Restocking my 55

[ballyhoo]

My 55 is sitting empty from my ich out break and I'm slowly starting to restock it.

I would like to do pairs of cichlids.

My existing convict pair ( they were moved to the 30L before the Ich so they survived)
JD pair
Severum pair
and perhaps a red jewel pair

I have a feeling this may be overstocking the tank and maybe aggression issues.
I would have a cycled 30L set aside if I wanted to remove the eggs and try to raise them with out the parents or perhaps move the parents and the eggs into that. If there is a spawn I don't want to happen I would either remove the eggs and toss them or allow the other fish to eat the fry.

I currently have a severum and a jack dempsey that are in a 30 gallon tank while i let the 55 run to make sure the ich is all the way gone. They WILL NOT be staying in the 30 and are currently only an inch/ inch and a half long.

they aren't sexed yet and i'm not quite sure how to do that with these fish so any input would be appreciated.

Severum
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Jack Dempsey
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[Red]

I would pick one of the fish you want to keep. If you want a severum, get a group of 4-6 to get a pair and get rid of the fish. If you want jds, get a group of 4-6 and wait to pair. Convicts will breed and get mean and the tank will become a scene from rambo. I would not get the jewels, they are bad fish to keep unless if there in a tank by themselves.

[ballyhoo]

I already have the one sev and one JD so I'd at least like to pair off those guys.

[MCHRKiller]

For that stock you are honestly going to keed a much larger tank...preferably something in the 6ft range. Male JDs can grow to 9", females arnt much smaller...Severums are also large bodied heavy fish growing to around 8". Cons usually stick to around 4-5" for males. Although I have seen them much larger, my SO has a male pink con which is huge...it is the size of an adult Severum and very very thick. Not to mention the territorial needs of these fish. You would be *MUCH* better off sticking to a single species in that tank, or building a community of cichlids with smaller more peaceful fish.

[lobsternoob]

Convicts will breed and get mean and the tank will become a scene from rambo.

I almost wound up really rofling at this, i honestly did almost fall out of the bed.
The mental picture was awesome.

You could possibly do all right if you just kept jewels out of the equation, but I
think MCHR had a better idea, keep one type you like on their own and maybe even find a few randoms that could go with them, although that can be risky too. I probably wouldn't keep a pair of sevs and a pair of JD's in a 55, but then again I have had luck with much stranger sounding stocking. But if they were really mated pairs I think it would eventually get pretty brutal.

[ballyhoo]

I nixed the jewels, it was just a thought because the fry were free.

I wanted to go a different route than the sev/jack but the SO brought them home and I felt bad telling him no because he is starting to get into the hobby so.....I guess I'm stuck with them.

[Red]

That is what I meant from my posts, I would stick to one species. You could always return one and keep the other one. I would go with the sevs.

[ballyhoo]

I just found an 80 gal bowfront that I plan on picking up this coming week.

[Pleco380]

You'll like an 80g. They are a nice size. At least I like mine.

[ballyhoo]

I just need to figure out a stand

[Pleco380]

Mine was custom made. I got the tank and stand used. It also came with the filter and heater but the heater was a piece of junk so I had to replace it.

[ballyhoo]

I'm just getting the tank for 80$

I have filters and a heater and everything already, just don't have a stand. Think we're going to make do with a large solid desk till we have time/money to build a proper one

[Pleco380]

Good luck!