mitzy Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I need some fish that are big but need to be peaceful, What do you think can go with my keyholes and would like the same setup of plants and rocks etc I am not after small fish , i have a ram tank but they like different water requirements so dont wanna mix them. any help would be great and with pictures if you can. Thanks all and have a good weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Angels, Some of the larger tetras like black widows,columbian,penguin etc or datfish like Bristlenose,corys,hoplos, pictus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 You can put virtually anything that isn't aggressive with Keyholes, they are almost the perfect community fish. They get on very well with most tetra types, cories, bristlenose. They generally dwell in the bottom and middle of the tank and prefer planted tanks with hiding places as they are a peaceful and shy fish. I have had them with angels, but they didn't seem to like each other very much but that may have just been my Angels so unless you have a larger tank, my experience is to keep them apart as Angels tend to be bullies come food time and Keyholes don't compete very much. Keep them away from fin nippers too as the males have long flowing dorsal and anal fins which make excellent targets for the likes of Tiger Barbs. My reading also suggests keeping them seperate from other Ciclids that inhabit the same strata of the tank who are competitive and/or aggressive. I have Bolivian Rams and Kribs and they tend to ignore the Keyholes and vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 What about clown loaches ? I had kribs with them at some stage and the kribs got rather nasty but now going to a bigger tank so maybe an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I have two young clowns in with my Keyholes and there are three Kribs in the tank too. No problems apart from one Krib attacking the other and eating her tail off (both females btw). I think the only time Clowns and Keyholes might get antsy is when the Keyholes are ready to breed as the Clowns will be looking hungrily at where the eggs will be laid which may upset Cichlid parents-to-be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I have two young clowns in with my Keyholes and there are three Kribs in the tank too. No problems apart from one Krib attacking the other and eating her tail off (both females btw). I think the only time Clowns and Keyholes might get antsy is when the Keyholes are ready to breed as the Clowns will be looking hungrily at where the eggs will be laid which may upset Cichlid parents-to-be. How big is your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 That one is 200 litres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Are your Bolivian Rams in there too, wouldnt the water condition be different for the rams? I wouldnt mind getting them too , I just thought the conditions would be the same as the gold and blue rams. I have seen them at pet shop but all looked to be males. I like to have pairs even if they dont breed, see them on tm every now and then but no one wanna ship them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 The Bolivians and the Keyholes both rule their own tanks now due to me buying: 1) Another 180 litre tank 2) More Keyholes 3) More Bolivians. Kind of in that order. They started in the same tank but have been seperate a couple or three months now. Both tolerate community conditions well. I keep my pH at 7.0 and heater temp set to about 25 degrees C and both sets of fish are very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I have seen them at pet shop but all looked to be males. I like to have pairs even if they dont breed Get two male Bolivians and make sure there is either a large plant or piece of driftwood down the centre of the tank to make two clear territories. They like to mark out their territory and watch each other over the border, it's great fun to watch - keeps me amused for hours! They have fun trying to slip over the border and there's loads of fin flaring ad a little butting of heads but never any injuries. I have had trouble finsing females too, took a gamble on a handful of very young ones and ended up with five males. Lovely fish if somewhat thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I want to get more keyholes they my favorite Thanks for ya help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I want to get more keyholes they my favorite Join the club. I love my Keyholes, best fish ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Im going to get some sometime too 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 I am hoping mine well breed when i move them to the bigger tank . though not postive they male and female so may grab some more just to be sure. My big keyhole eats out my hand so awesome aye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Keyholes are difficult to sex, expecially when younger. I have eight now and am still not sure of the sex of three of them, which I am hoping are females. Males have longer extensions on their anal and dorsal fins apparently, so my first five were definately male, though they were too young to sex when I bought them. The newest three have more rounded fins and I am hoping they are females and when they grow a little more will start to take an interest in the big blokes in the tank. However, all Keyholes have what appear to be more rounded anal and dorsal fins when young and the extensions grow in later in my experience. Good luck getting yours to breed! I would love to get a pair on the breeding cycle, Keyholes are the best Cichlid available. In my opinion. So clever, so active and interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Naz_nomad- Do you think they would get along with discus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz_Nomad Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Since Discus are peaceful middle/top fish and Keyholes are peaceful middle/bottom fish I would say yes but I have no experience with keeping Discus. I do plan a big South American display tank with Discus, Keyholes, Tetras and Cories when I move house and can upgrade to a 450 litre but have nothing big enough to keep Discus that isn't already fully stocked with fish. Possibly the only drawback would be that Keyholes like planted tanks so they have hiding places and some folk say planted tanks aren't the best for Discus. Again, as I have no experience with Discus and haven't even got to the stage of detailed reading about their care and maintenance this is just hearsay. Personally I reckon the bloke as told me that must be wrong because Discus come from somewhere in the Amazon basin and thats a pretty heavily planted big natural-looking tank someone set up there with all that forest and stuff. So yes, I would say that based on my very limited knowledge of Discus, there's no reason not to keep them with Keyholes. Of course, I may be wrong and there's a Discus keeper out there as knows better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Possibly the only drawback would be that Keyholes like planted tanks so they have hiding places and some folk say planted tanks aren't the best for Discus. Again, as I have no experience with Discus and haven't even got to the stage of detailed reading about their care and maintenance this is just hearsay. Personally I reckon the bloke as told me that must be wrong because Discus some from somewhere in the Amazon basin and thats a pretty heavily planted big natural-looking tank someone set up there with all that forest and stuff. Discus are good in planted tanks considering they have sufficient filtration and good mantainence,But most people say not to put discus planted tanks until they are around 5cm+,in saying that there are some on this forum who have breed and raised discus successfully in a planted tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitzy Posted May 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Im 100% sure my full grown keyhole is male but i have a smaller one who looks to be female but not totally sure, In saying that They are always together or not far from each other. They have there own side of the tank and would attack the catfish if they went on that side well now catfish gone they have the whole tank lol. Would love them to breed but if they do not I am not worried as they still cool fish. I don't know much about discus but that would be a cool combanation of fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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