20 Gal How Many Cichlids Can I Have?

[GouramiGirl87]

So I'm torn between having a gourami tank and a cichlid tank, I love my boyfriend's jewel (which i wouldn't get) but I really like the "assorted African Cichlids" at like petsmart and petco places like that. Since my tank is a 20 gal, what would my limit be? I was thinking 4 or 5?

 

[Alex_]

the ones at petco and petsmart are like 5-8'' and need more like a 40 gallon

i would go with like mabye a 2 or 3 Brevis Cichlid, Orange Leleupi Cichlid or a Dickfeldi Cichlid

would be nice in a 20.

-Alex

 

[bogwood]

or African Tanganyikan Shell Dwellers?... 'small' fish with 'big' personalities... need a high PH/hard water though...

 

[SamUK]

nothing from the "assorted african cichlid section" is good for a 20G really.


you need smaller species like shelldwellers or a 4ft tank.

 

[freddyk]

but I really like the "assorted African Cichlids" at like petsmart and petco places like that

The answer is 0. You don't know what they are and since most fish won't work in a 20 you're better off not getting any. If you like cichlids then do some reading on them and buy them based on what you know from a store that doesn't group them all into one, as if there is no difference between them.

 

[grottosandfins]

Cichlids come in all sizes. A 20 gallon tank may be fine for a pair of kribs but to be blunt, talking about "assorted african cichlids" leads me to believe you need to do a little homework about cichlids. Although they are great fish, there are a ton of do's and dont's. Tank size is just one of the major factors.