mj Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 for ... 3 juvenile red empresses - one male and 2 females (I assume at the moment they are both female) 2 bolivian butterfly rams - thanks to teeny eenie weenine tiny kitty kat 2 bristlenoses (unsure of exact species as they are very small) I believe the 2 rams are males judging by the dorsal fins male red empress definitely appears to have a domination complex I'm thinking a pair of electric yellows would be nice, but unsure as all I read with cichlids is that they do not like other aggressive fish current fishtank they are in is definitely too small for future growth but I am in the process of purchasing a couple larger tanks - one to keep them in and another in case of breeding any suggestions greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Um... Just letting you know, Red empress and Rams have quite different water requirements, and its likely that the Rams, being the smallest species will get picked on and killed by the slightly more aggressive red empress(i dont know anything about red empress, but this is a general rule with rift lake cichlids) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 right so I should look at getting them out as soon as poss ... so then what would make a good tank mate for the red empresses? I assumed that as they were cichlids too it would be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 The bolivian rams might be alright in there generally it is not recommended to mix africans with other types of cichlids they don't tend to get along too well. Yellows would be good with empresses, also other africans it really depends on what you like and also what size tank etc you have.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Yellows and demasonis 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 wow those demasonis certainly look pretty, thanks for your replies .. I'm looking at getting 2 x 4ft(min) tanks - not intending on having heaps of fish in them though would like a bit of colour. Thinking now an african only tank and then a nice community tank that the rams can go in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 If you're going to get 2 4fts, I'd go for one e.yellow + dem tank, and then in the other tank maybe the bolivians, some blue rams, and some type of tetra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Bolivians dont get along with bluerams IME, the bolivians tend to pick on the Blues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I think they'd be ok in a 4ft planted, but I agree, in a small community tank, they do have spats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I think they'd be ok in a 4ft planted, but I agree, in a small community tank, they do have spats. Lambo had both in a 5foot planted, and they still needed to be seperated Thats where i got my blues from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I think the recommended tank size for an adult empress is 75 gallons+ so that would be an about 300L tank.. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_taeniolatus.php Demasoni and yellows would be good tank mates I have mine in with a heap of bigger agressive fish and they're happy but not coloured up.. They will be going into a tank with some little dems and other young peacocks so they will be the biggest fish in the tank.. If you are considering demasoni then remember you need to get 12+ more if you can afford or get them as they only really do well in larger groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 would the bolivians be ok with angels and silver dollars? leaving the red empresses with electric yellows ..not sure about the dems, as nice as they look they do seem to be the type that would definitely fight with the reds - well especially in a tank as small as 4ft [edit] yeah I was reading up on the dems ryan and that was the understanding I got, they do not colour up if they are being dominated - so lots of room required ... although the idea of a tank with just dems and electric yellows would certainly look nice money isn't an issue - I just want the fish to be happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Bolivs angels and silvers will be ok, silver dollars are schooling fish you need a few of them and they get big I think they would quickly outgrow a 4ft tank however I have never kept them so maybe someone else can help there. Demasoni are little pussies to any other fish they are only aggressive to their own type and in a large group this is minimised a male empess will be way bigger than any dem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 ah that makes sense .... mmm maybe I need to hold out on getting 2 tanks and look at getting one 4ft and one 6ftish - then having a bunch of dems, yellows the the reds in the one big tank the reason I mentioned the angels etc is I am looking at buying a tank that has them in already - tank for my bedroom and it looks like they are already overstocked in that tank (in my opinion) - so was thinking of 'rescuing' them and working out what to do after oddly enough the bolivians and reds do seem to be getting along, the 'hermit' male though seems to stay in caves most of the time, comes out and chases his girls around .. he doesn't seem to like people, not sure if that is a male red thing or if he is still getting used to my tank/place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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