African Cichlids

[FlyJumper]

About a week ago I was digging through my garage to hopefully find my old collections of model cars when I revealed an aquarium, 30g or so.... I can't believe I've never spotted it before but then again my garage is junkyard . The day after I went to the petstore to buy some parts (filter...). Ok so now to the chase, I'm looking to make it an African cichlid tank. But I'm not sure how much to get or what types to get. At my lfs they had many tanks with many different kinds, one tank had a yellow african cichlid, a tank with blue, green and some other tanks (all in seperate tanks) they were about 2.5" in. or so selling for $2.50 each. What type should I get that will stay relatively small. Also the names of them would help me (I don't know what they are).

I'm pretty sure the yellow ones were yellow acei's or something?

I am doing research though, but apparently I need your help too.

And I am cycling it this week and the next or so.

 

[jambo1238]

Hey flyjumper. Well done on finding a tank.

But you will have the same limited choice that i have in my 30 gallon tank.

With a tank that small, there are not many African Cichlids that can be kept.

Tang Shelldwellers (I have a colony of Multies, so i could help you there)
Calvus Cichlids

Shelldwellers are amazing thought and what they lack in size, they make up for in attitude.
I'm actually having a problem with them being so territorial.

There are also many types of colourful shelldwellers.

 

[FlyJumper]

Hey flyjumper. Well done on finding a tank.

But you will have the same limited choice that i have in my 30 gallon tank.

With a tank that small, there are not many African Cichlids that can be kept.

Tang Shelldwellers (I have a colony of Multies, so i could help you there)
Calvus Cichlids

Shelldwellers are amazing thought and what they lack in size, they make up for in attitude.
I'm actually having a problem with them being so territorial.

There are also many types of colourful shelldwellers.

I like the idea of having shelldwellers as for I will have a slate rock formation in the back of the tank and it will add more detail if there was something living in it.

Now as for a fish thats not a shell dweller what can I fit in there? I called my lfs yesterday and they said they carry most acei's with different colors. I'm not sure if I can work with those though.

 

[dthoffsett]

Acei's come with two colors, purple bodies with yellow tails, and black/purple bodies with white tails. If your LFS is telling you different, they don't know what they have.

Unfortunately Acei get up to 7 inches and won't be suitable for your tank. Here's a link for appropriate stocking.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php

 

[FlyJumper]

Acei's come with two colors, purple bodies with yellow tails, and black/purple bodies with white tails. If your LFS is telling you different, they don't know what they have.

Unfortunately Acei get up to 7 inches and won't be suitable for your tank. Here's a link for appropriate stocking.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php

Apparently I was mistaken... They were actually acei"s and the other fish were ice blue zebra, bumblebee, ahli , red zebra, kenyi, and some others I forgot. Because I thought they said the acei's were variety of colors, but I was mistaken.

Oh and by the way it's a 30g long

 

[caboose_122]

most mbuna are to small for a 30g

i know some people who have shelldweller tanks with 1-2 calvus with htem in a 30 gallon, this may work but you would have to buy the "shellies" big and teh calvus very small, there is also a risk of the calvus once reaching a certain size they will eat the shelliues but if you have lots of shells( the guys i know have about 80-90% of the tank bottom covered on shells) this is an option but for mroe experianced cichlid keepers.

the best thing for that tank is probably a few shell dwellers on there own in my opinion

 

[FlyJumper]

I'm off to the petstore today, I'm going to get saulosi african cichlids. What setting is good as far as male to female ratio.... or can I just get a couple, or will they fight?

 

[dthoffsett]

I'm off to the petstore today, I'm going to get saulosi african cichlids. What setting is good as far as male to female ratio.... or can I just get a couple, or will they fight?

Saulosi are mbuna and therefore not appropriate for a 30 gal, even a 30 gal long. IMO the minimum size for mbuna is a 55 gal.