south amaerican cichlids help ?

**Kyle17** · 12-12-2012, 02:55 PM

Ok so diving right into the waters of south america, i really like the look and temperment of the south american cichlids, i have 2 small firemouths and a small texas blue in my 80 gallon tank, 3 large pieces of drift wood, and soon to be 65% planted, anyone have any ideas on what other fish i could put with these guys ?

**Rocksor** · 12-12-2012, 03:44 PM

Personally, I think you are fully stocked with two FM and a Herichthys Carpinitis.

If you must have a SA cichlid to go with your CA cichlids, then I would get a SA that will not get bigger than 6". A blue acara comes to mind as well as angelfish.

**Kyle17** · 12-12-2012, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rocksor

Personally, I think you are fully stocked with two FM and a Herichthys Carpinitis.

If you must have a SA cichlid to go with your CA cichlids, then I would get a SA that will not get bigger than 6". A blue acara comes to mind as well as angelfish.

I thought about the acara, only reason i didnt want an angle fish is i think he\she would get bulied

**Lady Hobbs** · 12-12-2012, 04:05 PM

I really like the SA cichlids, too. Probably my favorite is the Severum. I don't know how well it would do with the Texas once the Texas reaches it's potential growth of almost a foot, tho. One situation may work out well and the next situation not. The Texas is a fairly aggressive fish and the Severum less aggressive but it may work out if they are raised together.

I am not qualified to answer as I have not had either of the mentioned fish.

**Rocksor** · 12-12-2012, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle17

I thought about the acara, only reason i didnt want an angle fish is i think he\she would get bulied

Unfortunately, with the carpinitis and firemouths, there is never any guarantee which cichlid will work in that tank. The carpintis tends to be less aggressive than cyanoguttatus so angelfish it might work.

You won't know until you try.

**Kyle17** · 12-12-2012, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Rocksor

Unfortunately, with the carpinitis and firemouths, there is never any guarantee which cichlid will work in that tank. The carpintis tends to be less aggressive than cyanoguttatus so angelfish it might work.

You won't know until you try.

True i mean, i raised 8 oscars around guppies and frogs, ( which they never ate but should have ate) so i mean it could work out

**Lab_Rat** · 12-13-2012, 02:47 AM

Angelfish are surprisingly tough. The first time I saw someone using them as dithers in an aggressive cichlid tank I was shocked. I asked about it and since their shape is so different than most cichlids, most cichlids don't mess with them. I've kept an angel with my CAs and SAs and he's just as ornery as the other cichlids. He has no problem living with the rest of my cichlids.