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What goes well with firemouths

6K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  iamntbatman 
#1 ·
So what kinds of cichlids can I put in with my firemouth? I tried putting a green severum in there and he got chased around so I had to stick him in my other tank. Any suggestions
 
#4 ·
Jack Dempsey, Salvini, Green Terror, Convicts could all work (not all in the same tank mind you). Also, with cichlids you have to expect some bickering when first introduced. But usually they work out their territories as long as there is enough room in the tank.

For my next tank I want Salvini with either Firemouth or a GT.
 
#5 ·
Well I got a three spot cichlid today. The lady said that they sometimes work out and he was being sold at a good price so... But now after reading some more about them on the internet I'm kind of nervous that I might have to take him back to the fish store later. So far they're not fighting but he's only been in the tank for about a half an hour.
 
#6 ·
Hmmm...that might not work out. The three spot cichlid will get a heck of a lot bigger than the firemouth and will probably bully him. Firemouths can be aggressive against other cichlids and will eat fish small enough to fit in their mouths, but are generally peaceful towards non-cichlids too big to be eaten. I would recommend doing a community setup with this in mind, with something like a group of yoyo loaches, some congo tetras or maybe some rainbows of some kind.

The fish jeaninel listed are all a lot more aggressive than a firemouth (but probably not as much as the three spot cichlid) but might work. My sister's fiancee keeps a firemouth with a Texas cichlid somewhat successfully - the Texas doesn't actually bully the smaller firemouth, but the firemouth is shy and spends most of his time hiding regardless.
 
#7 ·
You have a good size tank. Make sure you have lots of caves, rockwork, driftwood, etc in your tank for hiding places. Let us know how it works out.
 
#8 ·
Let us know how it works out.
Not too well. I woke up this morning to two of my giant danios having disappeared. By day two he started getting really nasty to the other fish especially my firemouth so I had to take him back to the store today, unfortunately. I guess I should've asked more questions before buying him. So anyways here's my current fish community:

1 pearl gourami, 2 pictus catfish, 3 (1 for now) giant danios, and the firemouth.

That current set up is working out quite well. No bickering. But I would also like to get one or two more SA cichlids as well if there's any that would work. How about an Oscar would one of them work? I know they get quite large but are also quite mellow. So this time before I rush out and buy one, Would an Oscar work?
 
#9 ·
Oooohh...Didn't know you had the other fish in there. I thought you were just starting with the Firemouth. No, an Oscar would not go with community fish. I think you should just do the Firemouth with the community fish and no other cichlids. Although not sure why the severum didn't work out.
 
#10 ·
Generally Firemouths get along with others and just do the "posturing" to one another. I kept mine with community fish and they were left completely alone by the Firemouth. There are not big fighters like the Texas cichlids, convicts and some of the others and probably wouldn't live thru a big fight. They only get about 5 inches.

I'm just a chicken I guess but hated to see fish just take a beating.
 
#11 ·
Get more danios! They prefer large schools and you've definitely got the room to support them. A dozen or so would look great.

You could also try a larger, non-aggressive cichlid, like a geophagus of some kind. Most species get to be around a foot, but they won't eat your smaller fish (as an oscar might) and are generally even more mellow than firemouths.
 
#12 ·
i have had my firemouth for about 3 weeks now. he is is in a tank with 9 bigger african cichlids. none of my fish are full adults but they are in the 4 in range. right now they are all fine. if moves have to be made down the line i will do so.

i had an electric blue african that was about 5 in and beating the heck out of all the fish. i got rid of him and replaced him with the fire mouth and another african. there is a bit of nipping but that happens with just the africans alone. none of them are stressed out and it is pretty calm.

i know thia is a big no no in the fish world but i want to see how it works out. aggression will be the only issue. the water parameters are fine and the american adapted the the ph fine. i just met in the middle with ph levels. i am moving up to a 90 gallon so i think i will be fine. i did research before i got the firemouth and i think he is an ok selection for my tank based on aggression and size in comparison with my other fish.

you need to do the same for your tank fish and see what will go with what you already have.
 
#13 ·
Hmm...I've definitely seen firemouths in the same tanks as Africans in stores (Petco, I'm lookin' at you) and when young, they can hold their own. However, firemouths are one of the less mean New World cichlids, which means as the Africans age it will likely get the stuffing beaten out of it. It may work for now, but plan on moving that firemouth to another tank as those Africans get bigger (and meaner).
 
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