Is 55g good for...

[cawah]

Is a 55g good for... 2 blue acaras and 4-5 silver dollars? I decided not to get a severum since I dont think I will have space now that I am going back to 55 . However, is a 55 good for these 2 types of fish? I want to make sure because I found a good deal on a 55 but not too sure if it's okay!

Oh yeah, these fish are OK together... right? Severums and Silver Dollars are ok, but not sure about Acaras and Silver dollars.

Thanks!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Idk if i would put acaras and dollars together. 2 acaras might be a pair which will make them aggressive during breeding.

55gal is a great size tank for more than the beginner but not a pro.

Also with those fish and that many, it will get a little crowded.

 

[cawah]

Hmm... I want acaras because they are pretty and it's extremely fun to watch them move rocks around by spitting them out.

But I want silver dollars because I can sometimes feed them peas and cucumbers!! (Lame reason... but its the truth!)

Do severums spit out rocks too?

Do you think I should go back to 4 silver dollars and 1 severum? Or is that pushing the limit of crowdness?

(I want 4 SD because I heard they get spooked easily and do better as a school)

Sorry for being so annoying, but I've checked out lots of fish books but none of them go into details =T. And I don't want to have unhappy fish!

 

[Managuense]

yeah, your severums will also spit out bits of rock in their search for something good to eat. (most cichlids do this to some extent)

both of the combos you have mentioned sound great for your 55 gallon. lets us know what you decide!
M

 

[greendragon]

Yeah,i think either way you go you'll be ok,just make sure you have plaenty of filtration with what you finally decide upon.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

O dollars and acaras can go together from what Managuense says......prob. right.

Go for it!

Make sure you have enough rocks (larger) and plants (fake) to give both kinds of fish to hide in and around. Dollars will eat your live plants!!!!!

 

[moricollins]

ya, they should work in that tank,...

 

[cawah]

Yay! Cool, can't wait until I actually get the tank! I keep vacillating between the 120 and 55.

I've already started reading about rocks, but I'm not ready to ask questions just yet about rocks!

Thanks all!!

 

[Cichlidian]

Ya u can go for acaras & sil.dollars in a single tank but beware when your acaras r spawning. DO HAVE A LOT OF HIDING. 2 or more upturned flower pots will do good. Hv some bushy plastic plants too. 1 or 2 live plants for ur dollars 2 eat.

All cichlids hv similar behaviour like digging, parental care, agression etc., so severums would also. Adding Severum is not advisable coz ur tank may b over-crowded coz they grow 12" in length & around 6-7" tall. Stick on to the rule of the thumb "1 inch of fish per gallon".

Note:A breeding pair of acaras may spawn as frequently as 15days once. So obviously they will b more agressive while spawning. Many Cichlids would try to finish off intruders while spawning. I hv seen a pair of acaras in a pet store guarding their territory from a tank full of texas cichlids.

 

[cawah]

Okay, I'll note the hiding spots thing.
The severum is if I get a 120g tank. Silverdollars + acaras is for 55. We're still deciding between the two.

I think I saw a pair of acaras once along with like 50 neon tetras... very pretty sight! The acaras had babies and would push the neons back. Well, not sure if it was acaras, but they were shiny and very protective of their young.