F1ERCE

I'm new to the forum...more of a browser but I figured I'd create an account to ask some questions. I'm somewhat of an experienced beginner with a 29-gal tank I've had for two years. Probably upgrading to a 55 soon.

Anyway, I have 1 red devil, "Mango", in my tank and everyone has told me how aggressive they are and how they are incompatible with many other fish. My question, has anyone found to the contrary as I have? My blood parrot bullies and chases the red devil moreso. Mango doesn't really bother anyone. But I've noticed he's getting quite big...hence my upcoming upgrade to a 55 soon.

For the upgrading purposes, what other cichlids would be compatible with him and the blood parrot?

FYI, the other residents in the tank are: 2 brichardi cichlids, 2 gold barbs, 1 red/gold dwarf gourami, 1 kissing gourami, 1 pearl gourami, and a sucker fish. I know it's probably WAY over the limit but the tank stays suprisingly clear and clean but there's only been two prior "consumptions."

Juand15

once that Red devil gets to hes new home, BP might want to watch his tail, you might want to leave the brichardis in the 29once they get breeding they can get ugly. =]

F1ERCE

I plan on leaving the brichardis in the old tank. More I think about, only the red devil and blood parrot are headed for the 55-gal. What else can I populate the 55 with? The Malawi cichlids are really nice. I love the red devil, he's very "personable" and follows me around the tank.

Juand15

well i known Red devils that can't even get their tanks clean they will try to bite you, and can't even have tank mates, but give it a try and you have a better chance of him being a nice guy because you have kept him with tank mates but yes go with the BP as long as the africans i dont know, IMO i dont like to mix africans and american cichlids....... GL

steveangela1

You def do not want to mix african and american cichlids, even the lakes of africa and diff american cichlids shouldn't be mixed.

I would watch the blood parrot closely, they are a hybrid fish and being hybrid they will be very unpredictable.

Juand15

Angela keep in mind it is a hybrid and its deform Red devil is not and can tear the BP apart.

steveangela1

Actually its Angela,

That they are a deformed hybrid. I just know that hybrids are unpredictable, I am not familar w/ the red devils, but I hear they are very aggressive fish.

F1ERCE

My red devil has lived in a "community" tank for quite a few months now and hasn't really been aggressive at all. It's actually the blood parrot who chases him around and sort of keeps everyone in check. My RD has begun digging holes in the gravel and uprooting plants which is odd cuz he's never done this before. I know you're not supposed to mix American and African cichlids...what would happen if I did? I want to get the RD and BP out of the current tank because they've outgrown it.

steveangela1

They have different water requirements. African Cichlids like the higher ph/hardness, the Americans like lower ph/softer water. You cannot make the water compatable for one and then the other type do good and thrive, their feeding requirements are different, their aggression levels are different.

Also when you are trying to make a natural place for them to be happy the american lakes and african lakes are different.