laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I'm looking for a cichlid to 'finish' my tank... for now. And I'm really darn indecisive and feeling a little discouraged due to unrelated real-life problems (the stray chicken we attempted to adopt was lost very tragically after 4 months with us and we are upset), so I'd love to hear what you would do with my tank. My stocking, once my quarantine fish move into the tank, is as follows: 4 Thicklipped Gouramis 10 Black Ruby Barbs 1 Juvenile Red Bristlenose Pleco 4 Juvenile (about 2 inches each as of today, the biggest appears to be 3 inches long and not very broad) Synodontis Lucipinnis Rabbit Snails and Nerite Snails The prototypical answer for my 55 gallon tank would be GET ANGELFISH. I never seriously considered angelfish because I tend to be attracted to heckin' chonky fish and fish that are a little different from the norm... but I'd love to hear about why you love Angelfish if you think they'd be a great fit. I want a fish that is highly interactive (like my gourami loves) and won't beat up my community fish. I have lots of plants, too, and I know that limits my options. Right now I'm considering the following: Festivums Blue Acaras (Wild-Type or Electric Blue) Keyhole Cichlids Bandit Cichlids (Guianacara sp) Rainbow Cichlids I considered a single Blood Parrot but I know they tear up plants and I'm a little worried they won't play nice or get too large. I'd like at least one fish around the 5 inch range. I'm open to getting smaller dwarf cichlids, but I'd prefer them to be a compliment to a showstopper. I'm just having a super hard time narrowing my choices because I feel... a lot of trepidation about wanting to absolutely love the fish I pick and ensure I can give them a happy life in return. Whatever I choose will be with me for life, and I know some of these fish can live very long lives. It's a lot of pressure! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I’m not a cichlid or Angel girl but absolutely had to tell you how STUNNING your tank is looking 😍🤩😍🤩 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 8:14 PM, Guppysnail said: I’m not a cichlid or Angel girl but absolutely had to tell you how STUNNING your tank is looking 😍🤩😍🤩 I appreciate you so, so much ❤️ Thanks for being a friend. The tank is turning into a real jungle, and it's how I like it. Sometimes the rabbit snail likes to munch on the taiwan lily but it grows so fast that it recovers allright. My aponogeton unfortunately rotted out and I had to remove it -- not sure why as I didn't bury the bulb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 African butterfly cichlids anomalochromis thomasi are stunning they only get about 2.6in so smaller than you wanted but a great fish 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 8:26 PM, Colu said: African butterfly cichlids anomalochromis thomasi are stunning they only get about 2.6in so smaller than you wanted but a great fish These guys are actually on my list as a compliment species if not the star. I LOVE the look of them, so pretty and would look great as a group. They're at my LFS and I can source them elsewhere quite easily! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Firstly I agree with @Guppysnail the tank is gorgeous. I've never been a cichlid person either- HOWEVER I've been interested in Bolivian Rams and they're supposed to be peaceful- and their colors are gorgeous. It's the only time I've been tempted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Wow, your tank is looking really nice! I think Rams are one of the best looking community cichlids. Bolivians might be a nice fit in your tank. They’re not as colorful as some of other Rams but I think they are really nice looking and the ones I’ve seen have great personalities. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 8:57 PM, Patrick_G said: Wow, your tank is looking really nice! I think Rams are one of the best looking community cichlids. Bolivians might be a nice fit in your tank. They’re not as colorful as some of other Rams but I think they are really nice looking and the ones I’ve seen have great personalities. I loooooove Bolivians and I'm not as nervous to try them as I am with German Blues. Also on my list of bucket list species. 🙂 As a side-note, my pseudomugil signifers are.... okay. I had another death today, abrupt whirling around the tank weakly with no visible sign of illness. They were all fine and eating yesterday as far as I could tell. I'm starting to think that maybe mine were on the older side when I bought them (in addition to the weak ones), as I've seen no real growth out of them. I've had these pseudomugils for 6 months, and if they were already close to a year old when I bought them it's totally possible they're topping out. I have zero other explanation for why they and they alone keep dropping off. I'm trying not to worry about it, as the other fish in the tank are fine and whatever is left of them will get moved out when the 20 is no longer needed for quarantining new fish. Suffice to say I no longer recommend these fish without knowing your source and the age of the fish. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I do love angels, and I would not add them to your tank. Angels typically look better and behave better in larger groups, and the 55 just isn't big enough for a group. [So now you have your justification for no angels😅] Blue gularis would be an attractive show stopper, and tops out around 5" I believe. I know you like gouramis, have you ever had a Paradise gourami? Generally speaking, gourami are best behaved if there's only one male in the tank, even if different species. The stiphodon goby only gets to be a couple of inches, and they make an excellent interactive school in a 55 g. I believe that there are a couple of color morphs, my preference is the red and blue stiphodon coloration because the red really pops! And if you have a school of 10 - 15, they'll take the space /use the carbon footprint of a 5" fish.😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 10:36 PM, Torrey said: I do love angels, and I would not add them to your tank. Angels typically look better and behave better in larger groups, and the 55 just isn't big enough for a group. [So now you have your justification for no angels😅] Blue gularis would be an attractive show stopper, and tops out around 5" I believe. I know you like gouramis, have you ever had a Paradise gourami? Generally speaking, gourami are best behaved if there's only one male in the tank, even if different species. The stiphodon goby only gets to be a couple of inches, and they make an excellent interactive school in a 55 g. I believe that there are a couple of color morphs, my preference is the red and blue stiphodon coloration because the red really pops! And if you have a school of 10 - 15, they'll take the space /use the carbon footprint of a 5" fish.😁 I really love my gouramis, but since I have my thicklips in my tank already, I want them to live their lives without the added stress of another gourami species in the tank with them. They're my babies. Mixing gourami species isn't usually a good idea, and I'd favor their comfort over a new gourami's for sure. When I'm ready for another gourami after these cuties, I have a list of bigger species I want to try! I'm also a little hesitant to move into killifish for a similar reason that I'm struggling with my pseudomugils. I'm afraid they won't thrive in my tank, and I understand they're somewhat finicky eaters and prefer live/frozen foods. I do keep a good rotation of frozen foods on hand, but I don't really have anything live to feed. In the late spring and summer I can hatch out brine shrimp more easily in my warm screened-in porch. Gobies have always delighted me, though. I think they tend to prefer high flow, which I've stymied in this tank for the gouramis. I'll look into them more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonske Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/12/2022 at 8:59 AM, laritheloud said: I considered a single Blood Parrot but I know they tear up plants and I'm a little worried they won't play nice or get too large. Mine destroyed all the plants, relocated all of the substrate repeatedly, and killed a tankmate of a slightly smaller size (plus had some of my blood as well). I would never unleash them on such a beautiful aquarium as yours. Some young leopard bushfish would look awesome in this tank, I think, but it's not a cichlid and too big for 55 in a long run... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 I adore leopard bushfish @Fonske, but I'm not sure if it's wise along with the gouramis in the tank. I've got time... I don't want to rush it and I'm sure I'll enjoy the tank quite a lot with the barbs and pleco going in next. Maybe I'll decide to leave it there for awhile until something really speaks to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I have a festivum and an electric blue Acara in my 45 as my centerpiece fish. The EBA is a mid to bottom swimmer and the festivum uses the whole tank. I think you can’t really appreciate a festivum until you’ve had them and watched them color up they’re gorgeous. The EBA is a show stopper but not overly aggressive and the two of them keep a respectful distance and occasionally swim in and around each other. What a great choice to make?! Have fun! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/12/2022 at 10:31 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said: I have a festivum and an electric blue Acara in my 45 as my centerpiece fish. The EBA is a mid to bottom swimmer and the festivum uses the whole tank. I think you can’t really appreciate a festivum until you’ve had them and watched them color up they’re gorgeous. The EBA is a show stopper but not overly aggressive and the two of them keep a respectful distance and occasionally swim in and around each other. What a great choice to make?! Have fun! I'm EXTREMELY attracted to the festivum. How is your experience keeping only one? Do you know which mesonauta subspecies you have? I think they look so gorgeous. I might go with the same combo as you! Thank you so much for chiming in with two fish that are at the top of my list!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I just want to add my vote for an Electric Blue Acara! Mine is so friendly, and he leaves the limia he lives with alone (though I'm sure he probably eats some fry). I haven't seen him dig or destroy plants either. I agree that a blood parrot might be too destructive for your tank. They dig a ton! Also I'm so sorry about your chicken. That's awful. ❤️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/12/2022 at 11:42 AM, H.K.Luterman said: I just want to add my vote for an Electric Blue Acara! Mine is so friendly, and he leaves the limia he lives with alone (though I'm sure he probably eats some fry). I haven't seen him dig or destroy plants either. I agree that a blood parrot might be too destructive for your tank. They dig a ton! Also I'm so sorry about your chicken. That's awful. ❤️ Thank you. 😞 It was a traumatic end for her and a very bad day. We didn't raise her up, but she had lived in our garden for months, with a coop ready to take her when she was ready to let us take her. I wish we could have caught her but she was too skittish and slippery and preferred to accept treats from us about two feet away... We miss her. Cleaned up her garden area today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Your tank is absolutely stunning! @laritheloud, I do not know anything about fish that are bigger than 1", but love seeing what you are putting together. Thank you for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/12/2022 at 8:31 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said: I have a festivum and an electric blue Acara in my 45 as my centerpiece fish. The EBA is a mid to bottom swimmer and the festivum uses the whole tank. I think you can’t really appreciate a festivum until you’ve had them and watched them color up they’re gorgeous. The EBA is a show stopper but not overly aggressive and the two of them keep a respectful distance and occasionally swim in and around each other. What a great choice to make?! Have fun! ORD 😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 @laritheloudhe is a true Mesonauta festivus. He’s a chunk and it is extremely rare for him to bother anyone else it’s truly a don’t mess with me and I won’t mess with you. The EBA is extremely curious, gets into everything and is always stirring things up but not in a bad way. I think of him like my 4 year old - too smart for his own good and in the end even with all his hijinks he has a good heart. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 Thank you, thank you, thank you @Beardedbillygoat1975! I think I'm likely to go this route. I'm going to try and get a true mesonauta festivus, I'll have to ask if my LFS knows which they carry. I'm in love with your two! I still have time until my barbs clear quarantine (at least a month) so I can think about it, but I have a good feeling about festivums. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarazzl Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 8:26 PM, Colu said: African butterfly cichlids anomalochromis thomasi are stunning they only get about 2.6in so smaller than you wanted but a great fish Are they aggressive and attack other fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/19/2022 at 12:37 AM, tarazzl29 said: Are they aggressive and attack other fish? Only when breeding can they get aggressive they are shy and should be kept in groups of 8 or more from what I have read 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLineAquaticsSC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/12/2022 at 10:31 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said: I have a festivum and an electric blue Acara in my 45 as my centerpiece fish. The EBA is a mid to bottom swimmer and the festivum uses the whole tank. I think you can’t really appreciate a festivum until you’ve had them and watched them color up they’re gorgeous. The EBA is a show stopper but not overly aggressive and the two of them keep a respectful distance and occasionally swim in and around each other. What a great choice to make?! Have fun! Thanks is a gorgeous Festivum I’ve attempted a blue Acara in a community tank before, it had an unfavorable outcome. On the other hand I’ve kept Bolivia. Rams in community tanks and they did great (as long as you don’t think you can get away with shrimp) one of my all time favorite fish they lion great and have awesome behavior to watch. When people talk about how attractive a fish is they often only talk about color and pattern, but if you are into the shape of the fish, the Bolivian Ram is my favorite shaped Cichlid in the hobby. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 I have always loved Bolivian Rams @BlueLineAquaticsSC and originally considered them for my 29 gallon before I went with honey gouramis. I'm glad I didn't go with the Bolivians for that tank, though; I have gravel in that tank and would prefer to put them in a tank with sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLineAquaticsSC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/18/2022 at 9:01 PM, laritheloud said: I have always loved Bolivian Rams @BlueLineAquaticsSC and originally considered them for my 29 gallon before I went with honey gouramis. I'm glad I didn't go with the Bolivians for that tank, though; I have gravel in that tank and would prefer to put them in a tank with sand. I actually kept my Bolivia. Rams with Honey Gouramis, they did great together and I am looking forward to setting that combo up again one day. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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