cichlidkid Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 (edited) If you are thinking about getting into some american cichlids there are a few quick thinks you should look at. of course dont just go by this, it is only meant to be a quick reference to see what may fit you best. Always do lots of reaserch before buying a fish. I would recomend a 75 or 90 gallon tank for your first setup. (unless you want to keep small un-agressive species like angels and rams) It is easy to keep the right temp and water conditions due to its large water volume and can easily hold most of the american cichlids. for example a nice, showy starter tank could have a male green terror, a few firemouths and a couple of convicts. there are many combinations you can do in a 75 or 90 gallon tank. Some people really like the idea of a wetpet because it is not uaualy something you can have with africans. some cichlids are very personable like midas, red devils and oscars. when placed in a solitary tank (usualy 55 gallons) and given personal attention these fish act almost like dogs and become very owner responsive and develope a deep perosnality. Here are some commonly seen/ good starter american cichlids. large agressive cichlids - green terror min tank size: 55g (you could have a few filler fish) recomendation: great for beginners (very showy) temperment: varys alot but on averege "agressive" _____________________________________________________________________________ - red devil min tank size: 75g, Or larger would be preffered recomendation: very personal, a rd would be a great "wet pet" and a good first american cichlid but probably not for a first time fish keeper temperment: again lots of variation but usualy a bit more agressive than the gt _____________________________________________________________________________ festae (fes-tay)/red terror min tank size: 75 gallon for females and 5x2 footprint for males (thats 1 fish) recomendation: deffinently not for biginners unless you plan on keepng a female by herself (excelent show fish). temperment: very very powerfull and agressive _____________________________________________________________________________ - texas cichlid - this cichlid is often confused with the prettier "carpints" cichlid. min. tank size: 75g recomendation: An okay beginners cichlid temperment: temperment ranges from not too agressive to nasty ___________________________________________________________________________ -jaguar cichlid min tank size: 120g recomendation: I wouldnt recomend this fish to someone who hasnt kept agressive fish before. jag's grow large, fast and extreamly powerfull. you must be carefull when choosing decorations and tank mates (if any) temperment: very agressive _____________________________________________________________________________ - jack dempsey min tank size: 55g recomendation: good for beginners looking for a big fish but be sure to read up on capatable tankmates temperment: agressive but no overly so _____________________________________________________________________________ dovii (dow-vee-I)/wolf cichlid min tank size 120g for females 6.5x2.5 footprint for males recomendation NOT for beginners temperment a pitbull who's facorite chew toy just got confinscated _____________________________________________________________________________ medium sized agressive cichlids -salvini (sal-vee-knee-) min tank size: 55 gallon recomondation: try you luck with convicts first temperment: very, very agressive (with big teeth!) _____________________________________________________________________________ -convict min tank size: 20g recomendation: great for the begining fish keeper/breeder makes a good "filler fish" temperment: agressive especialy when spawning _____________________________________________________________________________ -blue acara(ak-are-ah)i] min tank size: 33g recomendation: fairly good beginner cichlid temperment: fairly mild to agressive in temper. _____________________________________________________________________________ - firemouth min tank size: 33g recomendation: I wouldnt say this is the best for a first time fish keeper but fine for a first time american cichlid keeper temperment: mildly agressive. _____________________________________________________________________________ large non-agressive -oscar min tank size: 75 g recomendation: very good for beginers (very social) temperment: mild, agression usualy stems from hunger (a frend's lives with goldfish, though I wouldnt recomend it) -sevrum min tank size: 75 gallon (you could put 2 in there) recomendation: a bit more finiky, not the best for the first time fish keeper (but do-able) temperment: mild (sometimes gets a bit agressive) -----more to come soon----- Edited October 5, 2005 by cichlidkid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlidkid Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 please add to this if you like. oh and it might be worth pinning Large male Dovii I laugh when people say Mbuna's are mean. LOOK at those TEETH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nandopsis Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Great work Cichlidkid! Although i took the liberty of enlarging some of the SPECS for minimum tank required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlidkid Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 thanks for the fix up j. I actualy meant 5x2 for the jags, I guess I typed the wrng number in the wrong place Male Tri-Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nandopsis Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 NO problem. Just keep spreading the gospel. That is New world Cichlids. :thumbs: Male Managuense Mo-Jo's pride and joy AKA "Jumbo" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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