During my time in fish-keeping whether i have read in books, Internet forums/pages or by word of mouth more often than not many people stereotype certain types of fish cichlids in particular. Oscars to jack dempseys are stereotyped everyday which is i feel a major oversight of these beautiful species.

What im getting at is that when you have an idea in your head on a potential stocking of your tank and you research the types of fish you would like a lot of the info out there is designed to instantly dismiss the idea of trying to add a creative touch on stocking. For example i have kept certain species of cichlid together that most people would raise an eyebrow or two and be against the idea and suggest to split that stocking up. When in reality the said stocking would be getting on fine.

What I’m trying to get across is just because some people are against it why not go with your ideas. Now i am not saying that you should go and set up a 90L aquarium with ten oscars or adding a flowerhorn to a guppy tank more why not try to go against the norm a tank of texas for example is said not to work yet i have seen with my own eye a nice almost fully grown group with a ratio of more male to females get on amazingly. The main knowledge i have gained during my time in fish-keeping is that when you are dealing with fish and mostly cichlids nothing is set in stone. You can not really predict how an individual fish will react with another species until you try it.

Take a chance go against the norm and you might just create an amazingly stocked tank.