cognizant

I posted this in a different forum originally but then realized it probably belonged here instead. I'll see if I can remove it from the other forum so it doesn't stink up the place!

I currently have a 29g tank whose sole inhabitant is a pleco. I was wondering if I could put a Firemouth Cichlid in with it? The pleco is approimately 4-5 inches in length. Also, do the cichlids need to be kept in pairs or groups, or could I get just one?

Thanks!

Cody

you could just get one, you couldnt do to much else but it would be a nice show tank, do some research and you could set up a awesome tank. im not exactly sure on if you could keep a pair, you wouldnt need to though. im just starting to learn more about south american cichlids, they are neat fish

Allie

Show tanks are usually 5ft or more.
Fire mouths should be with more of their own kind females preferably.
Only big cichlids like ocsars should be kept alone.

Slug

I disagree. I think a show tank is determined by the purpose of it. If its not setup specifically for another reason like breeding, what other kind of tank is it? To me a show tank is any sized tank that is holding your fish for the purpose of showing them off with no intentions of breeding them.

I also disagree about them being alone. Any fish save maybe small community schooling fish can be kept alone, you just don't get to see the full extent of their activity level or their interaction and personality always with just 1.

I would think a single firemouth would be fine in that tank with the pleco.

sirdarksol

I know nothing of Cichlids, so I have little to add to the discussion, but
Welcome to Fishlore!
and
Thank you for your attentiveness to the different forums. Your question would have been okay in the Beginners forum, but will get more answers here, so you're right, it's better off here. I deleted the other thread for you.

Allie

Well a show tank to us is a big tank with lots of room to "show" the fish or planted to "show" the species of plants. I would consider our only show tank our 120g but it's not much to look at right now. Smaller tanks are accent tanks. You can't show off much in a 30g or smaller.

I don't think it's right to have cichlids alone. Part of their lives is breeding and fighting for territories. It's bad enough we are keeping them in tanks. But keeping a pairing type fish with out a female is just mean.
Any single species of cichlid we've kept alone from Oscars to Bolivian Rams to certain African species weren't happy at all. To keep them alone just b/c you want them alone isn't fair, and it's selfish.

clinton1621

Unless you are planning on breeding them, I say do what you want... 1 fish would be fine as a start and then if you decide to get another later you will already have some experience taking care of them. I also disagree that a "show" tank has to be 5 feet long... seriously this isnt a licensed competition and a lot of people cant afford or dont have the room for a 5 foot long or larger tank.

Allie

Who said it was? This forum isn't like that.

sirdarksol

The show vs accent tank is really more of a discussion of semantics. They exist for the same purpose; to present our stock. Allie was explaining her take on it. I disagree with her: I think you can very readily show off a betta and a beautiful planted setup in a 10g tank, but, in the end, it's an issue of semantics, so it doesn't really matter.

Allie

Thank you.

clinton1621

I just took offense to someone saying you cant show off much in a 30g considering thats what I have

Allie

It a tank not your_____. So it's no reason to get offended.
Well you can't. I have a 33g and a few smaller tanks...which I call my personal tanks. Here people call show tanks huge tanks with rare or uncommon fish "show tanks". Some people also call bare bottom tanks with just the fish show tanks. Or all planted show tanks. Maybe we use the term show tanks differently here than you do in the states.

Cody

the point of this post was for someone to ask a questoin about keeping a firemouth, to me a show tank is the tank your most proud of, or if you were to sumbmit a picture in a contest or competion you would , i view it as your favorite or best display, so for the point, does everyone think that he could keep a pair in a 29 gallon, with a pleco. lets not get at eachothers throats

Allie

What are you talking about?

clinton1621

In professional terms yes a show tank would be a large tank with rare fish or a huge amount of plants, but my point was average people who have anywhere from a 5g to a 55g still take pride in their tank and like to show it off, so to them it is their "show tank"

Cody

im talking about this arguement about what a show tank is, and thats not the point of this post

Allie

No one is arguing...at least I am not. I am telling people what we think a show tanks are here.
Is this your post?

Cody

no?, am i not alowed to post here or somthing