Dwarf Cichlid

[envious]

[font="Verdana]hi, i have a 150l community aquariam and have been thinking about adding maybe a pair of small cichlids. i currently have 4 opaline gouramis, 6 swordtails, 3 guppies and a flying fox. my tank water has a ph of 7.2 and hardness of 80ppm. i have a few plant in my tank mainly amizon swords and java ferns, i also have a sand subtrate.[/font][/color]
[color="#222222"][font="Verdana]i[/font][/color][color="#222222"][font="Verdana] would appreciate any suggestions. thank you[/font]

 

[Flubberlump]

Bolivian rams or apistogrammas? What temperature is your tank?

 

[soybean]

My bolivian rams did not get along with a gourami in the tank (well actually the gourami wouldn't tolerate them at all), but there were no problems between the gourami and a pair of apistogramma cacatuoides.

 

[Flubberlump]

I've not kept them together so haven't had the experience. I assumed they'd be ok seeing as they occupy different levels of the tank, but Soybean has experience. Thanks for clearing that up.

I'm actually considering apistogramma cacatuoides myself at the moment for my new tank, and they seem like a great choice for a community. You have a sand substrate and plants, which is good, but do you have any caves? Some dwarf cichlids (including the apistos) are cave spawners and require caves to form a territory around. Others are open spawners, but still need hiding places and shelter.

Have a look here too, there are some great species profiles that should help.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/42-cichlids-central-and-south-american/

 

[envious]

thanks for yor suggestions i like the look of apistogramma cacatuoides so will research them.


my tanks around 25c. i dont have any caves but do understand cichlids need them. im planing on having a bit of a move round before i add any more fish so would add some caves then, what is the best thing to create caves out of, i would like something natural looking.

 

[soybean]

Pile up some rocks or bits of slate, or you can buy ornaments that look like rock with a hole in. Terracotta plant pots half buried on their side are ideal.