Recommended tankmates for Flag Cichlids

[Ceri Steer]

Hi,

I have two pairs of Flag Cichlids (3" long) and a pl*co (4") in a 29 gallon
tank.

I am looking for recommendations for additional tankmates....

Thanks

Ceri

[Ron Golubosky]

Ceri

You picked a hard fish when asking for tankmate recommendations. It's not
that the fish are hard to get along with, it's the size of the tank and the
availability of other aequidens species of that size. If wishing to stick
with cichlids, then try a pair of angels. They want about the same water
conditions and have the same temperment. And you wouldn't be
overcrowding the tank.

Have you considered making your Aequidens Curviceps the center piece of
your tank and adding non-cichlids? You could try some of the larger tetras
or maybe some barbs. Stay away from Cardinals and neons as they will
become expensive feeders.

Eventually the pleco will have to go. He will outgrow the tank and look
kind of out of place in the tank with the smaller flag cichlids.

Ron

[Julian G. Dignall]

In article <01bbbdc9$c3023ac0$b444ddcc@ceristeer>, Ceri Steer
<ceri....@connects.com> writes

Here are a few suggestions...

On the cichlid front you could try Keyhole Cichlids (Aequidens /
Cleithracara maronii), Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlids(Nannacara anomala) or
Kribrensis(Pelviachromis pulcher). I had Red-Hump Geophagus
("G".steindachneri) in with flag cichlids but this was in a larger tank,
the males would eventually outgrow yours.

Shoals of the tall bodied tetras such as diamond, bleeding hearts or
black phantoms look good and can persuade your cichlids to show
themselves more.

And finally I couldn't post without suggesting ... A trio of Brochis
cats.

Regards, Jools
--
///// "Occasionally the light at the end
///// of the tunnel is an oncoming train"
////// ///
____//////___///
_/@/// ///// /// Glory, Glory to the Hibees!
/___///___/////__///
^ //// // /// jo...@jools-d.demon.co.uk

[Dean Hougen]

In article <01bbbdc9$c3023ac0$b444ddcc@ceristeer>,

Ceri Steer <ceri....@connects.com> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I have two pairs of Flag Cichlids (3" long) and a pl*co (4") in a 29 gallon
>tank.
>
>I am looking for recommendations for additional tankmates....
>
>Thanks
>
>Ceri

Do you mean Laetacara curviceps or Mesonauta festivus (the two species
most commonly called "Flag Cichlid") or something else?

They'd be pretty big for L. curviceps (assuming your size estimate is
accurate) but pretty small for M. festivus to be paired.

Dean Hougen
--
"Names make all the difference in the world." - Talking Heads