one specimen for 55gallon

[finfan]

i am thinking about changing my standard 55 gallon tank into a one specimen tank, so i need suggestion on what one cichlid would be perfect for a standard 55 gallon, i don't want anything too sensitive or too demanding, i want something that will get big enough (e.g. size of an oscar) to enjoy from far and will interact with me

[TaTeR ToT]

trimac hands down!
they are the most interactive fish!
or a single male petro, they are awesome wetpets.

or maybe even a very large uaru, they are so cute, and they are very fun fish.

i would go with a petro, they require alittle more care than the others, but make exceptional wetpets.

[newb]

+1 for petro. I have a single male petro and I love this big guy!

[finfan]

does a midas work? which one is (1) easier and (2) more personality

oscar or midas?

[TaTeR ToT]

well, i have had both, and i believe midas are more interesting, and more pleasing to look at, in fact, i just happen to have a 10" WC Show Male Barred Midas for sale right now.
heres a pic of him

[Rico]

trimac would be my choice but you will eventually need a bigger tank. any big cichlid deserves a big tank.

[newb]

I suggest a petro...I promise you will love him. The color choice is really up to you and you have a pretty wide range of color to choose from. Central and South americans are very cool fish...but are very messy, over aggressive, and like to dig up any aquascape given to them. this is just my own opinion... Plus I have recently seen some really nice petros for a pretty good price.

[aggrocichlidfan]

haha you want a finger chaser they interact really good i say you buy the midas if you want a interactive type :) according to him his midas even chases his toe

[TaTeR ToT]

its true, he will chase anything he sees.

[Zulaab]

I know they take time to get to size, but I love the look and personality of a firemouth. They are simple non-demanding and will in time if you get a nice looking pair breed for you. They will never need a larger tank than a 55. Back in the day (30+ years ago I kept two pair in a 160L (42g) (40g breeder basically) and they used to breed all the time on the amason swords I kept in the tank. Just a suggestion. I never got any, but I also loved the look of Blue Acara's.. If I ever went back to SA fish again then these would be the guys I would want again.

[TaTeR ToT]

+1 for the fm and ba.
also, a nice big male green terror would be awesome.
a single male byhimself would be awesome, they are great, and their personality is great!

[wesleydnunder]

Green Terror
Texas Cichlid
Uaru
G. Juripari
Fire Eel
Red Devil
Jag
Salvini

Mark

[aggrocichlidfan]

i have a 7" green terror ill let go for $30

[finfan]

wow, thanks for lots of good suggestions, i need to think this over, if i am in fact going to have one fish, it has to be something i won't get bored with anytime soon

[Rico]

a puffer would be nice also. its more suited for a 55g than a big CA cichlid. we have plenty lineatus puffers at fish ranch II