CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

how fast do texas cichlid, pike cichlid, bala sharks, a common pleco, jewelfish, and an oscar grow in a 125. because id like to buy them when they are little. will they be fine together or should i buy fish in different sizes, please help, this is really confusing me!!!!!!!!!!!thanks!!!!!!!

The size of the tank will not matter on their growth, or amount of time for their growth.

Those fish mentioned will take quite some time to get to full size. I would buy them small and in groups. The reasoning behind this would be a possibility of a mating pair. You will have more then enough room in a 125g tank. I have a friend with a 150g tank who had 2-4 Texas, 2-4 Jack Dempsey's, 2-4 Green Terrors, and a mating pair of Red Devils all roughly the size of 4-5" He even had a special mud turtle (I believe that is the name) that did not require a landing ontop of the tank he kept in their without any problems.

Your Jewel Cichlid will only reach a maxium of 6" in size. Where as your Texas will max out at 14" in size. Bala Sharks require to be in a group of 4 or more.

If you want Oscars I would recommend you buy just several Oscars and have them pair off. Keep the mating pair in your 125g. Or I would just buy 2-4 of each other Cichlids at a smaller/medium size such as Dimidiochromis Compressiceps Texas, Jack Dempsey, or some exotic Cichlids such as Parapetenia dovii, Amphilophus trimaculatus,Caquetaia umbriferus, or Nandopsis tetracanthus. These Cichlids will get to be 14" or more in size and will out grow your 125. You will be able to keep a pair in this tank. Keep in mind that this will take several years to accomplish.

If you would like to keep Cichlids such as your Jewel in the maxium size of 6" get a couple of Jewels, Nandopsis Octofasciatus "true blue jack dempsey." These Jack Dempsey are much smaller then your average JD. They will only get to be maybe 7" in size and their temperment is much more mellow then the average JD. Gymnogeophagus meridionalis, Gymnogeophagus balzani, Gymnogeophagus labiatus, and Gymnogeophagus cf. gymnogenys would all be good tank mates and are extremely beautiful fish.

You may aquire smaller fish and some medium size fish, however just make sure there is not a huge difference in size. Plenty of gravel for digging, slate rocks for hiding places and some driftwood, plastic plants would make for a wonderful environment in that size of a tank.

Good luck,
-S42K