African Cichlids with American Cichlids?

Hi,

I am a newbie to starting this hobby.
Am quite keen to start an african cichlid tank.
I just got a 3feet tank from QH.
While browsing thru the tanks at QH, saw the green terror and quite like it.

Thus, I would like to ask the experts here if Green Terror and Oscars can be put together with the African Cichlids?
Thank you in advance.

Some photographs of my set up.

Some more pics...

Bro, what I am offering is only my personal and limited experience. Having kept both South american and African Cichlids, this is what you should consider...

South American and African cichlidsts, can be kept together, the chllenge for you to consider is if they will thrive. The challenge is their requirements for the correct water conditions to thrive.

South American Cichlids prefer softer and more acidic conditions. This is provided by plants driftwood and sometimes the help of Blackwater Tonic.
They need a ph of 7.8 to max of 8.

African cichlids on the other hand prefer more alkaline and harder condition. This is provided by coral sand, coral rocks and some of us use a mix of Seachem's Tanganyka or Malawi buffer to raise pH to 8.5 to 9.5, We also use epsom salts and Marine salt to the cocktail, Personally I also use Seache's Prime. Driftwood affects the pH by lowring the pH which is not suitable for Africans. In fact if you produce the right water onditions it encourages the to spawn and I have several successful spawnings with my malawi and some tanganyka cichlids.

So like what a famous quote puts it, "east is east and west is west and the twin shall never meet." ...that is if you want healthy fishes. Decide what you want in our collection. Personally I choose African as they are closer to the marine foshes - with their myraids of colors and patterns but without the mess of setting up a marine aquarium

Take care and happy fish keeping!!

Bro,

Thanks for your advice. I have decided to keep to a Malawi tank for now.
You are right in the colours, they certainly look nice minus the hassle of marine fishes.

My current fave is p.demasoni. Looks good in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Betta Mania

Bro, what I am offering is only my personal and limited experience. Having kept both South american and African Cichlids, this is what you should consider...

South American and African cichlidsts, can be kept together, the chllenge for you to consider is if they will thrive. The challenge is their requirements for the correct water conditions to thrive.

South American Cichlids prefer softer and more acidic conditions. This is provided by plants driftwood and sometimes the help of Blackwater Tonic.
They need a ph of 7.8 to max of 8.

African cichlids on the other hand prefer more alkaline and harder condition. This is provided by coral sand, coral rocks and some of us use a mix of Seachem's Tanganyka or Malawi buffer to raise pH to 8.5 to 9.5, We also use epsom salts and Marine salt to the cocktail, Personally I also use Seache's Prime. Driftwood affects the pH by lowring the pH which is not suitable for Africans. In fact if you produce the right water onditions it encourages the to spawn and I have several successful spawnings with my malawi and some tanganyka cichlids.

So like what a famous quote puts it, "east is east and west is west and the twin shall never meet." ...that is if you want healthy fishes. Decide what you want in our collection. Personally I choose African as they are closer to the marine foshes - with their myraids of colors and patterns but without the mess of setting up a marine aquarium

Take care and happy fish keeping!!

Originally Posted by Samuel11

Bro,

Thanks for your advice. I have decided to keep to a Malawi tank for now.
You are right in the colours, they certainly look nice minus the hassle of marine fishes.

My current fave is p.demasoni. Looks good in my opinion.

P.demasonis are pretty, however be advised that they do have strong territorial instincts and can harass the competiton to death. You may need to have enough fishes in the tank to distract them.I had a colony of nine to ten in a 5 x 2.5 x2.5 feet tank, now there is only two of them, A male and a female !

10 down to 2?? woah... fight till death match between the fishes ....
I got 4 with my other fishes. So far had them for 1 week liao. quite ok.

Anyway, how do u distinguish between male and female?
colour brightness?

Originally Posted by Betta Mania

P.demasonis are pretty, however be advised that they do have strong territorial instincts and can harass the competiton to death. You may need to have enough fishes in the tank to distract them.I had a colony of nine to ten in a 5 x 2.5 x2.5 feet tank, now there is only two of them, A male and a female !

Originally Posted by Samuel11

10 down to 2?? woah... fight till death match between the fishes ....
I got 4 with my other fishes. So far had them for 1 week liao. quite ok.

Anyway, how do u distinguish between male and female?
colour brightness?

Bro, problem with Malawi cichlids is that they like chillie padi -- small but hot!!! These species are also the same M. auratus M. chipokae M. cyanerhabdos (Maingano) beautiful but woweee so fierce.
Best are dolphins and labs
Important is rocks ofr hiding and numbers - guess too busy chasing and distracted by indecisions

I probably would advise against it. It can be done - particularly if you've got plenty of cichlid experience... but I wouldnt recommend it.

I have mixed green terror into a tanga before. But the green terror did not last for >1mth. :-(