Peacocks/Haps

[jcunningham0295]

All the lemon jakes are around 2-2.5 inches, none showing much color yet. Would they be okay in a 55 gallon? And I think i might get some small Red empress from my LFS because I have a good amount of store credit there, thanks though! Whats wrong with the copadichromis? And how bout the spilonotus or stevani taiwans?

I think you would be ok with any Protomelas genus.  You could try the copadichromis,but my thought is the lemon jakes might hand it to them.  Lemon jakes can very mean.  And look for the dominate male to start taking out the competition if you have multiple males.  Again just from experience I know someone had with them prior.  I would probably choose spilonotus if it were me, I have always wanted to keep them.

[bmarine]

Gotcha. So could i do multiple protomelas'? Or would that cause interbreeding? Also, what about some fish from the Placidochromis genus?

[danielratti]

Spilonatus get pretty big and can be a. bit mean for a 55

[African cichlid Keeper]

Gotcha. So could i do multiple protomelas'? Or would that cause interbreeding? Also, what about some fish from the Placidochromis genus?

for breeding protomelas needs a bigger tank then a 55gal.. as well as Placidochromis..

[jcunningham0295]

Gotcha. So could i do multiple protomelas'? Or would that cause interbreeding? Also, what about some fish from the Placidochromis genus?

I would not do multiple Protomelas.  As far as Placidochromis, besides deep water Haps the others get way to big for a 55 gallon and would not hold up with the aggression of lemon jakes.

[bmarine]

Mm ok. So could i do the red empresses then, some otopharynx lithobates, and some deep water haps or some trevawasae?

[African cichlid Keeper]

Mm ok. So could i do the red empresses then, some otopharynx lithobates, and some deep water haps or some trevawasae?

Red Empress get too big for a 55gal and there very mean.

    Select up to 3 groups (Only 1 male for each group     is preferred. 9 fish total for the tank):
     •  Any Copadichromis species (except for larger     species i.e. borleyi, jacksoni, etc.)
     •  Any Protomelas species (except for larger     species, i.e.     taeniolatus, spilonotus, sp. "Mbenji     Thick Lip", etc.)
     •  Any Aulonocara species (no jacobfreibergi)
     •  Any Placidochromis species (except for milomo)
     •  Otopharynx lithobates
     •  Any Nyassachromis species

[bmarine]

Hmm. Ok. Next question: i really like the red empresses, so could i get some as fry and grow them out in the 55 gallon until i get a 75 or 125?

[African cichlid Keeper]

Hmm. Ok. Next question: i really like the red empresses, so could i get some as fry and grow them out in the 55 gallon until i get a 75 or 125?

Yes you could.

[bmarine]

Alright great! So heres what i'm thinking:
Since i have lemon jakes already i'm going to keep 3 of those,
Grow out 3 red empresses, and then either get 3 lithobates, or deep water haps, or trewavasae.
Sound good? Then I'll have 3 trios until the empresses are larger and I get a bigger tank.

[jcunningham0295]

I think red empress are fine in a 55.  This is the size  mine are in and have breed hundreds in this size tank with another hap or peacock genus.  If you really want more than two species I would recommend a 75 gallon.

[African cichlid Keeper]

I think red empress are fine in a 55.  This is the size  mine are in and have breed hundreds in this size tank with another hap or peacock genus.  If you really want more than two species I would recommend a 75 gallon.

red empress get up to 9" and 75 gallon is best for more than two species

[danielratti]

I've honestly never seen one hit 9 inches. On top of that I've seen them breed in 40 gallons just fine.

[four_by_ken]

I've honestly never seen one hit 9 inches. On top of that I've seen them breed in 40 gallons just fine.

Thats what I was thinking too.

[danielratti]

I've seen my fair share of fish that get big like a kadango that hit 16". The biggest I've had one get is 7 inches in 200 gallons.