African Cichlids For 40g Tank

[anwhyte]

Hi, I will be getting a 40g (uk) tank soon (101cm long) & would like to keep cichlids, however i'm wondering whether it might be a bit small for a decent group of mbuna, am i right? does anyone have any other ideas? the water here is quite hard/alkaline

 

[Bebobb]

What is the footprint of the tank? I know in a 40 USG tank you could have a few, but not sure about UK.

 

[Bebobb]

Some less aggressive ones i think you'll be alright

Yeah, you don't want the more agressive ones in a tank this size.

 

[anwhyte]

Some less aggressive ones i think you'll be alright

Yeah, you don't want the more agressive ones in a tank this size.

the footprint is 101cm*41cm, what about yellow labs/ cobalt blues?

What is the footprint of the tank? I know in a 40 USG tank you could have a few, but not sure about UK.

the footprint is 101cm*41cm, what about yellow labs/ cobalt blues?

 

[dthoffsett]

So it's approximately 48 US gallons and 39 in x 16 in.

IMO it's too small for any mbuna other than a Pseudotropheus demasoni species tank, some may disagree but again IMO a 4ft tank is really the minimum for a mbuna community.

However, you could have a really nice Lake Tanganikya tank, or go with a community tank featuring some of the African riverine species.

 

[anwhyte]

So it's approximately 48 US gallons and 39 in x 16 in.

IMO it's too small for any mbuna other than a Pseudotropheus demasoni species tank, some may disagree but again IMO a 4ft tank is really the minimum for a mbuna community.

However, you could have a really nice Lake Tanganikya tank, or go with a community tank featuring some of the African riverine species.

Pseudotropheus demasoni look lovely, but aren't they overly aggressive? how many would you recommend for this tank, would a plec be OK as well?
thanks

 

[dthoffsett]

So it's approximately 48 US gallons and 39 in x 16 in.

IMO it's too small for any mbuna other than a Pseudotropheus demasoni species tank, some may disagree but again IMO a 4ft tank is really the minimum for a mbuna community.

However, you could have a really nice Lake Tanganikya tank, or go with a community tank featuring some of the African riverine species.

Pseudotropheus demasoni look lovely, but aren't they overly aggressive? how many would you recommend for this tank, would a plec be OK as well?
thanks

They are very aggressive toward their own kind as well as any similar species, that's why they should be kept in groups of 12 or more. I'm going to be setting up a 40gal w/15, since you have a 48 I'd say you could keep around 20, just make sure you have a filter turnover of at least 10 times per hour. A bristlenose pleco would work great with them as would a trio of Synodontis petricola if you wanted.