What Cichlid should I get?

[pitterpatti]

I have a 55 gallon tank with sand, and 8 good sized dojo loaches and 2 peacock eels in it. I think I could fit in 2 or maybe 3 cichlids.

I would need to keep the tank at no more than 78 degrees, less is better.

I have a driftwood piece with a cave area for them, the dojos reside under the wood typically or in the sand. But the cichlids would be in contact with the dojos at times.

I don't want the cichlids to get to big as I don't want to have to upgrade tank size for a couple of years at least. So maybe 6 inches max, then I should be able to accomodate two probably. Three may be too crowed.
Also, I don't want to have to worry about keeping the PH up, at this point. 7.5 or 7.6 probably best. Maybe a little lower.

Thinking about two Parrots, they have neat eyes. ???

But there are some other nice looking cichlids out there too I see, but I don't have time to research them all.

Any suggestions? Any is 2 or 3 a better number to keep for your suggested Cichlid?

Thanks
Patti
Denton

[ponderbc]

Cichlids grow pretty big for the most part. I only have 8 cichlids in my 75 gal. When they are at there peak size they should all fit in there comfortable. How big will your other fish get max.In the long run it may become overcrowded. Also you might get some aggression in the tank depending on your other fish behaviors

[tsunderl]

Some cichlids, like Aceis, school, so they need to be in at least a group of three. Also, my cichlids picked on my dojo loach and he was moved to another tank.

What I suggest is the dwarf cichlids. I'm not real familiar with them but others on here have them and I'm sure they'll help.

[pitterpatti]

hmmmmmm. interesting. I think the dojos could hit 8 inches. they get as think as a large thumb, maybe bigger. I had to move mine out of the community tank right off. They mangled a stone loach when they were doing their "jigs".

Sounds like the cichlids will always be guarding their eggs and young, some up to 6 months. sounds like introducing stess into the dojo tank.

Can you sex cichlids easily and maybe have two males or two females with no problems? from reading it sounds like they are pretty hard to sex.

And see, most fish like more than two of their kind in the tank, so I was wondering about the cichlids? I don't think I could fit more than three.

I appreciate your responses.
Patti

[ponderbc]

Yea it can be a task. Generally the males have all the color and the females are bland. Normally I match my fish mff. It just tends to work out better

[fishman76092]

Youll want to stick with something fairly mellow that doesnt get very large. I would recommend Geophagus or Satanoperca spp. Geophagus altifrons, sp Red Head Tapajos, 'jurupari' aka S. leucosticta, etc would be good. Stay away from rift lake cichlids for the most part-Malawi peacocks would probably be ok, though. You could also do Firemouths, nicaraguensis, etc as well for Central American Cichlids.

[ElijahTurtle]

Youll want to stick with something fairly mellow that doesnt get very large. I would recommend Geophagus or Satanoperca spp. .
:eek::eek: Are you sure that second one is mellow?

[ponderbc]

Hell my firemouth was a terror. Going after my male ruby green and my cobue