Topic: to, or not to

[HyBrid]

ok, i really like cons and i wanted to know if a pair would be ok in a 300 gal tank with some other big fish like jags etc?
thanks 

[ConvictKid]

No matter how tough Cons can be, they WILL end up being eaten or killed by a Jag. Even if given a hiding spot that the Jag would never fit into, eventually, the Jag will catch them off guard.

[HyBrid]

lol ok thanks... i am having a hard time deciding what fish to get for this 300 gal...
BTW finances are sorted and i should be getting it midway through april   
So exciting lol

[Dan]

I noticed your other post too.  I'm afraid, you won't be able to put almost anything with Jags unfortunately. They are extremely aggressive. You may want to go in a different direction, other than Jags. Good luck.

[fnesr]

the chances are high a jag will kill or harrass whatever tankmates you have in with it but it's not set in stone. i just recently got my first jag and have been doing extensive reading on them and peoples experiences with them. there's no doubting they are a preditory fish by nature and in most cases will not tolerate tankmates but there are exceptions to the rule, as with most types of cichlid the temprement of the individual is a huge factor in whether you'd be successfull keeping anything with them. a majority of what i've read has supported that they are mean and intolerant of tankmates all together but there's quite a few people out there who claim their jags are fairly placid (females mainly) and are successfully keeping them with other aggressive cichlids. i'm not saying to try it, as the basic "consensis" for level of aggression is what you should follow when selecting new fish but i wouldn't say it's impossible to keep anything with them given the right fish, conditions and social order of the tank.

[Ezekial]

From what i understand con's, especially a mated pair would work with bigger cichlids like O's, GT's, JD's, Severums, Texas cichlids, etc but i would avoid mixing the real nasty ones like the Jag, RD, RT, Midas, FH, Dovii, Umbee, etc.  Like Fnesr said it is sometimes the luck of the draw you can still play the odds and odds are those guys i just listed will dominate the tank and beat up or kill the first ones mentioned. 

I usually try to mix by general temperment and then size.  Con's might be more aggressive than an O or a JD but they have the size to offset that.  A con will likely not be as aggressive as a Jag or RD and also they have the size to really damage or kill the con.  Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and it's your choice to try different mixes but then don't be surprised or angry if your Jag eventually kills the convict. 

Why not choose from the mild to moderate agression range of cichlids like the first group i listed?  Your chances are better that you'll have compatible species there as long as you don't overstock.  Of course there are no guarantees there either but your odds are better.

What are the dimensions of this 300 gallon tank BTW?   I'm just curious and jealous.

[HyBrid]

thanks for the replies, i dont think that i will get a jag...
in cm the tank is 240x60x80... dunno what that is in in.

[mrbigfish]

no way!

[HyBrid]

no way!

??

[Ezekial]

Isn't the conversion approximately 2.5 cm to 1 inch?  A rough estimate would be 96" x 24" x 32" or 8' x 2' x 2.5'.  Pretty sweet tank.  Wish i had it.

[Eric]

hey dempsyfan, that conversions spot on.  I am planning on building a 374g tank this summer, out of 1/2" glass and a stainless steel framework.  8' x 30" x 30". Figured it out to be about 1/3 of the price to buy one that size.  just got to find a TIG welder to weld the frame together, Tig welds are ALOT prettier to the eyes than a MIG, plus if done right, ALOT stronger too!

[JC]

When you're done with that Eric, you can start working on mine k? thanks     

[Eric]

lmao jc, i'll get right on that. the way its looking right now, im gonna have to wait untill me and nicole move to tenn to build it.  i really dont want to move a tank that big!
at least nicole is gonna let me build it, but i think she's gonna be wanting a big tank for her O's.

[Fishnut]

I have a con in with 3 sevs and he does good with them although he is running alot as there are aprox 10 baby sevs in tanks that the parents still watch over, Im not brave enough to put one in with my O's though

[Ezekial]

You know Eric, it's easier to build several all at once so while your working on yours and JC's you might as well just start on mine as well.  I'll even travel to Tenn for it.