[cbirk]

Hello all, long time no see

So I recently graduate, got a job several states away, sold all but 2 of my tanks, and moved.

I treated my 55 as a new tank since all the gravel and filters dried out in the move, did a proper fishless cycle.

I wanted to get a blood parrot which I have wanted for a long time but never had a proper tank set up. So this time it was my first fish. I wanted to get some other cichlids too that were less aggressive, so in the end I ended up with the Blood Parrot which is currently about 3 in, 2 earth eaters (of the kind that only get to be about 4 in) which are currently 2in, and 2 yellow labs, also about 2 in.

I realize the labs are africans, but from my understanding they are more docile of the africans, and have been told they shouldn't be a problem in the current tank, and that the parrot should be fine so long as it is larger than the others.

So far am I looking ok? your thoughts? Moving on.

I want to add a few more cichlids, not sure if I should stick to those two kinds, or if there are any other lesser aggressive CA cichlids I can add. Also when they recommend slightly overstocking to keep aggression down, how much in this case would be "slightly"

Fish health and happiness is of overall importance, and I realize that what I want, and what I should do are not always the same.

Thoughts and comments?

 

[Byron]

The Blood Parrot cichlid is man-made, as you probably know. With its deliberate "malformations" it would never last long in the wild. Tankmates must therefore be carefully chosen, and should not include other cichlids which will be stronger and out-compete it for space and food. And at 8 inches, a 55g is not all that much space for a blood parrot.

Water parameters should be around neutral, which is not going to suit rift lake cichlids which require harder water, so this too would be a problem.

Good tankmates are the larger and peaceful barbs, danio, and substrate fish.

Last comment, on the "overstocking" issue. This is with reference to rift lake cichlids, but it should not be taken as what we normally mean by "overstocking," which is simply having too many fish for what the tank's biology can support. The territorial space is what is being slightly crowded with rift lake fish, not the tank's space.

Byron.

 

[cbirk]

Thanks for your response Byron.

Unfortunately when I was looking up info about Parrots before I purchased it I was concentrating on temperament, conditions and tank size, and missed the fact that it had been altered until after I had purchased it. It actually upset me because I stay away from altered fish on principal.

I am also a little distressed about your comment that 55gal is not big enough as everything I had read said 30gal for one +10 gal for each additional, so I had thought that 55 was more than adequate.

I guess I need to decide now if I want to maintain a cichlid tank, or keep the blood parrot.

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Byron]

Thanks for your response Byron.

Unfortunately when I was looking up info about Parrots before I purchased it I was concentrating on temperament, conditions and tank size, and missed the fact that it had been altered until after I had purchased it. It actually upset me because I stay away from altered fish on principal.

I am also a little distressed about your comment that 55gal is not big enough as everything I had read said 30gal for one +10 gal for each additional, so I had thought that 55 was more than adequate.

I guess I need to decide now if I want to maintain a cichlid tank, or keep the blood parrot.

Thanks a lot for your help!

I was thinking of the other cichlids mentioned when I said the 55g wasn't much space. An 8-inch fish is not going to happily "share" space with other similar-sized fish, whether a 30g or 55g or 90g. A pair of BP is fine in a 55g, but a BP and other cichlids is very different.

As you have the BP I would look at suitable barbs, etc.

 

[Agent13]

labs are considered "less aggressive" but thats relative to other Africans. Acei's are "less aggressive" but I have one who used to be sweet but as he is growing he is a bully. Plus Africans need harder water to thrive and unless you have a HUGE tank I wouldn't try mixing even one African with other cichlids.

Personaly I wouldn't go away from whatever really stole your heart...just build proper tank mates around that. Or be crazy redonkulous and go for a 300 gallon tank then some rules can be bent (with risk of course) lol