SA cichlid with Africans

[Spidyman]

I have a 40 gallOn tank with a juvie jack Dempsey, green terror, and convict. We also have a 55 gallon tank with variering species and sizes of African cichlids. I was wondering if any of my SA cichlids could live in the 55 for the summer or even longer? I know that ph should be different but we just use tap water and do nothing to alter it so the ph is the same in both tanks.

[skullduggery1]

The convict might be able to,BUT it depends on the african cichlid species.The terror and dempsey will probably slaughter everything in that small of a tank.

[Lady Hobbs]

I would say not likely. 40 gallons isn't a very big tank for what you have in it now and not sure how long that arrangement will work, either.

[Sandz]

As a rule you dont mix Africans and SA's... Same goes for Mbuna and Peacocks and Haps...

[Spidyman]

Yes lady Hobbs that is why I was asking because we are upgrading his tank soon but I don't know how soon then I will have a change to upgrade to a 55. But thanks for the help I will not be doing it then.

[eroc1085]

The parameter needs of CA/SA and Africans are wayyyyyy to different. plus the jack and the GT will prob try n dominate the tank, then ea. other in such a small space.

Oddly enough i have a NEON JEWEL cichlid that's doing well in an SA/CA tank. Weird i know, but i read up on jewles and apparently even though they're african they like a softer water and lower pH. Or may i should tolerate, they tolerate softer water and lower pH. Either way, it's doing fine in there.

Let me tell you this Jewel had a will to live. The fish was in a bucket on a table about a foot (or less) away from the tank. My 125 didn't have the canopy over it. When i came into the room to take the jewels away one have jumped from the bucket into the tank. i was soooooooo impressed i just left him in their and he made friends and eat a ton. There he stays, friends with everyone.

[Convict Enthusiast]

As a rule you dont mix Africans and SA's... Same goes for Mbuna and Peacocks and Haps...

+1. And most definitely there's a reason for that rule. For 1, they like different water paramenters, and 2nd, although this is personal experience, Africans tend to be a bit more aggressive. But the thing is alot of Africans are smaller sickleds, so the Americans outgrow them. Take for example the Auartus African sickled. When they mature, I've known 1 of them killing a piranha. An acquaintance of mine added an auartus to her already established community consisting of giant danios, a Jack Dempsey, and an oscar. Needless to say she went against my advice. The next day at work she told me that within minutes, the new auartus killed every fish in that tank except the Oscar, who was cowering in the corner by the thermometer!

[reptiletom]

It really depends on what type of africans you have. If they're big Malawi cichlids they will probably terrorize all of the others especially since your jack is a juvenile. Water parameters shouldn't be a problem if tap water is used for both tank. All of the cichlids you mentioned can live in a wide range of pH ranges.

[SmokeyCFH]

I've had at least one jack always with my africans for some reason. Currently I have a jack with some african dwarfs, he's well over a year old and hasn't grown much, not much larger than the dwarfs yet i've had up to 8 at one time and they grew to 6" in a year or less. They don't mess with each other at all. I had an 8" jack in a 125g with some 4-6" africans and they all did fine. The only issue i had was with jacks and my wolf fish or my jaguar cichlid terrorizing everything except the oscar.

So i guess it all depends on the environment you set for em, and how threatened they feel. I wouldn't pack them tightly in a tank, just for a "more active and bright" tank. In my opinion the tank isn't for your liking, the fish are, so make them happy.

[skullduggery1]

Most not all central american cichlids come from rocky mountainous lakes.So,you can get away with putting some in with africans.Convicts WILL work with some rougher african cichlids.

[Spidyman]

I'm kinda glad this cam back cause I thought the peramater thing was bull poopy cause I don't mess with any thing. Now that I got some advise on the accual compatability I may try it later. I have kept African temperarly in my SA tank since my brother bought them here and then took them back to his place 4 hours away. But thank you guys for the help.

[Lab_Rat]

The biggest problems with mixing old world and new world are the different dietary requirements of the fish (esp if you're mixing with mbuna) and very different behaviors/body languages. New world tend to need a lot more space while many africans do best when overstocked to disperse aggression.

[Spidyman]

Thanks lab_rat the diet thing is a key problem that no had mentioned before but nor did I think of it. That really helps I may do it I may not but I do know it will be a temporary arrangement if I do attempt it.