Mixing african and south american

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Just trying to find anyone with info on mixing South American and African Cichlids...i think i may have done it...im new at this.

I have 2 kenyis, 2 red zebras and 2 jack dempseys.....

Has anyone ever had these mixed...they seem to be okay for now?

[goleafs]

Not a good idea unless (maybe) you have a gigantic tank.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Hmm, its a 30 gallon...and i can't return them either..i went back a couple hours later and they said no...

Only other thing to do is get another tank in a while...would they be okay for a couple weeks? Theyre still really small, under an inch id say.

[jbeining75]

That is gonna be alot of aggression... The africans are not crowded and the jd's are mean...... The jack dempseys will probably rip up the kenyi and red zebras. How about a 55 gallon or at leat a 30 gallon long. 55 gallon would be best.... Two seperate tanks will be best...

[goleafs]

The Kenyis and Red Zebras are both Lake Malawi cichlids, they would probaby be okay in the 30 gallon long term together. The Jack Dempseys (even by themselves) will out grow the 30 gallon in 6-8 months and will need atleast a 55 gallon. If I were you I would either get a 55 and split up the Jack Dempseys and the other guys or try to find someone who is willing to take the Jack Dempseys from you.

Will the fish store take the Jack Dempseys for free?

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Thats what i meant was a seperate tank for the jack dempseys...i could get another 29 probably although i didn't want another one for a while...since im new at this.

No they don't take any fish return at all unless they die within two days...there is another fish store in the next town i could ask them...but i dont know what they'd to..i paid next to nothing for them so id give them for free...

[goleafs]

Thats really weird that that place doesn't take free fish. Go see if the other fish store will take them from you, they should. A 29 is way too small for Jack Dempseys since a big male will get 10" long.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

The lady who sold them to me was the dept manager..and said that they ALL get along fine and she said my tank was well big enough....i think they had them labelled wrong as well. i might try and go back there again and talk to someone different....

[goleafs]

That really sucks that they would give you such bad information, was it a pets in general store or something?

[Ghostknife]

The lady who sold them to me was the dept manager..and said that they ALL get along fine and she said my tank was well big enough....i think they had them labelled wrong as well. i might try and go back there again and talk to someone different....

Well, she was wrong! Judging my reading up on them, and pet stores over, they cannot go together. I cant advise on the size of the tanks as I don't really know about the size of the Cichlids, but I do know that Africans, & South Americans cannot mix! Dam racist fish!:laugh1blue:

[jbeining75]

I'd set a 55 gallon for the JD's..... The 55 gallon will be easier to control the water perimeters on than the 29 gallon...

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Yay, i called and talked to a manager..and they will take them back....in a 29 could i put more than 4 cichlids? After getting rid of the dempseys?

[Hairback357]

Yay, i called and talked to a manager..and they will take them back....in a 29 could i put more than 4 cichlids? After getting rid of the dempseys?
The ideal answer to your question is no. Even just a tank of Africans need a minimum of 55 Gallon and should be kept with at least 12 - 15 fish. They need lots of rock work some room to work with. In my opinion where some American Cichlids can be kept in smaller tanks until they out grow them I always tell people this is not the case with Africans. They need to be crowded and you can't fit very many in a small tank. I think you should rethink the type of fish you want. I think both choices are not so good for a beginner. If you have your heart set on a Cichlid choose something much smaller like an dwarf African from Lake Tanganyika. I would suggest Fairy Cichlids. They are good looking and do well in smaller tanks. I have been looking to try them myself after Coco Pleco suggested them to someone else. I have recently found some but haven't decided where to put them yet. I also have a baby JD in a 20 Gallon tank. I know this is not going to work very much longer and need to figure out what to do with him. By the way these Fairy cichlids look way better in person than they did in any pictures I found. They are also called Brichardi cichlid. Here is a link.
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[Hairback357]

Also in a 29 Gallon tank I think you could house 4- 6 of these Fairy Cichlids no problem. I have read they do best housed with only thier own kind but I have never tried any yet so I am not sure on this. Maybe Coco Pleco can come in and comment. He said he has them.