Finally Started

[Livewire]

So today I finally got some fish and a live plant for my african cichlid tank.
I picked up a random Live plant, not sure what it is, but I asked if there was Co2 in the tank and they said no.
I picked up the last two Kribensis Cichlids.
And for the fact that they were in the same tank I picked up one Gold Severum.

I will probable get 3 or 4 more Kribensis when the LFS re stocks on fish, I will probable pick up another live plant as soon as I get the feel for them.

It's hard for me to get a pic of the Kribensis, they are really small and fast

 

[Wills]

Hi - what size tank is this? Sevs need big tanks - for Golds and Greens think 75g as the very very minimum.

Also when you say an African Cichlid tank? Do you mean like the rift africans like yellow labs or the riverine like the kribs? Just so you know the Severum is actually an American cichlid as well and not compatible with the rift africans...

I would also rethink adding more Kribs to this tank as they are not really a hierachial fish they will form pairs and breed and - well depending on tank size - cause each other damage. They are not like the typical African Cichlid where you form hareems with a few males and multiple females - these are also the wrong kinds of cichlids to plan to over stock with as well. Again those are more the Rift Cichlids rather than the riverine ones.

Really hope this is coming across as helpful rather than harsh but I am worried you have started on a bad path with this tank and may need to rethink it....

Buying a Severum on impulse is generally not a good idea, they are a big fish that will live for a long time - I have one and she is at least 8 years old. Gold Severums will grow to roughly the size of a dinner plate.

One last thing as well that big rock resting against the glass - not a good idea, a specific point of pressure on the glass like that can cause damage. If you want to build cave structures you are better off with lots of rocks and forming a mound in the centre of the tank and building up. Distributing the weight over a large base.

Wills

 

[Livewire]

Wow, I'm glad you told me all this information, the tank I'm using is a 40 gallon, I have 3 40 gallon tanks, Anyways as I said in my post the Severum was in the same tank as the Kribensis, I plan to make the tank all kribensis, Although on the size of the Severum my Neighbor has a Much larger tank than I have and I can give him the fish when it out grows my tank. As for the rock I'll probable re-decorate the tank when I buy some slate.

 

[Wills]

Kribs are not really a fish you put loads of in a tank. Not really the best idea really...

Rehoming and adult sev is not that easy - even if your neighbour has a huge tank taking on a 12 inch fish is going a serious addition to any tank...

Wills

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

If a group of Kribs are randomly thrown together in a tank, the first pair to bond will bully the rest, forcing them typically to an unnatural top corner of the tank.

So if you want an all Krib tank, your 40g is done with one pair. If you want tankmates, look for fish that will grow to about the size of adult Kribs (10cm) that are suitable for your 40g, ideally that will stay high in the tank. If you can source them, a group of 10-12 Arnoldichthys spoilopterus (African Red Eye Tetra) would be my choice of upper water dither.

 

[Livewire]

If a group of Kribs are randomly thrown together in a tank, the first pair to bond will bully the rest, forcing them typically to an unnatural top corner of the tank.

So if you want an all Krib tank, your 40g is done with one pair. If you want tankmates, look for fish that will grow to about the size of adult Kribs (10cm) that are suitable for your 40g, ideally that will stay high in the tank. If you can source them, a group of 10-12 Arnoldichthys spoilopterus (African Red Eye Tetra) would be my choice of upper water dither.

So you're saying what I should do is get a bunch of kribs so they pair and then return the ones that didn't pair?

If a group of Kribs are randomly thrown together in a tank, the first pair to bond will bully the rest, forcing them typically to an unnatural top corner of the tank.

So if you want an all Krib tank, your 40g is done with one pair. If you want tankmates, look for fish that will grow to about the size of adult Kribs (10cm) that are suitable for your 40g, ideally that will stay high in the tank. If you can source them, a group of 10-12 Arnoldichthys spoilopterus (African Red Eye Tetra) would be my choice of upper water dither.

Also, what are some other choices I can make for upper water fish?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

More times than not you do not need to buy a group to get a bonded pair, you can buy any male and female and they will pair up, but do look out for life threatening behaviour from either.

What are the dimensions of your 40g? I would not want to suggets something that will need more room than you can provide.

 

[Livewire]

More times than not you do not need to buy a group to get a bonded pair, you can buy any male and female and they will pair up, but do look out for life threatening behaviour from either.

What are the dimensions of your 40g? I would not want to suggets something that will need more room than you can provide.

It's 36 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 20 inches tall

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A few possibilities that come to mind are...

1-3 African Butterfly Fish (if you have a tight fitting lid and can source some plants [fake would do] that reach or even go beyond the water surface)
6-10 Yellow Congo Tetra (Alestopetersius caudalis, get at least two females per male, available at http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=54&prod=1866, they have a cheap shipping promo until the end of October)
6 Synodontis nigriventris (lots of bushy plants really help these become more visible before "lights out", but they are more of a nocturnal catfish besides when food is offered, so they will not be dithers as such)