Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Freshwater Aquarium > cichlid compatibilty

cichlid compatibilty

23 16:12:47

Question
QUESTION: hi there i was wondering. i have a 200+litre tank with 2 small albino oscars and 2 firemouth cichlids right now but in a few weeks i was going to get a bigger tank 350+litre tank and the following fish 1 more firemouth cichlid,2 more small tiger oscars,2 demon earth eater cichlids,1 convict cichlid,2 severums,1 jack dempsey,1 texas cichlid,2 kribenses cichlids,1 jewel cichlid,(maybe) 1 jaguar cichlid, 1 blood parrot cichlid and 2-4 festive cichlids. my tank has alot of structure for the fish to hid in so they won't fight over territory all these fish are and will be bought under 3inches long so what im asking is can these fish all be kept together with out any major fights or deaths just the normal cichlid tusseles they have over territory thank you for your response.

ANSWER: Hi Sam..... The answer to your question is.... NO.... they can not all be kept together without a lot of trouble.  Your list included very aggressive cichlids, semi-aggressive cichlids and mild mannered cichlids.  The Jack Dempsey, Texas cichlid, jaguar cichlid and sometimes the Oscar are too aggressive to be kept with the rest of your fish.  The severum, parrot, kribenses and the festives are so mild in manners that sometimes they can be kept with community fish.  The Jaguar cichlids and the jack dempsy might live together in a 350 liter tank without issue... the honest truth of the matter is that you have almost filled up a 350 liter tank with what you have now.  If you added anything else to your tank then I would maybe consider one more oscar but none of the others.  dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: right fine but can i keep oscars,firemouths and convicts and demon earth eater together then .firemouths,convicts and demon earth eaters can sure as hell look after them selfs against oscars iv'e seen them doing it but what other fish can i keep with these ones aswell thanks

Answer
not a whole lot... a lot is hindered by your tank... though it is large what you have to realize is that an Oscar can reach 10-15 lbs... so I realize that is is small now... but when it is not two Oscars in a 90 gallon tank is more then enough fish.  Because the fish are small... you can try to add in the demon earth eaters... but I would not add in the convicts.  Convicts do not all grow to be large and they can kill your Oscars when they breed... and with Convicts it just takes fish and water and they breed.  dave