CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I have a convict in a 55 gallon tank. It kills or terrorizes any other fish I put in with it. Is there any type of fish I can put in the tank that will get along with it or should I just buy some other convicts. Also, how many convicts could I put in this size tank.

thanks,

convicts are aggresive cen amr cichs.you can put in red devils.dont recomend it.or you can do like i did and mix it up.i have a female pink con in with afr red zeb blue zeb gold severum red blooded parriot.krabinsis.3 jewls.afr knife fish blue cobalt south am pickeld cich.blue acurra.lemon jack and calico cobalt and a small tiger oscar all in a 40gl.im not saying theres not tenion but atleast theres fish in there and no one gets picked off.well exept whatever my clon knife dont pick off.but hey hes 10"long so.it depends on his size.if hes 2-4"then get any african or south amr ecxactly the same size.if your convict is bigger than that i would recomend tradding him in for a smaller one.now you could get another con but you better make sure its a pair-fmale has an orange blemish on its stomache.almost looks lie a rash can be hard to see on pink cons males do not.theres your diff in sexes.but let me warn you you put a pair in there your right back to,i cant put anything in my tank.and in a 55gl if you enjoy the world of cichs buy many juvies and flood your tank with rock slate plastic tubes whatever.and buy the way every time you get a new fish change the rocks around it confuses the fish and keeps it from establishing territory.

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You can try your red devil and see how it goes. I think you'll be ok. I have a Pseudotropheus Salaus (Lake Malawi) that is about an inch and a half smaller, that out bullies the red devil at 5". The Pseudotropheus Salaus is the same as an electric yellow only its purple/darker blue in color. Good Luck

-S42K

Tankbert has clown loaches in his tank.
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/2615/

I have never owned any clown loaches, but have noticed a lot of ppls keep them with their cichlids.

-S42K

Clown loaches are great. They also are a bottom feeder which will pick up after your cichlids and add colar to your tank.

As for other fish go you don't have to stick with other convicts. But you want fish that came originaly from the same area with similiar temperments. When adding a new fish switch the decorations in your tank around to confuse your territorial boy. Another idea is to put a fake floating plant decoration on the top of the water to offer some coverage for the new fish. I have kissing guaramies with a large oscar and this plan worked great for him. They now tolerate eachother.

firemouths might be a good choice