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Since my Oscars seem to be getting on fine with the new Jewel Cichlid, I'm wondering if theres any other small fish that might get on ok? I don't want to add any big fish like JD's or Chocolate Cichlids, but i'm wondering if there are any other small Cichlids that might do ok? My LFS has some nice Firemouths and Blue Acaras, any thoughts? The tank is 90gal with loads of caves to hide in. And the Oscars are about 10 times the size of the Jewel, so it's not like they're too small to eat him, they are getting on fine.
Hi Nick
Im glad to hear that so far, things are going well in your tank. As I posted in your other Thread, I would advise against getting another jewel. Its sort of like 'upsetting the apple cart' IMO. The Oscars are chasing it around right now, which will eventually stress your Oscars if not already. All your fish are young, and that may be the reason they are getting along for now.
You do know that you are trying to mix a African Cichlid ( the jewel)with South American and Central American Cichlids, and that mix usually does not work in the end. Personally I would rather see the firemouth with the Oscars than the Jewel. Its a trail and error, and it may work out for you, and I sure hope that it does. I dont know what will happen when you add the firemouth. I remember when I had two Jewels in the tank and a firemouth at the same time, but I cant remember if the Jewel bothered the firemouth or vice versa. But I know that in the end, the Jewels had to go.
So something happened that made it necessary to remove them. The Oscars may not bother the firemouth, but the Jewel and the firemouth may show aggression towards each other since they are pretty much the same size.
I wish you the best of luck with them, and I hope that it works in your tank.
Thanks Kate! Yeah I know that the Jewel is an African Cichlid, but pretty much everything I've read says that Jewels and Kribs are the exception to the rule, and do better with SA and CA Cichlids than with other Africans. The Oscars aren't even bothering with him anymore, they're all swimming around together quite peacefully. I know it's trial and error but I'm hoping that because of the size of the tank that some smaller species of Cichlid might do Ok together. If not then I'll leave the tank as it is, I won't add anything else big as I don't want the tank overcrowded.
jewels get very aggressive, and i would say get rid of him if you can.
i have kept oscars for years and mature jewel are a no no.
as for firemouths you can keep them but i would get 2 females an 1 male and if like what you say that you have lots of caves the oscars can get in or destroy, you will have an amazing tank.
you could do the same with convicts.
i had a pair of convicts 1" male 2" female in with a large10" oscar and they would take turns to attack if the oscar ventured into their small territory. they lived together in the tank for 5 years and as convicts do breeding all the time.
oscars will leave fish alone if fed well and the tank has places they cant go.
blue acara is another fish you could have but i have never personally mixed them with oscars.
24 hrs since adding the Jewel and it's going better than I could of dreamed! They're getting on fine! Any other fish the size of the Jewel that I added would have been dead in 5 mins, but the Oscars just aren't interested. Maybe because the Jewel is another Cichlid? Just fed them and they all came up and ate together. Quite funny seeing the tiny Jewel competing with the huge Oscars for food!
How do you think a Firemouth would get on with them Shawnie? I found out about US Gallons the other day and realized that my tank is 90gal not 75! Thats why I thought about a couple of smaller Cichlids. I don't want to add anything big as the tank is for the Oscars primaraly, but the Jewels doing well and theres a lot of room in there, the tank is 5ft long.
I think it would be fine...id worry more about the firemouths not getting along ...the bigger oscars get the slower they are...I think one more would be fine and then id stop at stocking unless you are like me and you want to be nutso about water changes LOL ..thats the ONLY thing I dont miss about having my pair... but id do it all over if I knew they would be ok in my tank check this vid out...size dont matter really...its the attitude that is key
Great Video Shawnie! Yeah I was thinking 1 more then thats it! I do 2 waterchanges a week and have very good filtration, so hopefully it'll all be good! I went and looked at that Red Devil the other day, he was beauiful and I'd of loved to get him but wouldn't risk it.
I think it would be fine...id worry more about the firemouths not getting along ...the bigger oscars get the slower they are...I think one more would be fine and then id stop at stocking unless you are like me and you want to be nutso about water changes LOL ..thats the ONLY thing I dont miss about having my pair... but id do it all over if I knew they would be ok in my tank check this vid out...size dont matter really...its the attitude that is key
ya after the bad ice storm and using a bicycle pump for air to keep them alive, I realized how selfish I was being keeping them...they now live in a 450 gal tank..and nick sorry to hijack, but any cichlid that can hold its own to an oscar, can go ..im not familiar with firemouths but the red devil would hold its own for sure...
Your assumption is correct to think about the Jewel fitting in with the Oscars as far as water parameters..........The jewel is a riverine cichlid..............Not like the mbuna's, Haps and Peacocks who all come from deep water lakes in Africa.......I had a jewel in with my Jack Demsey for awhile and she was actually a bully to him and he was twice her size........They are quite aggressive towards other fish and putting another one in with your oscars could result in stressed out fish (Both Jewels adn Oscars)......
The water needs are about the same for the jewel and your oscars, but only time will tell if they can co-exist as they both grow out....The whole plus to your situation is that they are starting out in a rather nice size tank for the fish.....Good luck and just make sure you have a back-up plan for the jewel if it gets ugly.........
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but id do it all over if I knew they would be ok in my tank 
