African Cichlids In A 55 Gallon Tank?

[Derpeder]

How many african cichlids can I put in a 55 gallon tank.

Currently I have 4 Aulonocara and 2 yellow labs, but my tank seems to be lacking.

The tank is set up with lots of hiding places. Lots of rocks and nooks and caves and what not. I am actually quite proud of my set up. I took rocks from the river and boiled them and set them in there, it looks great.

anyway how many can I put in there. I would like to double that number to 12, is that too many?

Last question, Can I keep a pleco in with them. The pleco I have in there now, which is 1 inch longer then the cichlids currently are, keeps getting attacked and its fins are like half gone so I had to move him into my other tank. Do I just need a bigger pleco or are the cichlids just to aggressive. The LFS I go to seems to have large plecos with large cichlids, so I am confused.

thanks

 

[Ethos]

Since I'm new to cichlids, I dunno what the Aulonocaras are, or anything about them.

For the pleco, I've heard nothing but bad things about them with af. cichlids.
I'd get a bottom fish that is native to africa, those do much better. In my pro it says I have a spotted plec in m,y 55G w/ cichlids, but its really an african that I dunno what its actual name is. he does very well with them, and he's never bothered.

Hope this helps in the least,
Ethos

 

[freddyk]

Many people keep bristlenose plecs with their Africans -they're very tough and don't grow too big. There are some cases though, that they are simply not tolerated.

Lab Caeruleus are very social colony fish, and by all means adding more of these would be the first priority on my list - I'd up the group to 6 and see how that goes. Remember that Aulonocara do not do so well in crowded and aggressive mbuna setups.

 

[Derpeder]

thanks that helps. I was thinking about getting more labs. Do you have any other suggestions as far as what fish may go good.

thanks

 

[fergie]

you got any pics id luv to see ur tank

 

[dutoits]

55 gal you can keep 15 of the smaller Africans make sure that you build a nice reef for hiding

 

[Ethos]

Whats your deffinition of small?
6"?