70litre And Cichlids?

[ptyson21]

I have a 70l / 15g tank, new/used just setting it up at the mo. Have put the substrate and sand in and im just waiting for my plants to be delivered before i start adding water. I am thinking of getting cichlids but i understand they grow large, so i looked a few thigns up and was wondering if it would be ok to keep some shell dwellers? how many? and where can you buy them in edinburgh if anyone knows?
cheers
Paul

 

[mark7616]

You could keep shelldwellers in that tanks I would go with multis they would be god or brevis. As for where to get them in edinburgh not sure.

 

[dthoffsett]

Yup, shellies or apistogrammas would work. You could add a couple more than listed in this link.
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_10g.php

Can't help you on LFS locations though.

 

[ptyson21]

Cool cheers for the link, shell dwellers look like really nice fish n i could be keen to take them on. So im gonna cycle my tank for a few weeks once i get my plants. What do you recommend that i do to set up for them? Ill need to raise my pH, how do i do that? What else? What do they eat? how man could i keep? Any info would be great?
Paul

 

[stang1]

They prefer a PH of about 8-9 so add some tufa rock and this will help. Some people also use crushed coral to help with the Ph but I've just got normal sand in mine. Make sure you have plenty of shells as they use these to breed, hide in etc.
I feed mine bloodworm, pellets and brine shrimp.
Check out the link that dthoffsett sent you, that will provide more than enough info for you.

 

[ptyson21]

Cool cheers, i originally had coral sand but changed it, so i could add some shells n ill make sure they have plenty of hiding spaces. I'm not gonna add any fish till i defo know that its right.
Paul

 

[stang1]

Cool cheers, i originally had coral sand but changed it, so i could add some shells n ill make sure they have plenty of hiding spaces. I'm not gonna add any fish till i defo know that its right.
Paul

That's great Paul and exactly what I did. I made sure I'd done my research before setting the tank up and adding any fish as I'd never kept Tanganikyan Cichlids before. I've only had them for about a week but looks like I've got some that are breeding already!

 

[ptyson21]

Coolman sounds good, how big is your tank? you got any pics?

 

[stang1]

My tank is 48G, I haven't got a full tank shot but have got a couple of photos of my fish.

Neolamprologus Multifasciatus:

Neolamprologus Ocellatus:

I'd recommend the Multis as they are pretty peaceful. The Ocellatus can be very aggressive and are being moved to a different tank shortly. I can't move them at the moment as they have just spawned.

 

[ptyson21]

There seem to be loads of different names n i think that is where i might struggle with wat to get in my tank. Think ill go to the lfs and say i like that kind, how big will it grow and what can i keep it with. The problem is my tank is small, thats y i might just go for a few puffer fish.

 

[stang1]

15G is plenty big enough for some Multifasciatus, you could quite easily get about 6 in there.

 

[ptyson21]

mmm... I'm officially in a dilema, puffers or shelldwellers!?! I'll go down the lfs in the next couple of days n have a wee chat. Do you know what are easier to keep n have more personality?
Paul

 

[stang1]

I've kept dwarf puffers before and they are the cutest, nippiest little beggars around!
I'm not sure how many you could keep in a 15G but my guess would be 3-4. the tank needs to be heavily planted and have plenty of hiding spaces as they will become quite aggressive with each other, especially at feeding time. It might be an idea to start a new thread and get opinions from other members who have kept them.
As for the shell-dwellers, they are relatively easy to keep. I find them no more difficult than keeping other community fish. They have great character and i could sit watching them for hours. They like to hollow out the sand around the shell so that the shell sits on the bare glass. They either scoop it up in their mouth and spit it out a few inches away or flick the sand out using their body.
I know it's a tough decision but I'm sure you'll work it out in the end!

 

[ptyson21]

Cool well once I get my plants ill start the cycle then ill have a few weeks to decide what to do. Cheers for your suggestions mate.
Paul

 

[stang1]

Cool well once I get my plants ill start the cycle then ill have a few weeks to decide what to do. Cheers for your suggestions mate.
Paul

No problem.
Keep in mind though, that if you do choose shell-dwellers then you don't necessarily need plants. I haven't got any in my tank at all but again it's personal preference.