red tail chalceus as companion to cichlid

[CichlidAddict]

Has any one kept Red Tail Chalceus with large cichlid? I like their torpedo shape and habit to swim on the top of the water, something not cichlid other than plecos or loaches. Will cichlid see them as food. I have 8 to 14" CA and African cichlid and some are predator even though I never fed them live food.

 

[dogofwar]

I've kept Chalceus with large SA cichlids like sevs, festivums, Uaru and the like.

They can hold their own and definitely have a pecking order. I had a group of 4-5 big ones (they get about 8-10") in a 6' tank. They're VERY jumpy. Had one as a kid that "disappeared" only to be found dried under a couch 20+ feet away a couple of months later!

Not sure I'd try to keep Chalceus with big or aggressive (or hard water) cichlids.

I learned the hard way that bichirs like to eat them...

Matt