pestonoodle

I have them in seperate tanks now as my 20 gallon cycles but I'm wondering if 2 male Convicts and 1 Firemouth would do OK together in a 20 gallon?

scuba-ooba

They should do fine based on their profiles. The Convicts only get about 4 inches. Firemouth about 6". The thing to watch out for is their aggression. Most all cichlids get very territorial esp. in pairs. I have some blue rams who are pretty peaceful but like to rough each other up now and then. Really, its kind of fun to watch as long as one is nt fins up some day!

MeGustaUnaPez926

I think space wise you'd be okay, but they might kill each other... I don't have experience with them though...

CHoffman

HI Pestnoodle...
I'm really confused on you tank set ups now...I think it would be helpful for other members as well if you would update your aquarium info and could you go ahead and list on this thread too what exactly you have going on right now...List what tanks you have, how many gallons, the water perimemters ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings and what fish you have in there..This way we have a better understanding of what needs to happen.

Edit:
Also a 20 gallon tank is to small for the 3 cichlids that you have listed.

pestonoodle

OK right now I have...
A 10 gallon with a gourami, 2 cats, and 1 firemouth (2-3inches)
A 20 gallon cycling with 2 Zebra danios
A 5 Gallon with 2 convicts (small)

Thats it

I'm wondering if, when the 20 cycles I can put all the Cichlids in.

CHoffman

Ok..That helps thank you very much

Are you sure your 10 gallon and 5 gallon are cycled??

pestonoodle

yes they definetly are

CHoffman

Ok..Good..then I'm going to suggest you take the Zebra Danios back to the LFS....Cycling with fish is not a good idea, plus it's way easier to do it with ammonia, fish food, or a piece of shrimp..The danios right now are just being poisoned to death. You won't have room for them after the cycle plus they like to be in schools of 5 or more..So that would be my first concern, getting the fish out of the poison tank. If you need help cycling without fish I would be more then happy to help you through it each step of the way.

cerianthus

Convicts may be small but TOUGH TOUGH (sometimes downright Nasty) fish. When adding, add smaller Convict (how much smaller?) first and let them stablize with lots of rock work to hide then add firemouth.
If same size, add them all together.
Keep an eye on it though. 20 G is pretty small tank for cichlid. Aggression of Convict and Rams are at totally different level, IMO.
If 2 males turn out to be mated pair, should remove firemouth, not for baby's sake but for Firemouth's sake.

pestonoodle

lol thanks guys but nobody answered the real question. If I add the firemouth first, then the smaller convict, then the bigger, would they be OK?

CHoffman

Well, I'm going to say no. a small convict will get badly bullied. I think that a 20 is too small for 3 cichlids especially aggressive ones....I'm really concerned about your disinterest in your fish's well being. I honestly would take all 3 cichlids back instead of stuffing them in too small of tanks, get your 20 cycled and go from there.

pestonoodle

I'm sorry but I am doing all of this hassle to make sure that they are WELL taken care of. I'm sorry to discredit you but you are very wrong, I am doing my very best to make sure they are all well taken care of. I even bought a new tank so that, when the cycle started in my old one, the fish would not be harmed.

CHoffman

I understand that you feel like you are doing what's right but you still have fish in the uncycled tank, that you have lost fish in from ammonia poisioning. ..Many members have told you in many different threads what needs to happen These are your fish and you get to make the decisions on how they live and I completely respect that and I also see things from your point of view also, but things from my point of view are very different. I dont want to offend you or upset you. I'm just thinking about the fish's best interest and nothing more. .

pestonoodle

Okay, haha to be honest anyways I haven't even put my ZD's in the uncycled tank yet, I was going to do that when I get home. I guess I'll try feeding my tank.

One of my cichlids is rubbing up against a lot of stuff. I seem to recall this was a sign of illness. Is this true and what would it be?

agabr123

rubbing is generally a sign of ICH. i dont remember if you've had ich problems before, but it will look something like grains of salt on the body. however, there may not always be spots on the body right away, a lot of the ich is actually inside the gills. the best treatment is slowly raising the temp to 84F and leaving it there for two weeks and gravel vacuuming all the spores, make sure you add an air stone as the warmer water will lead to decreased oxygen in the water.

pestonoodle

Hm I did have problems before but I dont see any sorts of spots or anything.

Angela_96

By the time you see the ich, a lot of times its too late if the fish are kept in poor water quality (ie an uncycled tank).
A 20g is not suitable for those cichilds.

Nick G

If the Convicts pair up they will bully the Firemouth to death. Convicts are territorial, aggressive little fish that can hold their own against Oscars and Dempseys, whilst Firemouths are wimps. I wouldn't keep them together, espeicially in a 20gal.

Angela_96

I don't think our inputs going to matter. This person is just as bad as a person who dog fights, or chicken fights they get a kick out of a cichild beating up on another:
Ben's Blog!

capekate

Hi Pestonoodle
Your threads and posts are continuing to be frustrating and confusing at best. I have advised you in the past to try and keep your many questions in one thread for if you dont, you are going to get so many repeated replies, such as what size tank are they going in, how many fish do you already have, uncycled or cycled tank... and the last... no your twenty gal tank is too small for cichlids, ie: the two convicts and firemouth due to the aggression issues.
When CHoffman asked you to clarify what you had in each tank you answered, and said that you had 2 zebra danio's in your twenty gal to help cycle the tank. After her reply you recanted and said you did not actually have them in the tank yet.
This conflicting information is going to get old and frustrating very quickly if it hasnt already.
All your threads in the last week have asked the same thing.. what fish can go in what tank. PLEASE keep your questions on this in one thread.
With that said, I understand that you have a certain amount of fish that you are trying to find a suitable tank for. I understand your concern. But please for future references can you keep the questions in one thread, update your aquarium info to reflect the new information and this way other posters do not have to repeat the same questions and advice for you.
thank you, kate

sgould

Ok, this thread is in danger of spiraling into "beat up on the questioner". Remembering that the forum is here to help less experienced fishkeepers, please keep your comments positive and helpful. If you feel you can no longer do that, whether in this thread or in someone else's, then it would be best to bow out of the discussion. The old "if you can't say something nice" rule.

That said, pestonoodle...you are seeing this type of response because of some of your past statements and the way you pose questions over and over, and in multiple posts as Kate pointed out above. There are many people here that are ready and willing to help you out, but for you to get that benefit, you need to be sure you are providing detailed information concisely. Saying things like "I am cycling with fish", then backing away when called out on it gives the impression you are being evasive. As any advice you receive will be based on the assumption that background information you give us is true, anytime you say something that isn't accurate you run the risk of getting bad suggestions. Finally, by asking the same questions over and over, you give the impression that you are not listening to the advice you are being given and are just fishing for the answer you want rather than the answer you need. If you keep these things in mind as you post future questions or responses , I think you will be much happier with the direction your threads go in.