What cichlids should I stock my 75g with?

[PB&Jcichlids]

I’ve had bichirs in the past, as well as a community cichlid tank, and each time it ends up in too much aggression. I either want one fish, like an Oscar or a jack dempsey, or a school of roselines. Currently, I have a Severum, a kribensis (other was killed), and a convict (my friend gave it to me a few months ago). I honestly don’t care what I get as long as they don’t fight and it looks cool. Thank you

 

[Toby_H]

Just to clarify...

In your 75 gal now, you have a Severum, a Krib and a Convict. And you're asking what else to add.

Looking at the tank, I'd fill it up all the way. You're losing 10-12 gallons keeping it that low. The upper few inches is less valuable real estate to our Cichlids who generally prefer the aquarium floor, but you're also giving up 15% of you're water volume to dilute waste. Though, in all honesty, it's not a big deal now as your fish are still small.

As the fish grow, that Krib isn't going to like life. He's simply in a lower weight class than the other two.
Severum are great fish, I have 3 of them. But they're hard to plan for. Most are fairly docile for medium growth Cichlids, but a fair number become territorial d*cks.
Convicts are big hate in a small package. If they can kill it, they usually will. But they are small enough they often can't. But they always want to.

I'd rehome the Krib sooner rather than later. Assuming you're going to stick with the medium growing more aggressive Cichlids you already have.

If you do that... Its easier to balance aggression between 3 Cichlids than 2. So it does make sense to add a third. Temperament wise, an Oscar would work, but that's a lot of fish to be adding. A Female Dempsey would be more likely to work than a male. And Dempseys are easier to sex when small than most others (females have blue refractive smudge on their gill plates, males have pale gill plates though sometimes have spangles. Identifying the difference between refractive smudges and spangles is hard to convey in words). A male is less likely to work, but possible if they're raised together. The body shape difference between the Dempsey and Severum might be enough to prevent issues. But, might not.

In all honesty, the Cichlid game is a bit of a crap shoot sometimes. If you started ten 75 gal tanks and put a Severum, Dempsey and Convict in each one... a few would work and a few wouldn't. Which is one of the reasons so many of us have 17 tanks. We started with one, fish didn't get along so we needed another tank. Again, and again.

 

[PB&Jcichlids]

Just to clarify...

In your 75 gal now, you have a Severum, a Krib and a Convict. And you're asking what else to add.

Looking at the tank, I'd fill it up all the way. You're losing 10-12 gallons keeping it that low. The upper few inches is less valuable real estate to our Cichlids who generally prefer the aquarium floor, but you're also giving up 15% of you're water volume to dilute waste. Though, in all honesty, it's not a big deal now as your fish are still small.

As the fish grow, that Krib isn't going to like life. He's simply in a lower weight class than the other two.
Severum are great fish, I have 3 of them. But they're hard to plan for. Most are fairly docile for medium growth Cichlids, but a fair number become territorial d*cks.
Convicts are big hate in a small package. If they can kill it, they usually will. But they are small enough they often can't. But they always want to.

I'd rehome the Krib sooner rather than later. Assuming you're going to stick with the medium growing more aggressive Cichlids you already have.

If you do that... Its easier to balance aggression between 3 Cichlids than 2. So it does make sense to add a third. Temperament wise, an Oscar would work, but that's a lot of fish to be adding. A Female Dempsey would be more likely to work than a male. And Dempseys are easier to sex when small than most others (females have blue refractive smudge on their gill plates, males have pale gill plates though sometimes have spangles. Identifying the difference between refractive smudges and spangles is hard to convey in words). A male is less likely to work, but possible if they're raised together. The body shape difference between the Dempsey and Severum might be enough to prevent issues. But, might not.

In all honesty, the Cichlid game is a bit of a crap shoot sometimes. If you started ten 75 gal tanks and put a Severum, Dempsey and Convict in each one... a few would work and a few wouldn't. Which is one of the reasons so many of us have 17 tanks. We started with one, fish didn't get along so we needed another tank. Again, and again.

Thank you, just to clarify, I took the picture after an 80% water change (I was away for like 3 weeks for college) and I had water treating. I’ll move the tank to my dorm after this semester and I had planned to get rid of the krib and the convict. Would it be possible to sex a severum to get them to breed or just not hate each other? If not, I was wondering if I could do a school and roselines with the severum. Thanks for the advice though

 

[PB&Jcichlids]

Thank you, just to clarify, I took the picture after an 80% water change (I was away for like 3 weeks for college) and I had water treating. I’ll move the tank to my dorm after this semester and I had planned to get rid of the krib and the convict. Would it be possible to sex a severum to get them to breed or just not hate each other? If not, I was wondering if I could do a school and roselines with the severum. Thanks for the advice though

lol didn’t mean to copy you with the just to clarify

 

[Jexnell]

I would not suggest Roseline sharks in a 4ft tank. They are torpedoes with gills. They are hard to keep in a 6ft tank, get spooked and zoom zoom right into the glass. I would suggest a tall bodied Tetra like Bleeding Hearts, Bruno Aries etc. Or keep it solo and make it into a wet pet that depends on you for attention. Possibly besides Tetras you could add a catfish. Most are very sedimentary so won't see till nighttime. Pimelodus ornatus, blochii are more outgoing, patrolling.

 

[troublesum]

Maybe its just me but lately i've been wanting Electric Blue Acars in a 75 a breeding pair would be perfect and i think if you dumped the convict the Sev and Krib could live with a pair of EBAs

 

[duanes]

One of the reasons for aggression, is that a 75 gallon tank, is a puddle compared to the territory, just a single pair of cichlids might require in nature.
In the cenotes of Mexico where JDs live, an area of 250 gallons would be normal area for just a pair of JDs.
In Panama where I collect cichlids, individuals of only two species of cichlids might be found in a stretch of river the size of a city block.