Topic: My Tank size vs. Fish ??

[amazonfriend]

Well I have become more and more interested in the tank I have had forever and now I am just loving my cichlids.
I have been very selective w/ the fish I have purchased! I like big fins and lots of shimmering scales.
I have found out fish w/ long fins have BIG personalities    !! Nobody touches thier fins, they are busy chasing everybody.

My beautiful flowerhorn is growing very fast but I just can't sell him, he is my favorite!


About 2 weeks ago I sold 2 fish and purchased 2. So my fish are cranky and still getting used to each other.
Ok, this is what I have in my tank;
1 flowerhorn 6-7in, one of my favorites, this fish has awesome color!
1 silver dollar 4-5in,
1 firemouth 3-4in, a mean buger
1 salvini, new w/ good shimmer color
2 jack demseys
       1- larger 6in, awesome color, stays on the bottom
       1- new 4.5 in, long full fins good color.
1 big pleco 10in- Mr. fat and happy

I have heard jd need at least 55 gal. Why? what happens if I have too many and keep too many? If they are all happy, not fighting and I have several filters what would be a downside??

a few pix....



Thanx for your input
 

[Ezekial]

The reasons some fish are given minimum tanks sizes are these:
1.  Room to swim considering the full size of the fish
2.  Territory, is there enough for the fish that are in there considering their aggressivness.  DIfferent cichlids display different levels of aggression
3.  Bioload vs the water volume.  This one is the only one that can be adjusted by you and your water changing schedule.

I have heard jd need at least 55 gal. Why? what happens if I have too many and keep too many? If they are all happy, not fighting and I have several filters what would be a downside??

With too many fish in the tank you run the risk of not providing them with enough room to swim which could stunt their growth or not enough territory to claim.   The larger the fish the more territory they will claim and will challenge others they view as threats.  In a tank that is too small the other fish have no room to get far enough out of the aggressors territory resulting in a fight.  This would mean damaged/stressed fish in the best case and dead fish in the worst.  Damaged/stressed fish are more susceptible to illness/disease/parasites.

You didn't mention how big your tank is.  I'm guessing it's 55 gallons which means long term you will likely have problems.  Things may be going OK now because you are overstocked and aggression is spread around but your FH, your favorite, is only half grown and probably hasn't hit puberty yet.  When he does i don't like your other fish's chances.  FH's are generally considered very aggressive, on the same level as a RD and most do not tolerate tankmates very well.  They also get very large, 12+".  JD's tend to get 10-12" if they are males, slightly smaller if females, and tend to like to claim a cave and defend it.  You have two so there is a chance you will have a mated pair.  If breeding occurs they will attack and likely try to kill the others because they will claim a much larger territory.  FM's aren't too bad aggression wise.  Your's might appear so but he is probably nearing maturity while your others are just in puberty.  He'll lose out once the others catch up.  Salvini's can be aggressive but normally will keep to themselves as long as they have some territory to claim.  He is probably the best candidate to be able to stand up to your FH. 

Unless your tank is very big (180 gallons) i think you'll likely have problems.  Give us more info and we can help you out more.

[Dan]

Joe pretty much covered it. I'd be really leery of your FH full sized too.  They get extremely aggressive when full grown. Even without him, It's a pretty tight squeeze with the FM, Salvani, 2 JD's, a SD and a Pleco.   Upgrading is a better option if you wanna keep them all though.

[amazonfriend]

well....... that is what I was worried about - of course I realized this months after I had a few of the guys. 
What to do.... what to do!
I certainly can't have any of them hurt or killed - not fair to them. 

Thank you so much for your input! 

[amazonfriend]

I have a 55 gal aquarium.

What size would I need to make my list of fish happy!

[Ezekial]

For a FH, salvini, FM, 2 JD's, a silver dollar, and a large pleco (is it a common pleco? if so they get HUGE) i'd say a minimum of 150 gallons with more always being better.  If your JD's turn out to mate that may not be enough room but it's always a little bit of a crap shoot. 

If you get rid of one of the JD's your odds would be better.  And in the end FH's can be pretty unpredictable and are not known to tolerate tankmates so it's possible he could cause problems no matter the tank size.  You should know better once he hits 7-8" what his personality will be. 

[Adam]

For all of those fish I would go with a 125 gallon minimum that gives you the advantage of a 6' length to give them more room to seperate.  A 180 would be better as that would give you more height and width to go with your length.  A 100 gallon is only 5' long, and 75/80/90 gallon tanks are only 4' which is what you have right now just give you progresively more width and height to achieve the extra gallonage.

If in dire financial situation I would recommend leaving the dempseys in the 55 gallon and setting up a 100 gallon. for the rest of them.

[amazonfriend]

I found a great deal on a 125 gal tank and stand/hood.

It is tough to only put a few small fish in a big tank.
When they grow up fish grow up I have to get more tanks.....           

[Ezekial]

Don't worry in a couple of years they will all be approaching full size and a 125 won't seem so big.  A full grown FH can be an impressive site.  Add some other dithers to create some more movement in the meantime.

[Maddy mad man]

I believe FH's have a similar temperament to RDs and you wouldnt want to go putting anything with my male - just the female and then she has to come out for a while after spawning.

[amazonfriend]

Ok - so now I am on the crusade to find a bigger tank!! 
 What are dithers??    Are they other fish that will stay out of the way of larger more aggressive fish? like tiger barbs??

I really appreciate your time and input! 

[Ezekial]

Dither= Not a cichlid that stays small and schools and provides somewhere for cichlids to burn up some aggression by chasing them. 

Tiger barbs will likely not get big enough.  They have to achieve a max size that makes them difficult if not impossible to eat.

[amazonfriend]

so a dither is also a fish play toy.

makes sense but sounds kinda funny!!   

[fnesr]

so a dither is also a fish play toy.

Dither can often also mean small non-cichlids used to give shy cichlid species a sense of security and lessen their hiding behaviour. (ie. A timid cichlid sees these smaller fish swimming around in the open without problems and is more likely to feel safe venturing from it's cave or hiding spot). Dither is used for descibing both fish of this purpose and those for diverting aggression amounst cichlid tankmates. "Target fish" is the term mainly used for the one's that deflect aggression/ play toy tankmates for mean cichlids.

[amazonfriend]

I couldn't help myself.

Over the weekend I bouhgt a 125 gal aquar. My husband is going to help me build a great stand. He is a carpenter, it will be easy for him.
I got a great deal. $200. for 125 tank, glass lids, light strip, 2 emperor 400 filters, rocks and a few small goodies. The lady needed more room for a couch,  .

Now I get to switch it all over and set it up. Wow, I am going to be busy!