30g options??

[bccromer]

I am thinking of converting my 30g to an African Cichlid tank. My question is how many could I fit in this tank, or would it be suggested to wait for a bigger tank to make a cichlid tank? Also I have 9 corydoras. Do they do well with cichlids or not?

Brad

 

[modernhamlet]

Are you considering Rift Lake cichlids or West African river cichlids? Their needs are very different, so narrowing it down a bit might help us give you better advice. Are there any particular fish that you like?

Either way, corys are unlikely to be good tankmates.

 

[bccromer]

Well I know I like yellow labs. What I am thinking though is getting one of several different species. I really don't want to have them breed. What others would be good tankmates for yellow labs that would work in a 30 gallon? Also what algae eaters work for a cichlid tank?

Brad

 

[modernhamlet]

Yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus) are a species of mbuna from Lake Malawi, one of the Rift Lakes. You should read this post to introduce yourself to the mbuna aquarium. It's a good starting point in your research. This page contains profiles and pictures of many different mbuna species including those I'll list shortly...

As far as stocking goes, you'll quickly discover that mbuna are generally fairly aggressive, territorial fish. Your 30g tank (it's 36" long, right?) is the smallest tank I would consider keeping these fish in.

Fortunately, yellow labs are one of the few mbuna that would work in that small of a tank. I would go with a trio of yellow labs (1M:2F) and a similar ratio of one other species from this list:

Iodotropheus sprengerae (Rusty cichlid)
Psuedotropheus sp. Acei
Pseudotropheus socolofi

All other mbuna are likely to get too large or be too aggressive for a 3' long tank, but I think you'll find even this short list contains colorful, active, and interesting fish.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[yhbae]

I would replace Socolofi with P saulosi on that list. Socolofi is a total hit or a miss - if you are unlucky, you could end up with a real aggressive male that totally dominates your tank. And this happens more often than it should for a relatively peaceful species... I'd say Saulosi is a safer choice, and as are other suggestions already made on that list.

 

[G_Sharky]

I have a 33 gallon and it houses 7 mbuna cichlids, most of them are pseudotropheus and one auratus.... I have them for a couple of months now I haven't seen any of them try to kill another fish, just a little bit of chasing(looks like their playin tag). You could try what I have(in my sig) if you want, but I couldn't guarantee anything since this is my first time having mbuna too....Just my 2 cents....goodluck

 

[freddyk]

Keeping single specimens and overstocking the tank will help increase the number of species you can keep, as long as you are aware of the downfall of keeping an overstocked tank. Many pseudotrophious, labidochromis, and some maylandia and melanochromis species will work. If you do not want the added work of the overstocked tank then you're choices are reduced drastically.

Bristlenose will work well for algae, though I prefer to let it grow on the rocks - and in fact encourage it. Grazing gives the fish something to do besides chase and fight.