The Best Cichlid Stocking Options for 55 Gallon Aquariums

In today's video, we have our top 5 list of cichlid tank setups and stocking ideas for a 55 gallon aquariums. We get asked often about different stocking options and tanks sizes for cichlids, so hopefully this video is helpful and informative.

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[rustyfan]

55 gallon tanks are my absolute favorite size, I’ve had bigger and I’ve had smaller but I find 55’s to be the sweet spot in price and size, your options of what to keep are open to a lot of different species I tend to keep like one pet fish like Jack Dempsey or say one or two fire mouths and a pleco, even cichlids on the bigger size like Oscar’s, just one, I know it’s pushing it butwill work as long as you keep the water clean with weekly water changes and dont overcrowd with too much aquascaping and leave it uncluttered so the fish can make full use of the whole tank

[dascudder]

I kicked off my Cichlid keeping by switching my 'typical freshwater' (harlequins, tetras etc.) 63 Gallon tank to Peacocks. It wasn't long before I felt uncomofortable watching them in there. Just seemed too small, so within a few months I bought a new 118 Gallon for them, and even now that only just seems big enough to me. Maybe it's me, I don't know. Just didn't feel right having a dozen Peacocks that size in my smaller tank. Yes, Peacocks aren't huge, but it seemed too tight in there. Lot less aggression with those very same fish in the bigger tank too. Love the videos lads

[cliffordgoodrich]

TY for making this vlog. I found it full of pertinent information.

[jasonsingh]

Thanks cichlids bro's but I had a 55 gallon tank and for me that's too small those are some beautiful cichlids thanks for sharing 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤❤

[chrissteelers]

Great suggestions! My 55 has an electric blue acara, blood parrot, firemouths, yellow bristlenose pleco, 10 Colombian tetra, 8 beonze corydora and 2 bumblebee catfish. All have been together happy and healthy for about a year and a half. Also had 10 redeye tetra in there but the 2 bubblebee catfish ate half the group when they grew to full size, so I moved the other half of the redeyes to a different tank.

[drewsta]

Great ideas! In my 55 I have Angels, BN Pleco, a pair of Kribs, and a lone surviving Gold Barb.

[wisconsinaquatics]

The one thing I HATE about 55's is the 12 footprint. I would trade 6 inches ↕️ for 18 inches ↔️ to make it like a low 75. Big time aquarium manufactures could make a few bucks offering different styles of the same gallon size. Great video guys! I've got 1 OB living in my 55 in my kitchen and that's barley enough for him!

[AarmOZ]

55 gallons are great tanks in general. With the right filtration there are lots of cichlids that will do fine in this aquarium. I am going to change out the fish in my 55 and convert it into a Central American Cichlid tank with a Convict and Firemouth Cichlid. Still debating on what other fish I should include without overcrowding the tank. Bot my cichlids are tiny juveniles so the idea of how big they get hasn't hit me yet, but I think they will be more than enough to prevent territorial disputes as adults.

[timhorvat]

I’ve got a planted black water 55g with 3 young (2.5-3.5”) keyhole cichlids, 20 something corys (bronze, melini and emerald green) and then a somewhat random mix of schooling fish it’s just the extra community fish I’ve accumulated over time. I’m hoping to get a pair out of the keyholes and maybe get some babies eventually.

[MrKevinkj]

I like the 90 gallon, nice size, not small but not huge. I doing a peninsula 90 gallon with South American Cichlids

[Alex_Aquarium]

I may be wrong but I say the bumblebee goes great in a 55. That's based on my experience, all fish are different. I've been planning on moving all but the peacock to a 75 one day anyway. I'm planning on using my 55 gallon for peacocks once i have another 75 gallon. My dream tank is a 500 gallon Mbuna tank with white sand and lots of rocks. thanks for the video!

[numinouscharters]

This is a fantastic video. It’s funny how many of your videos help me so much years after they were made 😂
I was surprised to hear the JD could work in a 55 because I was leaning away from it, but I’ll have to do more research and reconsider since I want one so badly!
Thanks as always for your outstanding content.

[SkyeWavez]

Greetings! Love your channel and it's really helping me learn! We're setting up a new 55 gallon tank and are thinking we'd for sure like one black ghost knife (knowing he'll be upgraded when that time comes), and then a mix of the following. But I was hoping for your professional opinion on what total number and types of these would be a good mix of companions. I don't want to over stock it, but would love more than 3 for variety. Thank you in advance! :)
Would this be appropriate? Like let's say 1 black ghost knife, 1 smaller Pleco, 1 Hillstream Loach, 1 Snowflake eel, 1 Jack Dempsey or Blue Acara, maybe 3 Silver dollars, 1 Gourami, and 1 Geophagus? I feel like that sounds like too much maybe? Other suggestions? But again, our goal will be to get another larger tank when the Knifefish outgrows the 55 and get an Oscar at that time... :) Thanks again! You're amazing for sharing your knowledge and passion! We all appreciate it!

[amberk]

Hey, love your videos. You've convinced is to get cichlids. We are thinking electric blue acaras, geophagus tapajos and a severum. How many would we be able to fit in a 90 gallon? Would a jack Dempsey work in this mix?

[max]

Hi, and thanks for all your interesting and informative videos.

I am awaiting a 240Ltr tank (120x40x50cm) and I am very interested in a South American theme. I have a soft spot for Electric Blue Acaras and Red spotted Severums.

When I asked around regarding stocking at a couple of local aquarium stores I was suggested the following quantities (with the premise of having a canister filtration system rated for 500Ltrs):

6x Denison Barbs,
8x Corydoras (2 type mix)
1x Pleco
2x EBA’s (Pair)
2x Severums (Pair)
2x Geophagus (Pair)

From watching videos, reading the species profiles and care guides using multiple online sources I am coming to 2 conclusions;

1. My Tank will look overcrowded with the numbers suggested.

2. Having 3 different types of cichlid PAIRS might be a recipe for territorial aggression.

Any input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[PopCopyManager]

How many firemouth and convicts to keep with the jack Dempsey?

[cavalrysportscards]

For the #2 Central American Cichlid setup, what would be good community size for each so tank isn’t overloaded? Along with the other tank mates. One of each of Dempsey, Firemouth and Convict? Or more? And how many for a school of tetras? Thanks in advance and love the videos you guys put out.

[skillzlibat]

Thanks for this very insightful video. As much as i want to put an oscar in a 55g, i will not and will wait in the future when i can get a bigger tank. That being said, in a 55g im planning to have a x1 jack dempsey, x1 fire mouth, x1 convict a pleco and 4 silver dollars. That should be okay?

[Tangible_D]

Would the Fremouth, Jack D and Convict tank just be a single male of each species? And could that tank be planted with those fish? Also a red tail shark could be added to that mix?

[drewmonkey]

Do pike cichlids do okay with regular African or South American cichlids?