Peaceful cichlids for community aquarium

I think wording big is wrong, more of a stand out...but I think I have narrowed down my playing field now, and adjusted my tank to accomodate, just have to see what's available at my LFS's but I do like the GBR and peacock gudgeon so I need to decide on them and then decide on threadfin rainbows or praecox as the school...bottoms are bumblebee cat, rubberlip pleco and snails

need to build a few more caves...

 

I would not do cupid cichlids in this tank. Cupids are a shoaling cichld and need numbers which this tank isn't large enough for.

How about a festivum, sajica, rainbow, bandit, electric blue acara, or Honduran Red Point?

 

I'm looking for a few centerpiece fish for my 55 gallon. So far I've decided either a male and female keyhole cichlid and a female rainbow. They need to be community friendly and can live in a pH around 7-8 and a temperature of 78-80. What do you guys think?

 

Pink convicts got two just had fry in my 55 perfect for that size tank

 

Convicts aren't good community fish, and will fill your tank with fry that are usually hard to rehome.

What's your other stocking?

 

My EBA is pretty peaceful cichlid wise and my Bolivian Rams are as peaceful as my danios.

 

I like GBR!!!

 

Depends what "comunity" you go for for me they are great all other cichlids I found either to big for my 55 or boring if I did it again id go angelfish as rams and kribs and that aren't for me really.

 

Depends what "comunity" you go for for me they are great all other cichlids I found either to big for my 55 or boring if I did it again id go angelfish as rams and kribs and that aren't for me really.

The OP asked for peaceful cichlids for a community tank, convicts are the opposite of that.

I'm looking for a few centerpiece fish for my 55 gallon. So far I've decided either a male and female keyhole cichlid and a female rainbow. They need to be community friendly and can live in a pH around 7-8 and a temperature of 78-80. What do you guys think?

keyholes
rainbows
electric blue acara
tbar/sajica
curviceps
festivums
rams
apisto

 

The OP asked for peaceful cichlids for a community tank, convicts are the opposite of that.



keyholes
rainbows
blue acara
tbar/sajica
curviceps
festivums
rams
apisto

Yes my suggestion was pretty bad for the op lol the usual small ones people go for bore me I've kept a few of them and have just fell for the pink convicts especially for my 55 best centre piece ive had in that small tank in my opinion + very hardy.

 

Electric blue acara gets over 8 inches (I've seen one that big in lfs) and 55 may seem big enough but in reality it's not. I suggest either apistogramma caucatoides or Bolivian rams. Both hardy and peaceful. I'd get a pair or even a pair of each

 

electric blue acaras arnt the exact same as blue acaras , blue acara will reach 6" sometimes 8" but that's very rare and electric blue acara stay smaller reaching 4".

 

Convicts aren't good community fish, and will fill your tank with fry that are usually hard to rehome.

What's your other stocking?

7 giant danios and 3 pearl danios

My EBA is pretty peaceful cichlid wise and my Bolivian Rams are as peaceful as my danios.

EBA?

I like GBR!!!

What's a GBR?

 

German blue ram

 

Most earth eaters are pretty friendly

 

I have some electric blue rams and they are great! Amazing fish, colour etc! But they can all be a bit boisterous! My cockatoo cichlids are equally just amazing and are so peaceful since day one they have never chased of bullied anything!

 

EBA/ Electric Blue Acara

 

The OP asked for peaceful cichlids for a community tank, convicts are the opposite of that.



keyholes
rainbows
electric blue acara
tbar/sajica
curviceps
festivums
rams
apisto

Just keep in mind that generally sajicas and curviceps are quite peaceful and good community members but during breeding they are the exact opposite. If you plan on keeping multiples I would take these off the list

 

Just keep in mind that generally sajicas and curviceps are quite peaceful and good community members but during breeding they are the exact opposite. If you plan on keeping multiples I would take these off the list

thanks appreciate the help

 

I live my German Blue Ram (my avatar) and he is in a peaceful community tank. He gets along well with others. I was considering adding a Bolivian too as they are also supposed to be really chilled out.

 

Orange head tapajos are a cool eartheater that stay quite small

 

Orange head tapajos are a cool eartheater that stay quite small

I'll take a look so far I'm liking blue acaras, German rams, and keyholes.

 

I have Keyholes. Very peaceful, they have spawned a few times already, just push fish away that come too close. They live with fry the size of a blood worm, won't go after them. Very personable

 

I have Keyholes. Very peaceful, they have spawned a few times already, just push fish away that come too close. They live with fry the size of a blood worm, won't go after them. Very personable

I'm really really thinking about getting two keyholes and two blue acaras.

 

keyhole can get to 6" but that is rare most of the time staying 4-5", also electric blue acaras get to 4-5".

a suggestion

2 keyholes or 2 EBA (male/female)
2 bolivian rams
8 harlequin rasboras
8 rummynose
8 panda Cory

the schooling fish you can change around , those are just an option.

 

keyhole can get to 6" but that is rare most of the time staying 4-5", also electric blue acaras get to 4-5".

a suggestion

2 keyholes or 2 EBA (male/female)
2 bolivian rams
8 harlequin rasboras
8 rummynose
8 panda Cory or 12 KuhlI Loaches

the schooling fish you can change around , those are just an option.

I already have a schooling fish. Here's what I'm thinking

8 or so giant danios and another 8 or so pearl danios
2 keyhole
2 acaras
8 or so pooper scoopers.

Of course this isn't set in stone yet but the danios are cause I already have quite a few.

 

I would go with 1 EBA instead of two blue acaras. You can also add in a rainbow cichlid if you wanted.

What are pooper scoopers? There aren't any fish that will clean up waste for you - that is your job.

 

I would go with 1 EBA instead of two blue acaras. You can also add in a rainbow cichlid if you wanted.

What are pooper scoopers? There aren't any fish that will clean up waste for you - that is your job.

It was a joke for the Cory catfish. Would a male and female acara and a male and female keyhole be ok?

 

I would only do one acara. They can be more aggressive when breeding than the keyholes, which are very peaceful.

 

I would only do one acara. They can be more aggressive when breeding than the keyholes, which are very peaceful.

1 male acara and a male and female keyhole?

 

That should be okay! Though I might do an electric blue acara, as they're supposed to be more peaceful than blue acaras.

 

That should be okay! Though I might do an electric blue acara, as they're supposed to be more peaceful than blue acaras.

Sorry that's what I meant is electric blue acaras.

 

I have Keyholes. Very peaceful, they have spawned a few times already, just push fish away that come too close. They live with fry the size of a blood worm, won't go after them. Very personable

When I wrote this, I wasn't aware that your temp is 78-80 F.

Seriouslyfish has higher temps, but I still think this is too high for Keyholes.

Danios like it cooler too, I personally think they are too active for Keyholes as well.

Mine are in a 40 gal breeder which has only about 3 gallons less water than a 55 g. I personally would not add another cichlid.

 

When I wrote this, I wasn't aware that your temp is 78-80 F.

Seriouslyfish has higher temps, but I still think this is too high for Keyholes.

Danios like it cooler too, I personally think they are too active for Keyholes as well.

Mine are in a 40 gal breeder which has only about 3 gallons less water than a 55 g. I personally would not add another cichlid.

So what temperature do they need? I can turn my temps down if needed

 

I have mine around 76 F, I would go 1-2 degrees lower if I didn't have lampchop rasbora.

 

I have mine around 76 F, I would go 1-2 degrees lower if I didn't have lampchop rasbora.

I can do that. Thanks

 

I would go with the EBA or GBR, as many others have suggested. I myself have a GBR and he's very peaceful, unless someone else in the tank messes with him!

He's definitely one of my favorites in the tank!

 

I would go with the EBA or GBR, as many others have suggested. I myself have a GBR and he's very peaceful, unless someone else in the tank messes with him! View attachment 319190
He's definitely one of my favorites in the tank!

Thanks. I read that they're kinda sensitive and prone to dying so maybe I'll get a GBR when I get more experienced

 

I'm a beginner still, I stupidly bought one & it went in an uncycled tank, & I actually find my GBR very hardy in my opinion. But I also think I just got lucky! Definitely get one later though when your tank is established & you feel comfortable, they're very social & cuties!

 

I'm a beginner still, I stupidly bought one & it went in an uncycled tank, & I actually find my GBR very hardy in my opinion. But I also think I just got lucky! Definitely get one later though when your tank is established & you feel comfortable, they're very social & cuties!

Maybe after my Danios die off I'll get a school of them