Adding Cichlids to existing established aquarium

[Mongoose]

Hello,
I have a planted 90 gallon aquarium with lots of large drift wood. It’s a well established tank currently housing a Red Spot Severum, a Gold Angle, nine Corydoras, six Bleeding Heart Tetras, six or seven Blushing tetras and a bristle nose Pleco. I lost an EBA a while back do to impaction it looked like. I am getting a Festivum today. I would like to know what y’all think about later adding a EBA again as well as maybe some other South American Cichlids. Maybe a Red Topaho or something. Maybe Apistos or Rams or Keyhole. Idk, let me know what y’all think.
thanks

 

[PlantedCommunityTank132]

Rams appreciate softer water while cichlids prefer harder water. What's your Gh and your pH?

 

[MacZ]

Dwarf cichlids are pretty much out, sorry. Apistos and Rams will be outcompeted by that company and do not that well with other bottomdwellers.

Rams appreciate softer water while cichlids prefer harder water. What's your Gh and your pH?

Rams ARE cichlids. The cichlid group has many species on 3 continents.

 

[Mongoose]

I’ve had Bolivians before so I don’t think I would want Rams anymore anyway but I do like Apistos but not really a must as I thought they might have issues with the Corydoras. My real question I guess is what’s do y’all think about the larger Cichlids with the trio I will have. I’m very excited about the new Festivum. Hoping to add a EBA and then I’m up in the air. Maybe that is fine at that point with four large cichlids but if y’all think that a 90 gallon heavily planted with large drift would could house more comfortable. I’m just looking for options and opinions.

 

[PlantedCommunityTank132]

Dwarf cichlids are pretty much out, sorry. Apistos and Rams will be outcompeted by that company and do not that well with other bottomdwellers.


Rams ARE cichlids. The cichlid group has many species on 3 continents.

Oops

 

[TClare]

Festivums do well and look good in groups, I believe that sometimes a single one can become aggressive with other cichlids so you could maybe get two or three more? Otherwise I would say that a another EBA should be OK. Keyholes are very peaceful, and should not disturb your other fish or plants, but they also do best in groups and I am not sure if a lone festivum might bully them. Most people say that severums and festivums will eat all your plants, but I have managed to keep both of them in a tank planted with Vallisneria, Java ferns and water lettuce.

 

[MonsterGar]

Severums, angels, and festivums are shoaling fish, so having just one of each can work but just isn't ideal. I would get at least 3 of each if you wan't to experience their wide range of naturalistic and active behaviors. Also, I think people underestimate dwarf cichlids abilities to compete with other fish. As long as there aren't a lot of boisterous/gluttonous fish in the tank, they should be fine.

That is a pretty large tank, but generally if you mix EBAs with weaker cichlids theres a chance for aggression issues to develop. Severums, angels, and festivums are generally too peaceful to fight back against an aggressive EBA and dwarf cichlids are too small. In the end, its really just a gamble based on your fish's temperaments and environment.

 

[TClare]

I do agree that it is best ideally to have angels, festivums and maybe severums in groups. But I also believe that these cichlids can hold their own against a fish like an EBA. Some individual severums and festivums can be quite aggressive. Having a group of three can also bring problems if one of the three is picked on. A larger group is better really. Having said that angels and festivums are known to school together so having 3 of each might work. Often with cichlids you just have to try and have a back up plan in case some individuals don’t behave as expected. I would stick with one severum in this case because of the size they get.