Texas Cichlids

**FishyPastor** · 11-04-2010, 06:38 PM

I came across a breeding pair of Texas Cichlids in my local LFS. They were asking 30.00 for the pair. Should they be kept by themselves or...?

**Lab_Rat** · 11-04-2010, 07:14 PM

Yes. Do you have a very large tank for them?

**coolingeffect** · 11-04-2010, 10:14 PM

Definately by themselves in a big tank, texas have a reputation for being pretty nasty.

**FishyPastor** · 11-05-2010, 05:14 AM

Biggest Tank I have is a 65 gallon.

**Rollins4Miles** · 11-05-2010, 05:24 AM

I agree with everyone, they get very aggressive and they should be kept by themselves if possible. I currently have a 5 inch Texas that paired up with a 3 inch Convict in a 220g. Even the 10 inch Oscar gets harassed by the pair or by the lonesome Texas at times. It's best to keep any mated pair of cichlids in their own tank in my opinion. I had to move out a Midas and a Blood Parrot because they became too aggressive once they paired. I also have a mated pair of Jack Dempseys in a 75g and that seems small at times.

My advice, if you really want the fish, is to get another tank that's large enough to house the pair. I love to watch the JD fry swimming around and having the parents watch over them. It definitely brings a new aspect to my aquarium world

**Lab_Rat** · 11-05-2010, 05:27 AM

65g is not big enough for a pair.

**Honey Badger 1** · 11-05-2010, 05:45 AM

i am currently researching texas cichlids for a new tank i am getting. i don't have any experience with them but everything i have read says 75g minimum for one. they can get up to 10 inches and need plenty of room. for a mated pair the usual recommendation is to keep the fish by themselves in 125g, due to their size and aggression. and when they spawn the aggression gets even worse, everything i have read about them says to have a divider ready if they do spawn because the male will often turn his aggression on the female to protect the eggs/fry.