Miscallaneous cichlids

Well, my 55 gallon has finished cycling and the plants have all settled
in for the long haul. So, there I was at my LFS looking at their
selection of cichlids. Funny thing was, other than a few very obvious
ones (Oscars, Convicts, Jack Dempseys, Parrots, Fire Mouth - these all
had their own tanks) most were housed in a large 20gal tank and labelled
"Misc Sm-Med Cichlids".

Well, I looked through the Lexicon and can't find a listing for
Cichlidicus Miscilaneous, so I'm trying to figure out if these little 1"
- 1 1/2" sized guys are going to be compatible when they "grow up".
Other than walking in with a picture book and IDing each and every one
(which may not be possible given their current age and size) are there
any suggestions on how to do this?

Thanks!

Those 'cute' 1 1/2" guys will reach from 4 to 10 inches at
full size. (Oscar 9-10", Dempsey 5-8", Parrots ?big?,
firemouth 3 -5")

Don't mix plants and Central American ( or Malawi/Tanganyikan) cichlids
It's either your planted aquarium OR those cichlids. not both..
Unless you want them to thank you for their salad!
(They eat plants)

If you want plants, go for tetras, livebearers, etc.. if you
want cichlids too - look for the South American dwarf cichlids or
even angels.

Bob

Those 'cute' 1 1/2" guys will reach from 4 to 10 inches at
full size. (Oscar 9-10", Dempsey 5-8", Parrots ?big?,
firemouth 3 -5")

Well, I've been one of those who bought a tank full of those misc. africans,
and never got one more than 4", and usually they were a mixed bag of pseudo.
zebras, of varying colors, some kennyis, johanni's, and a few socoffoli
zebras... so the biggest any of them got was 4.5" at best...

Don't mix plants and Central American ( or Malawi/Tanganyikan)
cichlids
It's either your planted aquarium OR those cichlids. not both..

Bob, you're forgetting to add the YMMV because all my cichlids have been
living with salads, and have yet to eat a plant, have yet to nibble for some
lettuce, except for one Severum, he thought anything green was edible, fish
included... that's my only exception.... all my other peacocks and zebras
have ignored the plants, but the algae ON the plant, was a different
story...

Unless you want them to thank you for their salad!
(They """SOMETIMES""" eat plants)

If you want plants, go for tetras, livebearers, etc.. if you
want cichlids too - look for the South American dwarf cichlids or
even angels.

Bob