Im looking for some small peaceful cichlids that I can put in a future amazon community tank. Im looking only for cichlids from the amazon. The smallest fish that will be in my tank will be cardinal tetras. Ive read and heard that Agassiz dwarf cichlids and keyhole cichlids would be okay with rummies, cardinals, hatchets, plecos, coreys, and maybe other tetras. You can see my original post "Amazonian tank" under the discussion forum. Im asking you because you are the experts. Thanks in advance.
Amazonian Cichlid
- Thread starter skatoholic
- Start date
Here skatoholic: http://www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com/Articles/The_Peaceful_Amazonian_Cichlid_Community_Tank.html
This is a nice article on a peacful amazonian cichlid tank....it does go in depth about the make-up of such a tank with larger cichlids, which is not what I think you are looking for.....but if you skip that part and read about the suggested fish you will find those that Mana has suggested and a few more....
I also agree with Apistos, and curviceps
This is a nice article on a peacful amazonian cichlid tank....it does go in depth about the make-up of such a tank with larger cichlids, which is not what I think you are looking for.....but if you skip that part and read about the suggested fish you will find those that Mana has suggested and a few more....
I also agree with Apistos, and curviceps
Oh lordy there's a lot of great amazonian cichlids.
Assuming you can get decent sized tetras....
Discus, angels, festivum are all pretty peaceful.
Apistogramma - decide on what you want. See what's available locally, and also do some web searches to see what's available mail order. There are hundreds of species to choose from.
Rams - not my favourite - mos are too inbred. Wildcaughts are truly amazing though, but only buy from a reputable source.
Dicrossus filamentosa - you don't often see them, but they are great little fish.
And there are just stacks, stacks more. I saw some dwarf pikes this weekend - the ones I saw wouldn't work, but there are a few species that only reach 3 inches and feed on shrimp - some of those would be amazing!
And don't forget the catfish - get a few whiptail cats (farlowella or rhineloricara too)
Assuming you can get decent sized tetras....
Discus, angels, festivum are all pretty peaceful.
Apistogramma - decide on what you want. See what's available locally, and also do some web searches to see what's available mail order. There are hundreds of species to choose from.
Rams - not my favourite - mos are too inbred. Wildcaughts are truly amazing though, but only buy from a reputable source.
Dicrossus filamentosa - you don't often see them, but they are great little fish.
And there are just stacks, stacks more. I saw some dwarf pikes this weekend - the ones I saw wouldn't work, but there are a few species that only reach 3 inches and feed on shrimp - some of those would be amazing!
And don't forget the catfish - get a few whiptail cats (farlowella or rhineloricara too)
i completey disagree with this statement. most angels are quite hardy these days due to the the amount of time that we have been captive breeding them. if you really like angels i would say go for it. many people are breeding these guys like mad in 8.0 ph water, which was said to be impossible in the recent past.
discus are a little more problematic, but quickly becoming more and more hardy. (i know many people who are raising them in higher ph water)
altum angels are really the "new discus".
i have had fairly bad luck raising rams. while there is no doubt that they are very beautiful, i would honestly say that these guys are a lot less hardy than angels.
this is a clip from Dr. Uwe Romer's "cichlid atlas" from 2000, which i agree with after keeping rams:
"MIkrogeophagus ramirezi is certainly one of the most popular aquarium fishes, especially among cichlids. successful husbandry is even possible under donditions that differ significantly from those found in its natural habitat. however, M. ramirezi is by no means a fish for the beginner....."this species usually perishes after just one year if its captive enviornment varies substantially from that of its natural habitat."
yes, i know that i risk flames from people who have bred them, had them live a long time, etc.
i will just say from my own experience that i have NEVER had one live longer than 6 months..... and i do massive water changes weekly as well as have massive filtration on my tanks.
i never once lost an angel in this way.
just my opinion and experience with these guys, if you have softer water than mine--YMMV
M
discus are a little more problematic, but quickly becoming more and more hardy. (i know many people who are raising them in higher ph water)
altum angels are really the "new discus".
i have had fairly bad luck raising rams. while there is no doubt that they are very beautiful, i would honestly say that these guys are a lot less hardy than angels.
this is a clip from Dr. Uwe Romer's "cichlid atlas" from 2000, which i agree with after keeping rams:
"MIkrogeophagus ramirezi is certainly one of the most popular aquarium fishes, especially among cichlids. successful husbandry is even possible under donditions that differ significantly from those found in its natural habitat. however, M. ramirezi is by no means a fish for the beginner....."this species usually perishes after just one year if its captive enviornment varies substantially from that of its natural habitat."
yes, i know that i risk flames from people who have bred them, had them live a long time, etc.
i will just say from my own experience that i have NEVER had one live longer than 6 months..... and i do massive water changes weekly as well as have massive filtration on my tanks.
i never once lost an angel in this way.
just my opinion and experience with these guys, if you have softer water than mine--YMMV
M
I agree with managuense. I don't find angels or decent quality discus to be terribly weak, and certainly no worse or fussier than most apistos. I don't do daily water changes. COnversely I think rams are usually dreadfully fragile, and not super hardy even at the best of times. Pretty fish, totally inbred.
I agree with Managuenese about the relative hardiness of angels, as well as his comments on the rams. I really like rams, but my tanks have been been death pits for them. Even when I'm being diligent on the water changes, watching the pH, I can't seem to manage rams -- although I know many people do -- I just have a black thumb for them. Bolivian rams might be a better bet -- I've found them much hardier and less precarious in terms of water conditions -- they are less colorful than the "regular" rams. Good luck with your tank.