Cichlid Stocking suggestions 50g or 65g

[andy305mia]

Hello, I'm going to be setting up a 50g (36"X18"X18") or 65g (36"X18"X24") Cichlid tank. Any real benefits besides more water where the 65g would make more sense? I don't want to keep Angelfish so it wouldn't benefit me in that way. I like Angelfish just want to try something new. I am leaning towards Convict's but I would like to hear other suggestions. I would rather keep more than 1 fish. I wouldn't mind doing a bunch of smaller Cichlids but I read you gotta be careful and really know what you're doing to avoid disaster. Wasn't sure it would work in a 3ft tank either way. Thanks

 

[A201]

Look at the Firemouth Cichlid. A group of 5 would likely do well in a 65 gal.
Although Convicts are a very nice looking fish, they are very prolific breeders & are constantly building & guarding nests. Almost impossible to rehome the fry.
Another possibility is a pair of Salvini Cichlids. Another mid sized New World. Both genders are colorful. A bit more aggressive than the Firemouth.
It's possible to keep large Tetras or Barbs, along with a large variety of Catfish with these Cichlids.

 

[TClare]

I like the firemouth idea a lot, another fish you could keep with them would be swordtails, they occur together in the wild (get the firemouths too small to eat them to give them time to grow). As with all (I think) cichlids you might run into issues later if they start to breed, just be prepared to deal with this potentially. If you like SA cichlids but want more than one, a group of festivums would be good as well (same issues with breeding later). I think Bolivian rams would be possible to keep in a group, but maybe you want something bigger?

 

[andy305mia]

I like the firemouth idea a lot, another fish you could keep with them would be swordtails, they occur together in the wild (get the firemouths too small to eat them to give them time to grow). As with all (I think) cichlids you might run into issues later if they start to breed, just be prepared to deal with this potentially. If you like SA cichlids but want more than one, a group of festivums would be good as well (same issues with breeding later). I think Bolivian rams would be possible to keep in a group, but maybe you want something bigger?

Thank you, glad to hear there ARE options. Im looking for something on the bigger side. I have German Rams and they are near little fish. I really like the look of Salvini Cichlids. Would a breeding pair work in a 50? It sound like 65 makes more sense

 

[A201]

A pair of Salving should work in a 50 gal. I kept a breeding pair long term in a 65 gal. community tank.

 

[OiFisho]

Hello, I'm going to be setting up a 50g (36"X18"X18") or 65g (36"X18"X24") Cichlid tank. Any real benefits besides more water where the 65g would make more sense? I don't want to keep Angelfish so it wouldn't benefit me in that way. I like Angelfish just want to try something new. I am leaning towards Convict's but I would like to hear other suggestions. I would rather keep more than 1 fish. I wouldn't mind doing a bunch of smaller Cichlids but I read you gotta be careful and really know what you're doing to avoid disaster. Wasn't sure it would work in a 3ft tank either way. Thanks

Oscars are great, as well as the blood-red parrot cichlid.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

Oscars are great, as well as the blood-red parrot cichlid.

I agree although an Oscar would be a single fish in a 65. Blood parrot would go nicely with other smaller cichlids like fire mouths

 

[Kribensis27]

To add to these, you could also do a solo green terror, a group of keyholes, or some rainbow cichlids. All great fish with a ton of personality.

 

[andy305mia]

Thanks for all the advise. I'm going to stick to smaller size cichlids. I'm def going with 50g and 2 convincts. I was thinking about a school of tiger barb to go along with them. Thoughts? Thinking 7-8 TigerBarb, they get some size to them as well. Not having the extra foot kills me, a 75 would open on been ideal

 

[Donthemon]

Mbuna have lots of options!