another idea

[Rayne]

ok with all the research and answers i recieved this week i have decided an oscar won't be a good choice for my 55 gal.


now i'm thinking about a cichlid tank. the selection at my lfs seems good. the colors are nice and they seem to grow to a fair size to make an impact in the big tank.


a few questions:
is there anything i should keep in mind when shopping for my new fishies?
any particular type i should get? or avoid?
approx how many can i fit in my 55 gal?

any other info will be welcomed!!

 

[fish_keeper2]

depends if you want african or new world. either way i think you will get more help if you ask in the cichlid section. i personaly cant help much as i dont know a lot about cichlids

 

[Rayne]

i have posted in the cichlid section but nobody seems to be leaving any suggestions so if anybody here can help please do...

 

[sylvia]

You're going to have to do some extra research on cichlids and narrow down your prefferences.

Go to your LFS and note down the scientific names of any species you like the look of. Only then can anyone here realy answer those questions you asked.

'Cichlids' comprises a huge group of fish - some very large, some very small, some extremely aggressive, others shy and peaceful, a few very demanding, some quite hardy and some that like to be in groups or have very specific requirements. 'Cichlids includes angelfish, discus, oscars, rams, various shell-dwellers, yellow labs, other mbuna, tanganyikans, fish from the other great lakes etc, etc, etc. There's even brackish cichlids. To put it more bluntly, you need to decide what you want before asking those questions.

Having said that, I suggest you look into africans - mbuna specificaly. They are usualy quite easy to get hold of, hardy, not overly demanding and a good cichlid to start with, plus they have lots of color and character. Still, you DO need to research the various species. I reccomend yellow labs (labidochromis caeruleus), pseudotropheus acei, p. socolofi, p. saulosi and iodotropheus sprengerae (rusty) but there are many many others and they vary both in temperament and size, as well as in diet and behaviour. Not all are compatible and many of those you'll find at your LFS are hybrids and should be avoided.