Dwarf American Cichlids

[Seal36]

I was wondering if anyone knew of any colourful but small and fairly peaceful dwarf american cichlids. Cichlids are my favourite species of fish because there is so many different types and they are so colourful and have really cool behaviours. I'm doing research for my new tank and was thinking of having a small pair of dwarf american cichlids in. What water parameters do they need and what do they need tank size wise from Tom

 

[DerpPH]

they need acidic water. apistogramma, mikrogeophagus and nannacara are some of the choices on the genus which you want to pick. they need acidic water because they are from the amazon

 

[star4]

I have kept apistogramma, which there are lots to choose from, they are fairly peaceful and ideal to keep a pair. My personal favourite are the Laetacara genus, the curviceps are very peaceful I kept those with small tetra (rummy nose, glowlights) the dorsigera (red breast acara) is very pretty and the breeding colours are fantastic. You would need a sand/fine gravel substrate, wood some plants like java fern, anubus, java moss for the young to hide and feed in, leaf litter on the bottom, temperature on average (may vary on some species so this is only and average temperature) 25c ph again only an average of about 6-6.5 would suit.
 
Hope this helps

 

[Seal36]

My ph is 7.4 to 7.6 does this mean I can't have american cichlids from Tom

 

[star4]

No there are some that are ok in the higher pH, the Apisto's prefer the lower range, but with a pH of 7.4-7.6 you could get away with the curviceps or the Laetacara dorsigera, personally with that pH I would go for the dorsigera, they can tolerate a higher pH upto 7.8 depending on which site you look at, mine are at 6.8. They are really peaceful and very pretty.
 

 

[Seal36]

Are the fish you just named a specific species of the fish or are they the family they come from and I love the picture you attached. What species is that. Also how big do the dorsigeria grow and what colours do they have. Also how peaceful are the species would they be able to be mixed with apistogramma. So if I had 110 litre tank with a pair of apistogramma cacatuoides in could I add these fish as well or would they fight. The dimensions of the tank is 80cm long 35 cm deep and 45 cm high from Tom

 

[Seal36]

Also my temperature is 24 as I have Cory's in the tank that prefer a slightly colder temperature. There is also neon tetras and honey gourami as the other tank mates from Tom

 

[star4]

The one in the picture is a Laetacara dorsigera, I have these with  apistogramma Baenchii, these are peaceful apisto's. I kept cacatuoides with laetacara curviceps with no problems in a 180l tank heavily planted. The dorsigera get to around 3" in size but they are quite a chunky little fish. I think a 110l might be pushing it a bit if you ended up with 2 breeding pairs in one go, the dorsigera are sexed by a black dorsal fin spot, both male and female have it but the females is surrounded in white, quite difficult to sex unless you know what you are looking for,

 

[Lillefishy]

Your 110 litre is already stocked, I wouldn't add anything else.
The pandas are already near the top of their temperature tolerance & the cichlids I believe like higher temps

 

[star4]

hmm you really want about 25c for these. OK total shot in the dark, not a cichlid but very cichlid and stunning colours like only grow 2" semi peaceful but you would be better off with just females or a single male with 3 females is the american flag fish (Jordanella floridae), these will go happily in a massive ph and temperature range.
 
Some info on them here, the pic is of two males (I have 2 males and 6 femlaes)
 
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/jordanella-floridae/

 

[Seal36]

Ok well I will have to wait for a new tank or replace the apistogramma with them when the apistogramma pass on. Thanks for the other fish to look at and is 1 Celsius really that much for a fish. I really like my cichlids but only ever had apistogramma cactuoides, kribensis and keyholes from Tom
What type of conditions do German blue rams do best in and my tank looks weird now that I got rid of two out of the five honey gouramis from Tom

 

[Lillefishy]

Keeping fish in too high temperatures than they've evolved to be kept in shortens their lifespan, so every degree higher does make a difference.
If you're determined to have gbr's or any cichlids you could do with rehoming the pandas & getting a different cory that can take higher temps, such as sterbai

 

[star4]

Most fish are recommended a temp scale say 25 - 27c, which ideally 26 then is the best temperature but will survive at the higher or lower end, however depending on the species a lower or higher end temperature survival can only be maintained for a shorter time than the recommended temperature, they done live as long basically,
 
German blue rams need a higher temperature and are stupidly sensitive in my experience, I have many many american cichlids and have sucessfully bred some rather difficult to breed fish, but german rams I just fail miserably at keeping them alive more than 12 months if I am lucky. If you like rams you would be better off with boivian rams, much hardier than the german ones.
 
As said with your panda's you are going to struggle to find a cichlid to suit those temperatures, trust me have a good look at the american flag fish 

, if my photobucket hadnt packed up I would post a picture of mine

On this thread I have posted a pic of the american flag fish, 
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/427788-post-your-favorite-fish-picture/
 
as an avid cichlid keeper myself these fish would really tick the box

 

[Seal36]

What different types of American flag fish are there are there different ones from different states and lakes and stuff like that. Also would I be able to add one to my 110 litre tank now that I only have 23 small fish in there
It's
10 Cory's
3 honey gourami
8 neon tetra
Pair of apistogramma

Or again is my tank still to small and the temperature is not right. I think I should have space as I got rid of 2 honey gouramis and when they were in there that was a good stocking from Tom

 

[star4]

The american flag fish comes from florida and there is only one american flag fish, it is a killifish, but there are other types of american killifish but you would have to check their water requirements, although listed as semi aggressive fin nippers, mine are fine with white cloud minnows and weather loach. I honestly do not know how they would fair with gourami, but they should be fine with the corys. They are avid algae eaters, loving hair algae. Mine are in a much larger tank than your 110 and I have a group of 8 (2 male 6 female), so long as you stick to the ratio of one male and 3 female you should be ok, I would be inclined to re-home the gourami just in case as the american flag fish prefer middle to upper water levels and may be in conflict with the gourami.