Are these Compatible?

ChrisPaul2491

Hello, So I have a 45 Gallon tank currently housing a Midas Cichlid, a Plecostamos, and a silver tip shark. I DID have an Oscar in there but for some reason, beyond my understanding, the Oscar who was about 3" larger, was killed by my surprisingly ferocious Midas Cichlid. Anyway, So I'm in the process of getting rid of the Midas, and starting over sorta new.

I was planning on keeping the Plecostamos and the shark, but wanted to know if my ideas for the other tank mates would work. I was thinking about possibly one or two spotted African leaf fish, angelfish, and Balla Shark(s).

What do you think? Any suggestions would be a great help!

k19smith

The midas probably killed the oscar because the tank is way to small. The midas liked you said need to go in less you want to invest in a bigger tank. A 100g tank would be minimum for an Oscar IMO.


The silver tipped shark is a brackish water fish, also grows very large and is a predator. It needs a 125g tank. Your really going to need to get rid of this fish also.

Your pleco does not like salt, so it and the silver tip cannot live together.

The bala shark will also not work they need 125g tank.

The african leaf fish I'm not sure on but I am pretty sure they have different water perimeters than angel fish..

How long have you had your tank? If I were you I would get rid of the midas and shark. Do you have a common pleco? If so it will also probably need to go as it's going to out grow your tank also. What are the dimensions of your tank? and ph? I'm sure we can help you come up with a good stock list.

k19smith

Oh and welcome to the forum, it's a great place.

ChrisPaul2491

Wow, alrighty then. I've been completely steered in the wrong direction I guess. Lets see, I've gotten all my fish at the petsmart that I work at, and all the information say that a 40g minimum for and oscar and 29 minimum for a midas. This tank has been up and running for a little over a year now. My ph is at a 7.2 and I haven't had any fish loss, due to water quality.

I had no Idea that the silver tip shark was brakish water, he's been doing fine ever since I added him into the tank. But I guess it would be a good Idea to try and start over "completely". My plecostamos is normal, and about 8" He's the oldest fish I have.

I used to have a tank of just angelfish, and I wanted to get another one or three, cause I hear you shouldn't have just two.

I also have a parrot cichlid in a different tank I was thinking about moving over soon-ish.

Any suggestions?

Oh and thanks, I'm really excited to be here :)

k19smith

An Oscar and Midas can live in smaller tanks but ideally 75, 90 100, 125 gallon work better your looking at large fish. You maybe able to keep one in a 40 or 55 short term but they are not going to be comfortable and I wouldn't recommend any tank mates. A full grown Oscar can't even turn around in a 55g.

Most pet stores seem to give bad advise. I'm not sure if they are just trying to sell stuff or just figure people will kill the fish before they are full grown.

It's going to be up to you to decide what you want to do. I have no experience with angel fish but a lot of the members here do.

You 40g would be enough space for the 1 parrot fish but no more and I'm not sure right off on tank mates.

You can use the tab at the top of the page to go threw fish profiles. There are a lot of cichlids that can go in a 40g. You seem to like the really big cichlids, lol there are some cool smaller ones.

I think half the fun of having aquariums is learning, I learn something new all the time and I've been keeping fish 8 years.

ChrisPaul2491

Haha I am a big fan of my South American Cichlids. But thanks for your advise, I'll definitely be taking it into consideration, and try asking more questions at the store.

k19smith

No offensive to petsmart but I wouldn't even ask them, I would find fish you like the do internet research you will have much better luck. This is a really big forum someone can almost always help you out. It's really hard to find employees or people in general that know all about every kind of fish. I just don't normally take any stores advise in till I prove it.

rrcoolj

The advise given is good. By the way your fish are not midas but the ones in my avatar are. Your fish are more than likely a hybrid mix of red devils and midas. That being said these fish are absolutely ferocious. Let me give you an example. My 5in female took control over a entire 125 for the most part with a pair of cuban cichlids and silver dollars. These fish are nasty and unless you have at least a 6ft tank I wouldn't even think of adding any other fish even a pleco. Males get massive and IMO need a 125. Females could maybe work in a 75. These are large, powerful, and aggressive fish and need their room. Both oscars and midas top out at around 14" and some get even bigger.

ChrisPaul2491

I did read that the "midas" I have is indeed a hybrid of a red devil and a severum. Thanks for the advise, now the hardest part of all...finding a new home for him UGH!

rrcoolj

No your fish is a hybrid between a midas(amphilophus citrinellus) and a red devil(amphilohus labiatum).