Stocking ideas for a south american 55?

Hi, So I just got a new55 gallon that i will get up and cycled in the near future. In the meantime im trying to figure out what i want to do for the stocking. I currently have a juvenile bp which i am going to house in there, so i was wondering what some good tankmates for him would be. How would smaller south american cichilds. Any thoughts?

 

I was going to do this
1-severum
6-dithers
1-bp
3-syno petricola
You could sub the synos with 2u bristlenose plecos

 

Hey, i was thinking about severums! I think they are beautiful fish, i was just worried they would get too big. How do you think firemouths would do?

Oh and for dither fish, I have a school of tiger barbs I was thinking of putting in there also. I have them with the BP right now and its been a good combo for me.

 

If you do yje severim and bp o dont think another cichlid would get along. You'll have to watch the severum and make sure it doesnt get that big but most will work. You could substitute a severum for a firmouth.

 

I wouldn't put a fish that grows to 10 inches in a tank that's only 12 inches wide.

What do you mean by make sure the fish doesn't get that big?

 

Most get 8 and ive been told by many peiple that a severum will work in a 55. A female would be better since rheyre usually smaller. It will take a long time for it to get 10in.

 

I definitely plan on upgrading tank size with the growth of the fish...right now the bp is only 2 inches. Im not trying to stunt the little guy. And i've ruled rainbows out based on your previous advice jaysee.

 

Im COMPLETELY open to suggestions of other fish I could do with the BP and tiger barbs in the 55. That's the whole purpose of this thread...I love hearing everyone's advice and suggestions before making any moves!

 

I've seen people suggest keeping it in a small tank to limit it's growth. I thought that's what you were referring to when you said to make sure the fish doesn't get that big.

It certainly takes longer to reach the 10-12 inch mark than it does to reach 8. I'm not sure what that has to do with anything though, unless the tank were not a suitable long term home.

 

im saying severums get 8-10 inches. 8 would be better but 10 would be ok IMO, and he's willing to upgrade so if it did start looking uncomfortable than he could get a 75.

 

How do you think a couple apistogrammas with a BP would do?

 

not very well. bp is a little to aggressive, i think he will stress them too much

 

Apistogrammoides? i've read they are a little more aggressive

 

theyre a dwar cichlid. i dont know it may work. i was told not to keep rams with one though.

 

Yea, i dont think rams would work either. I also read salvini somewhere. anyone with any experience with these, it was my understanding that they are very aggressive fish, too much so.

 

Yup i looked into gettong one and was told it was too aggressive. what about a cutteri cichlid? i have some juvis available actually.

 

Those cutteri look awesome! are they kept individually, or as pairs?

 

either.

 

convicts, firemouths, jewels

 

Hey Convict 15, no matter what I put in, they must be compatible with my blood parrot as I got the tank to put him in, until he outgrows it.