Cichlid Community Tankmates?

Hey people I have a 60 gallonjuvenile African cichlid community tank with 10 mixed cichlids, 5 giant danios 3 juveniles 2 larger not yet full size and a blue gourami who shares leadership with the cichlid boss. I'm not asking other things,only from experienced people which fish did you or do you successfully keep with 4-6 inch African cichlids? Keep in mind I may remove the gourami one day if the cichlids get mean after growing but for now I have about 10% aggression in my tank and consider it random as each of my cichlids and gourami has their "moment" of ventilation and runs the tank picking on whoever he can but its very short lived as they always bump into other fish and get confused of their objective.... Meanwhile the others just peacefully continue and no direct bullying exists. There is an order of hierarchy but they respect each other and get along fine. The giant danios are too fast and strong for my cichlids and have shown their worthiness not to be picked on as they will return the favor and hold their own. My gourami holds his own and is pretty peaceful as all my fish but vents his frustration time to time chasing the cichlids to show his power but just as the cichlids he calms down in a minute and continues peacefully. Let me know what is compatible if you have any real knowledge not just google or YouTube files on hand. Thanks ahead.

 

I kept a paradise gourami with young africans, then he really started getting beat up and had to be moved. Plecos and medium sized catfish (mostly synodontis) will be the main fish that get on with Africans.

I have one lace catfish and a bristle nose with mine ATM. The mbuna were terrorizing the 4ish inch lace cat and everyone else so I ended up removing most of my mbuna and now only have peacocks and a couple haps.


As you've stated, you will more than likely have to move the gourami and probaby the danios as well once the cichlids hit breeding age.

 

Looking at your tank, it is too shallow for companion fish. Once you have chosen East African Cichlids for a tank - that's your tank. You can add Synodontis cats, but no shoaler will be guaranteed much of a life in a bashing, crashing MalawI tank.
They are fascinating, beautiful fish that severely limit what you can keep with them. I ended up buying another tank for the other fish I wanted. Then another. Then another...

 

How about those red tail sharks just one per tank?

With the danios getting about 5in as adults do you guys think they won't be able to keep up with the 4-6 in cichlids?

Or maybe just not in a 60g.....basically I'm thinking I may get a pleco and a few more cichlids and I'll cut it off there....I like my tank but I really like the look of overstocked cichlids that end up kind of schooling... Any common African come cichlids you guys can recommend also a pleco that doesn't get larger than 5-6in.

 

With the danios getting about 5in as adults do you guys think they won't be able to keep up with the 4-6 in cichlids?

I don't think you are understanding the whole African cichlid thing. Africans are aggressive and beat up on all and any fish in the tank. Danios are non-aggressive and meant for peaceful community tanks. Sure they may get just as large as the cichlids, but it's like keeping a lion with a zebra, though they may be similar in size they are completely different in their behaviors as well as their diets. The same can be said about the gourami. I just don't see the current stocking going well for the long run.

A good pleco that will get along is the bristlenose that gets around 4-5 inches long. Don't get the long finned variety as the cichlids will likely shred them. Other Africans that can be added to the tank are peacocks. They come in many varieties and are more on the "peaceful" side compared with other Africans.

 

I don't think you are understanding the whole African cichlid thing. Africans are aggressive and beat up on all and any fish in the tank. Danios are non-aggressive and meant for peaceful community tanks. Sure they may get just as large as the cichlids, but it's like keeping a lion with a zebra, though they may be similar in size they are completely different in their behaviors as well as their diets. The same can be said about the gourami. I just don't see the current stocking going well for the long run.

A good pleco that will get along is the bristlenose that gets around 4-5 inches long. Don't get the long finned variety as the cichlids will likely shred them. Other Africans that can be added to the tank are peacocks. They come in many varieties and are more on the "peaceful" side compared with other Africans.

OK now you're correct I don't understand the complete concept its not a question.... Actually it is.....that's why I'm asking about things I've heard of and wanted others thoughts on......also do you know about red tail sharks being compatible as I've heard?.... PS I do understand that danios are said to be meant for peaceful communities but I started off communities and my danios were actually the most active,fast and fin nipping fish in my tank with tetras, gourami,c cats,....I've heard that GIANT Danios not.... Zebra danios..... Are a survival of the fittest type fish meaning tough.....and that goes with my personal experience. They are not a fish that get picked on as they naturally keep moving fast and mines fight better than the cichlids which are same length but the danios are skinnier and work together in a school so maybe I can up my school as well and get a bigger tank in a few months maybe from 60 up to 120 and double the tank space when they get larger......just asking because I've heard many different opinions on this matter and seen with my eyes but I love opinion ...red tail sharks?

The danios are more peaceful but peaceful does not mean weak..... Its like having a pack of lions with a pack of hyenas that is very formidable in a pack but in the case of these fish my cichlids are not tearing each other apart even though there are a few grunts that could be killed easily by my top 3 I call boss,2nd boss and Sargent.... They have the power in their order but only chase and get distracted easy and its never death defying..... I've seen my gouramis fight much worse as I've made my own first mistake with those....my cichlid's just establish hierarchy and are peaceful non the less and just graze most of the time but I have seen one grunt challenge the main boss but its like a game of chicken and noone touches each other which is kind of funny but interesting......

 

Red tailed and/or rainbow sharks are not compatible IMO. They can put up with Africans in some cases but I personally wouldn't do it. I know they can and often are pretty mean fish. I still say no to keeping schooling community fish with Africans for reasons already stated.

Are all your Africans males? You haven't seen a real fight until you have a pair of males fighting over breeding rights to any females in the tank. The dominant male will claim a good portion of the tank and chase away any fish from his spot, usually the other fish will be seen sticking to the upper half/corners of the tank. It's not unheard of for males to kill off other males and even females by chasing them too much. I've had it happen twice, now I remove any overly aggressive fish.

 

Red tailed and/or rainbow sharks are not compatible IMO. They can put up with Africans in some cases but I personally wouldn't do it. I know they can and often are pretty mean fish. I still say no to keeping schooling community fish with Africans for reasons already stated.

Are all your Africans males? You haven't seen a real fight until you have a pair of males fighting over breeding rights to any females in the tank. The dominant male will claim a good portion of the tank and chase away any fish from his spot, usually the other fish will be seen sticking to the upper half/corners of the tank. It's not unheard of for males to kill off other males and even females by chasing them too much. I've had it happen twice, now I remove any overly aggressive fish.

I have one female that sticks with a larger male for protection but all the rest are males and all just graze but every couple if days the larger male gets irritated of the smaller female constantly lingering because he uses it to his advantage as a team against the bosses but he is the only one who will chase the female. Other than that they only chase each other to establish rank for personal bragging rights because once they've let another know their strength the other backs down and they swim amongst each other peacefully after that

Also I try and have my tank set to where there's not really a good spot to claim...I try and leave it open best possible. That's why I have a shallow strip of rocks across the mid giving scape but not much personal space.....every corner is an open spot not defendable because there is always another fish behind and to the side and my fish don't bother and rather share the tank all free roaming