enough, you may be building up a nitrate, fish urine soup, which could be hindering their growth.
On crowded tanks, to me, every other dat 40% water changes are not out of line, with a rinsing of gunk out of the filter at the same time. And, the smaller the tank, the more water changes would be needed.
Two water changes per week sounds good, but if they are not large enough, you may be building up a nitrate, fish urine soup, which could be hindering their growth.
On crowded tanks, to me, every other dat 40% water changes are not out of line, with a rinsing of gunk out of the filter at the same time. And, the smaller the tank, the more water changes would be needed.
My WC are usually about a 60 %. I know this maybe overkill but I run 2 hob filters and 1 canister. Usually clean (squeeze or replace filter material) one of the 3 on a WC. Food is diy fish food in a 1/2 x 1/2 inch square. I drop that in and they pick off the cube. They down that stuff much better than pellet food
Not overkill, the more the better. What do you make the DIY food from? If it is not a balanced diet that may be the culprit behind the slow growth. Six 4" fish in a 75 is not overstocked bioload-wise, especially with your maintenance schedule and filtration. I would expect the fish to be larger than 4" after 3 years, especially the Jack Dempseys.