need help picking cichlids in community

Jun 5, 2010
2
0
0
#1
Hi, i have a 55 gallon planted tank, and I was wanting to add 1 cichlid. I curently have danios, barbs, gouramis, a redtail shark, and yoyo loaches in the tank. I am pretty limited on the stores around me that sell fish so these are the ones available to me.

Kenyi, Labidochromis, Jewel, Ahli, Zebra, Bumblebee, Auratus, Acei, Green Terror, Managuense, Midas, Red Devil, Jack Dempsey, Blood Red Parrot, Black Convict, Turquoise Severum, and Firemouth.

If any of these fish can live with my fish and not hurt the plants, I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks.
 

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#7
You can probably add Electric Yellow Labidochromis (yellow labs)

My breeding colony of E. Yellows lives in a 29gallon and doesn't eat their babies for the most part, which is almost unheard of when it comes to cichlids.

Kenyi <- one of the most aggressive African cichlids, will eventually kill everything,
Labidochromis <also known as yellow labs. This would be my first pick and shouldn't be problematic
Jewel <- an african that looks and acts like a south american, tends to be real MEAN
Ahli, < this is a member of the HAP family, they tend to be better behaved them most mumba's but i have not personally kept the electric blue so i can't give first hand exp. If you love them you can try them, for the most part Haps get bullied in my tanks, so he may be an ok fit, but if he turns out to be a serial killer.... well....
Zebra<- Sassy little buggers, likely too aggressive
Bumblebee< these get a big too large for what you already have and tend to be a bit on the sassy side too. I kept a 1" Bumblebee in a tank of fish that were all 3+" and he never got messed up, nor did he hide all the time. That being said your tank isn't currently aggressive enough to take this guy on.
Auratus <- so mean it would take on a fish twice it's size for fun, not joking! Chipoke are a similar fish with similar issues.
Acei <- I like these and this would be my second pick behind the yellow lab. They are known to be peace keepers, and have been known to break up fish fights between other fish

The above fish are lake Malowi African cichlids, they tend to be smaller and nicer then their south American/central American cousins.

Green Terror <- south american going to get BIG and mean,
Managuense <- also known as the Jaguar. south american going to get BIG and mean
Midas <- south american going to get BIG and mean,
Red Devil <- south american going to get BIG and mean
, Jack Dempsey<- south american going to get BIG and mean,
Blood Red Parrot<- ok, so what you need to know about these is that they get big, and they are sassy. They generally can not close their mouths all the way, and when you start out with them they are very timmid, in the end they are south american and still going to get BIG and mean
Black Convict <medium sized and mean,
Turquoise Severum <- south american going to get BIG and mean
Firemouth. <- south american going to get BIG and mean

Hopefully that helps. I would add a trio of electric yellows with out hesitation to your tank. :)
 

Last edited:

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#8
I've not heard of many mean severums. Some certainly have gotten aggressive in the past, but IME, pretty docile for large cichlids.

Really though, If you want to keep the smaller fish, nix any of the SA you've listed. A fish will eat another fish if it can fit it into it's mouth. It's nature at it's best. And yes, many of the rift lake cichlids you listed are far to aggressive.

So the yellow labs might well be the best choice. Just read up on them. I know mbuna in general need a more veggie based diet than a lot of other fish, but the yellow labs seem more tolerable of proteins.
 

#9
The first thing that occurred to me were Yellow Labs, but I would be concerned about the differing water parameter requirements. Most African Cichlids do best in hard, alkaline water, so you would have to compare that with the needs of your other fish. Also, Yellow Labs are susceptible to the dropsy if given a high protein/high fat diet. The Yellow Labs would also end up being the largest fish in your tank, except for the red-tailed shark. I've seen some pretty big ones, but even though Yellow Labs are docile, I bet they would be more aggressive than the red-tailed shark.