[Major25]

Hi all, I'm not sure if this livebearer's section is where I should be asking this, or if I should be asking this in the cichlid section, but I have a 30 gallon tank with 4 mollies in it currently, and I saw a lightning blue african cichlid at the lfs today, but the tank said that the cichlid is aggressive. Is this true? Should I not add this fish into my tank for the sake of my mollies, or do you guys think it will be fine? I know that there are a lot of different kinds of cichlids out there so this picture is what it looks like as far as I can remember:

 

[mollies]

I would not the african cichlids are very agresive. The one in the pic you have shown here are called demasoni they are a dwarf cichlid. they dont get very big 2.5 to 3.5 inchs but are very mean. I would get a new tank and start an african tank if i were you, or rehome the fish you have now an use the tank you have.....
A few questions for you.
How big is your tank?
What are you Parama reading of PH, Nitrates, Nitrites, Amonia, Ect?
How long has the tank been set up for?..... If you could explane a little on your tank we could better help you.

 

[Major25]

Oh that's too bad, I was hoping to be able to get one. The tank is 30 gallons, I think the PH is somewhere around 7.5, but I haven't had it tested for almost a month sense I first started the tank. The tank has been running for a month now, there's no reading of ammonia or nitrites, I haven't tested for nitrates yet.

 

[velocitygirl]

Cichlids are great but not a match for mollies.Balloon Mollies are not the strongest swimmers and IF the cichlid went for one it would end very bad very fast.

 

[Welsh lad 94]

Hi all, I'm not sure if this livebearer's section is where I should be asking this, or if I should be asking this in the cichlid section, but I have a 30 gallon tank with 4 mollies in it currently, and I saw a lightning blue african cichlid at the lfs today, but the tank said that the cichlid is aggressive. Is this true? Should I not add this fish into my tank for the sake of my mollies, or do you guys think it will be fine? I know that there are a lot of different kinds of cichlids out there so this picture is what it looks like as far as I can remember:

Hi all, I'm not sure if this livebearer's section is where I should be asking this, or if I should be asking this in the cichlid section, but I have a 30 gallon tank with 4 mollies in it currently, and I saw a lightning blue african cichlid at the lfs today, but the tank said that the cichlid is aggressive. Is this true? Should I not add this fish into my tank for the sake of my mollies, or do you guys think it will be fine? I know that there are a lot of different kinds of cichlids out there so this picture is what it looks like as far as I can remember:

I have Malawi’s with balloon mollys and a platty and angels and 2 parrot fish I find they don’t really bother with the smaller fish they eat my little neons but they left my other tetras alone also maybe just for now but I don’t think at any point they would fit in the Malawi’s mouth if it’s small like a neon tetra then it will be gone by the morning

 

[Bens-fish-advice]

Never put mollies with african cichlids.

 

[PAR9341]

I agree with Ben. But if you provide enough hiding areas for the smaller fish it can be done. But you need to understand the risk your putting your smaller fish in. If I’ve learned anything it’s almost anything is possible if you do it right.

It’s better and easier to keep tough aggressive fish with other tough aggressive fish.
My tank is filled with 3-7 inch cichlids from all three lakes and they spawn regularly and most of the fry survive and grow well.
mid you decide to try it I would buy a small cichlid that can’t eat your other fish and monitor it’s aggression

 

[kay58753]

Will a baby cichlid eat my baby platies that are in the tank with it? There's a lot of them.