Ok I have a 29 gal, I'd like to buy some african cichlids for it, now I like the lemon yellows. I've heard from others that they shouldn't kept in anything smaller than a 50 gallon tank, I guess due to 'em being territorial. I understand that. But there is something I don't understand, 5 could go in a 30. I just want a species tank, just lemon yellows? Is this doable? If not please tell me why,.
Cichlids For A 29 Gal
- Thread starter sic0198
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No, in my opinon and experience it won't work.
African cichlids are highly territorial, even the more "peaceful" yellow labs you are interested in (labidochromis caeruleus) are highly aggressive when compared to your typical tropical fish. I recommend a minimum of a 4-foot tank for mbuna (the rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi), the reason for this is the 1-inch per gallon rule of thumb so common in fish keeping doesn't take into account the need for territory. Different fish will claim different amounts of space and we need to accomodate that in the home aquarium. A single mbuna can claim a one or two foot area (or more), and will defend it to the death.
I myself chose to ignore the advice I was given, and my first mbuna tank was a 29gal with yellow labs. I started out with 5 of them, all went well until they reached sexual maturity. Then the dominate male very quickly killed all but two females. They bred a couple of times, and a few fry survived, however, once the fry would reach around 1.5", one of the adults would kill them, even the female became very aggressive. Once I moved the fish over to my 75gal all aggression quit. I think it was pretty conclusive, smaller tanks just don't work with mbuna.
Here are some cichlids you CAN keept in a smaller tank.
[URL="http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php[/URL]
African cichlids are highly territorial, even the more "peaceful" yellow labs you are interested in (labidochromis caeruleus) are highly aggressive when compared to your typical tropical fish. I recommend a minimum of a 4-foot tank for mbuna (the rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi), the reason for this is the 1-inch per gallon rule of thumb so common in fish keeping doesn't take into account the need for territory. Different fish will claim different amounts of space and we need to accomodate that in the home aquarium. A single mbuna can claim a one or two foot area (or more), and will defend it to the death.
I myself chose to ignore the advice I was given, and my first mbuna tank was a 29gal with yellow labs. I started out with 5 of them, all went well until they reached sexual maturity. Then the dominate male very quickly killed all but two females. They bred a couple of times, and a few fry survived, however, once the fry would reach around 1.5", one of the adults would kill them, even the female became very aggressive. Once I moved the fish over to my 75gal all aggression quit. I think it was pretty conclusive, smaller tanks just don't work with mbuna.
Here are some cichlids you CAN keept in a smaller tank.
[URL="http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php[/URL][URL="http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php[/URL]Similar threads
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