Cichlid Aquariums can be diversified!

[umdkillerb]

So, after reading hundreds of forums from so-called fish experts and listening to people babble on about cichlid compatibility I am here to say its all bs.

I have had a freshwater tank for about 5 months and took the randomization approach to fish buying.

Currently in the tank I have 1 tiger oscar (6-7 inches), 2 red devils (4-5 inches), 2 bumblebees (3 inches), 1 dempsy (3-4 inches), 1 black convict (2-3 inches), and 1 bottom feeder catfish. They all get along, and they have no problems even with the small 29 gallon tank I have, which is smaller than I would like but for the time will suffice.

I just felt the need to post about my belief in the fact that any fish can get along with another as long as the fish are not incredibly different in sizes, like putting a new born in with an adult.

The key is timing, all my fish were introduced at about the same time, all except for the bumblebees which were put in one month after the rest. They all coexist fine with their different preferable hiding spots.

Also regular feedings helps, that way big oscar doesn't get so hungry as to eat little black convict... and believe me he could easily if he wanted to.

 

[Orion]

5 months isn't really enough time to tell much of anything. Plus most of these fish live quite a long time, so judging them while they are juveniles isn't a fair way to compare since the good majority of their lives are going to be as adults.

IMO that's one of the interesting challenges of setting up a community cichlid tank, taking into consideration all the adult factors of the fish. The size, the behavior, the spawning behavior ect. Everything often works out great when the guys are juvies, but all hell breaks loose when those fish mature and the all mighty sex drive kicks in.

 

[big54bob]

i think your tank is overstocked. I would suggest upgrading to a 125gal.

 

[Monoxide]

I was going to say it sounds like you've done a little fish keeping and don't believe on what people say. But here's my thing. When I started long time ago. I did the same thing you did. I bought many kind's of fish that didn't belong together, they even belonged in bigger tanks! Like yours... But the thing was they were nice to one another, MAYBE your like me and thought hm because there just sitting in there hiding spot and not doing nothing its fine. Well all the fish had there own spot and never moved. So it wasn't the most active tank. But later on territory and be naughty in the tank and digging stuff up.. And eventually they got killed and I sold em to store.

 

[VicVegas84]

You're tank is stupid crowded. Everyone here will tell you the same thing.

 

[mistercoffee]

When are you buying a bigger tank?

 

[jo3olous]

So, after reading hundreds of forums from so-called fish experts and listening to people babble on about cichlid compatibility I am here to say its all bs.

I have had a freshwater tank for about 5 months and took the randomization approach to fish buying.

Currently in the tank I have 1 tiger oscar (6-7 inches), 2 red devils (4-5 inches), 2 bumblebees (3 inches), 1 dempsy (3-4 inches), 1 black convict (2-3 inches), and 1 bottom feeder catfish. They all get along, and they have no problems even with the small 29 gallon tank I have, which is smaller than I would like but for the time will suffice.

I just felt the need to post about my belief in the fact that any fish can get along with another as long as the fish are not incredibly different in sizes, like putting a new born in with an adult.

The key is timing, all my fish were introduced at about the same time, all except for the bumblebees which were put in one month after the rest. They all coexist fine with their different preferable hiding spots.

Also regular feedings helps, that way big oscar doesn't get so hungry as to eat little black convict... and believe me he could easily if he wanted to.

You couldve made a nice bonfire with all the money you wasted. Or donate it to a charitable cause

 

[bmoraski]

So, after reading hundreds of forums from so-called fish experts and listening to people babble on about cichlid compatibility I am here to say its all bs.

I have had a freshwater tank for about 5 months and took the randomization approach to fish buying.

Currently in the tank I have 1 tiger oscar (6-7 inches), 2 red devils (4-5 inches), 2 bumblebees (3 inches), 1 dempsy (3-4 inches), 1 black convict (2-3 inches), and 1 bottom feeder catfish. They all get along, and they have no problems even with the small 29 gallon tank I have, which is smaller than I would like but for the time will suffice.

I just felt the need to post about my belief in the fact that any fish can get along with another as long as the fish are not incredibly different in sizes, like putting a new born in with an adult.

The key is timing, all my fish were introduced at about the same time, all except for the bumblebees which were put in one month after the rest. They all coexist fine with their different preferable hiding spots.

Also regular feedings helps, that way big oscar doesn't get so hungry as to eat little black convict... and believe me he could easily if he wanted to.

Curious
are we the only forum you were kind enough to share your knowledge ??

 

[Matt Nace]

I actually welcome this post. I would like to see monthes..years from now the outcome of this post with pics. How about a monthly update. Prove to all that it can be done.

I think like said..there is going to be some war eventually.

But you know something, learning from others is fine..reading up and looking for answers is great..but sometimes you just have to try things and see. Failing or seeing negative results sometimes can lead to something learned and in turn something taught to others.

Hope your tank works out.

 

[jo3olous]

I actually welcome this post. I would like to see monthes..years from now the outcome of this post with pics. How about a monthly update. Prove to all that it can be done.

I think like said..there is going to be some war eventually.

But you know something, learning from others is fine..reading up and looking for answers is great..but sometimes you just have to try things and see. Failing or seeing negative results sometimes can lead to something learned and in turn something taught to others.

Hope your tank works out.

With the way he presents it, he's probably a troll and really doesn't have a tank that badly stocked. If he does, and can keep it going for the many years some of those fish can live which is >10 years, well it may be up for debate. Still, 1 experiment is not a reliable source. It is already proven that Those type of fish can live their scientific lifespan in proper conditions. It is not proven that those fish grow to their potential sizes and live long cramped together.

Also note that myself and quite a few others will only give advice that is safe and proven because we do not want to be in the wrong and point newcomers in the wrong direction. I have no problem telling someone to put 8 oscars in a 20G tank, but I will also tell them they will all probably die prematurely/kill each other/be growth stunted in the process for the obvious reasons, but I don't fully deny the chance that they all wont grow to 12 inches and sit fin to fin in the tank

 

[Matt Nace]

With the way he presents it, he's probably a troll and really doesn't have a tank that badly stocked. If he does, and can keep it going for the many years some of those fish can live which is >10 years, well it may be up for debate. Still, 1 experiment is not a reliable source. It is already proven that Those type of fish can live their scientific lifespan in proper conditions. It is not proven that those fish grow to their potential sizes and live long cramped together.

Also note that myself and quite a few others will only give advice that is safe and proven because we do not want to be in the wrong and point newcomers in the wrong direction. I have no problem telling someone to put 8 oscars in a 20G tank, but I will also tell them they will all probably die prematurely/kill each other/be growth stunted in the process for the obvious reasons, but I don't fully deny the chance that they all wont grow to 12 inches and sit fin to fin in the tank

You know what though, what if he is not a troll. You do not know he is so I would not speculate. I have read his other posts and he has his opinions. Yet I do not want to just assume a newer member is a troll.

You also missed my final statement regarding he may need to fail to learn. My typing he post an update was also a way to prove he is legit and if he wishes to, show he tried it. You got to know the Red devils will eventually kill each other or everything else in there.

I honestly do not agree with the original post that any fish can live together.

I welcomed the post cause it is a forum and it was a legit topic to debate.

 

[Orion]

I welcomed the post cause it is a forum and it was a legit topic to debate.

Right on. Just 10 years ago what would people have thought of Walstead (Sp??), or Amano or some of the other people in the past years that have pushed the 'common conceptions' in the hobby.

Personally, I think this tank will fail much sooner than later. While there is nothing wrong with trying something 'your' way, it is important not to take untested theory's and try to pass them as tested fact. There was a really neat thread in the SW section a few years back that went along these lines. A member took a delicate fish, and wanted to try to raise it and breed it 'his' way just to see if it worked. But instead of saying "This is how to keep and breed x fish", he made it quite clear what his intentions were, and also kept very detailed public records if I remember of every little thing that went on. This is a good way to push the hobby. Tossing a mish-mash of fish into a tank and hoping for the best is not.

I love nothing more than a good debate. But I really get down when I have to keep my moderator hat on and don't get to participate in said debates. (Can't look objective when it gets out of hand if I participated). A debate is a debate, and if one side can't respond with facts or reasonable scientific proof, then the other side wins. Unless it's a debate on theory's, which can be really fun!

But I digress. It is important to keep an open mind at all times. Who knows when you'll just run across the next big thing that sets the standard in the hobby a few years in the future.

 

[homebunnyj]

Right on. Just 10 years ago what would people have thought of Walstead (Sp??), or Amano or some of the other people in the past years that have pushed the 'common conceptions' in the hobby.

There was a really neat thread in the SW section a few years back that went along these lines. A member took a delicate fish, and wanted to try to raise it and breed it 'his' way just to see if it worked. But instead of saying "This is how to keep and breed x fish", he made it quite clear what his intentions were, and also kept very detailed public records if I remember of every little thing that went on. This is a good way to push the hobby.

You're referring to Josh Day (lordroad), right? I used to look forward to the next installment.

Recent members, for your reading enjoyment: http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/saltwater-general-discussion/27047-mandarin-candidate.html

I used to pore over his nano-reef thread and try to work up the nerve to start one myself. I still will one day. http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/nano-saltwater-discussion/34054-nano-reef-step-step-guide.html

Experimentation on the basis of knowledge and research is good. It advances the hobby, whether you succeed or fail as long as you share your experiences and methods so we can take away a lesson of one kind or another.

However, throwing together a mishmash, as Orion said, refusing to give credence to anyone else's experience, and telling everyone basically to f*** off if they dare to tell you you're being stupid is crass, annoying, frustrating, and ... well... stupid. IMNSHO I think such behavior should get a person kicked off the Internetz... or at least relegated to it darkest corners, with lolcats, gigantic glittery animated dollz signatures, and sex perverts! *twirlysmi

 

[Orion]

WTH-

I like lolcats...

 

[homebunnyj]

WTH-

I like lolcats...

I KNEW there was somethin' fishy about you!! *BOUNCINGS

 

[Avalon]

I speak from experience when I say the timing of adding aggressive fish (for a positive outcome) is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Tell that to my Managuense who had outgrew everyone and had them all in corners, fearing for their lives. Tell that to my Jaguar's that wouldn't even let me in the tank. It was apparent they've never heard the saying "don't bite the hand that feeds you." How, exactly, are you supposed to time adolescence?

When aggressive fish reach adolescence, all bets are off. Juvies you can get away with, but what about later? What do you plan on doing when you wake up one morning and all but two of your fish are dead or on the floor while the remaining are fighting to the death? Ooops?

Posts such as this only reinforce the obvious inexperience with the full life-span of a potentially aggressive fish. What's not accounted for is the need for sheer space for a single fish, which is measured in feet, and sometimes yards, in a spherical radius. If you can make good with a small space, you have a far less dominant fish (read:weak). This is the way nature works, like it or not. I've spent years making my own empirical observations, and the truth reveals itself over time. But instead, we take our God complex and try to bend instinct to our wishes, when we should be accounting for it instead. Your fish do not know what the heck you are trying to do, and if they did, would likely not care much for your impositions.

Experienced hobbyists aren't experienced because they've done formal studies, it's because their informal studies don't have a time limit formally imposed to make a grade. Listen to them.

 

[jo3olous]

You know what though, what if he is not a troll. You do not know he is so I would not speculate. I have read his other posts and he has his opinions. Yet I do not want to just assume a newer member is a troll.

You also missed my final statement regarding he may need to fail to learn. My typing he post an update was also a way to prove he is legit and if he wishes to, show he tried it. You got to know the Red devils will eventually kill each other or everything else in there.

I honestly do not agree with the original post that any fish can live together.

I welcomed the post cause it is a forum and it was a legit topic to debate.

Okay I am in the wrong for screaming troll this time, I got carried away because a lot of these new members came all at once, making everything seem well, "fishy". It's a fish forum I know.

But seriously, if someone wants to argue housing SA or A Cichlids in tanks where they can barely move around without hitting each other as adults is successful, there's just too many logical factors that point to it being a very stupid, cruel idea.

 

[Matt Nace]

Okay I am in the wrong for screaming troll this time, I got carried away because a lot of these new members came all at once, making everything seem well, "fishy". It's a fish forum I know.

But seriously, if someone wants to argue housing SA or A Cichlids in tanks where they can barely move around without hitting each other as adults is successful, there's just too many logical factors that point to it being a very stupid, cruel idea.

Jo3, I just pointed out he could be legit..not that your wrong. He was banned I think so looks like you were on the right track.Anyways, guess this thread is over. Plenty of more threads to help and learn from. *GOLDFISH*

 

[VicVegas84]

Why was the OP banned?

 

[Orion]

Why was the OP banned?

This couldn't get further from the topic, but because they setup another user account and tried to use both.