Keeping jewel cichlids with african butterfly fish, a good idea?

[onetask]

I'm a bit concerned that my jewel cichlid might take a liking to the fin filaments on my butterfly fish. Given the butterfly's surface-dwelling nature and the cichlid's tendency to stick closer to the bottom, I'm hoping that'll minimize any potential conflicts. The dense surface vegetation in my tank does provide the butterfly with a safe haven, which is a plus. I plan on keeping the jewel solo to avoid any breeding-related aggression. Fingers crossed that starting with a smaller jewel will help things go smoothly.

Here's my tank setup...

It's also worth noting that I've come across a Practical Fish Keeping article featuring a successful jewel and butterfly pairing.

[ocean4]

I'm fairly optimistic about this. As I mentioned before, in my experience, they tend to get aggressive once they've paired up. I've come across instances where females have laid eggs on their own and become quite erratic, although I've never personally witnessed it. This is something to be mindful of, I suppose. If I were in your shoes, I'd give it a shot and simply replace the cichlid with a more docile species if things don't work out.

[onetask]

Sorted then, cheers for the reassurance.

[willie32]

I'm strongly advising against this, jewels are just too volatile. Their unpredictability makes them a nightmare to keep with peaceful fish. I've read through numerous threads on this forum and the outcome is always the same - disaster. Those gorgeous, delicate fins on the butterfly are just too tempting for a jewel's aggressive nature.

You're really asking for trouble by putting these two together. I'd recommend having a backup plan in place, just in case things go south. Trust me, you don't want to be stuck dealing with the aftermath of a jewel's rampage.

[onetask]

In my experience, most of the horror stories about jewels seem to stem from breeding aggression or when they're housed with another territorial fish.

[ocean4]

That's been my experience with them, actually. I've had some that were really shy when kept solo. Although, I should mention, I haven't kept many singles. Given the lack of competition at the bottom, and the tank-mates you've chosen, like the tetras, it could work out. The butterfly's always going to be well out of the way, thanks to the surface vegetation. The only thing that does concern me slightly is the water level. But, as with any fish, it really comes down to the individual's personality. I think it's worth trying, just be prepared to intervene if needed.

[onetask]

The water level's actually higher than it looks – the angle of the photo's a bit deceptive. I've kept it low to prevent the butterfly from jumping out, but now it's settled in, I might take the risk and top it up a bit. That'll not only increase the water volume but also keep the butterfly further out of the jewel's reach.

I think it's worth trying out, even if it goes against conventional wisdom. Back in the day, aquarists made decisions like this all the time, and it was all about trial and error. These days, we've got so much information at our fingertips – it's almost like we're missing out on the discovery part of keeping fish. I'm tempted to take a chance and learn from my own experiences.

[darkaxe]

I've got a mate who had a right old disaster with a Jewel cichlid. It took 6 months for her to admit defeat and take it back to the shop, but by that point, it had already wiped out everything it came into contact with. If you ask me, Jewels are best kept solo - they're just too aggressive and hard-wired to kill. I know some people claim to have kept them in community tanks without issues, but I'm not convinced. My mate's Jewel was the only one in the tank, and it still managed to take out her Viejas and nearly finish off the Severums.

[onetask]

That's quite a dire experience your friend had. Was the Jewel the only one of its kind in the tank, or was it paired up with another?

[darkaxe]

My friend's Jewel was a solo female, no breeding aggression to speak of, just a nasty little fish.