Fish Selection Suggestions

[BobbyBray]

I haven't kept cichlids before, so I thought I'd check and see what you guys might suggest for my particular setup. I've got a 29 (US) gallon tank, about 110 liters, 30" x 12" x 18". I realize its not the biggest of tanks, and my selections will be quite limited, so if nothing will work out, then I'll go back to other tropical fish like I've done before. I stopped by my LFS and looked at all the cichlids they had in today. A lady there told me that if I gave her a list of fish they didn't have, she could check with her supplier to see if they could get them, otherwise there should be a larger FS in a town about 45 mins away from me, I've just never had a need to check how big their stock of is.

Here's a list of fish that the local store had in when I checked (I'll list the scientific name if the store provided it):
Jewel Cichlid
Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki
Assorted Malawi (probably not especially helpfull, but thats what the tag said )
Saulosi - Pseudotropheus saulsoi
Rainbow Cichlid
Yellow Lab - Labidochromis caeraleus
Zebra Red Top - Pseudotrpheus zebra
Convict - Cichlasoma nigrofasciatam
Kribensis Ocellated - Pelvicachromis subcellatus
Assorted Africa Cichlids (Yes, thats actually what the tag said, )

From what little I already know, and a bit of research, it seems like the L. caeraleus and P. subcellatus are the best candidates for a tank of my size. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the advice!

 

[fatheadminnow]

You are right about that L. caeraleus and P. subcellatus are one of the more "mild" of cichlids.

I have a 29 US gallon tank right now with 7 Cichlids, you can check my profile on which ones.

I have to say that they are doing alright, and I plan on getting some for females, since my female to male ratio is a little small.

The only reason I have them in a 29 gallon is because I did not have enough money to get a 55 or larger tank. But this summer I am going to be getting a bigger. So by the time they get bigger, I will have a bigger tank, as they are still pretty small right now.

A 29 gallon tank I would say is the bare minimum for African Cichlids of any species.

If you do decide to go with cichlids, stick with the yellow labs(electric yellow) or the electric blue, not sure what their scientific name is.

I would get probably 1 male and 3 females. That is if you are going to keep them in there. If you decide to get a bigger tank in the near future you could get more like me and when they get bigger you could move them to the bigger tank.

-FHM

 

[Davo86]

You could also go with a pair of any of these

Jewel Cichlid
Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki
Convict - Cichlasoma nigrofasciatam

Or a pair of these with dithers, i.e a shoal of danios or similar and a smaller pleco or other bottom dweller

Rainbow Cichlid
Kribensis Ocellated - Pelvicachromis subcellatus

 

[kribensis12]

Your LFS has P. subcellatus? Do they look like THIS?

I just don't see it as likely. I mean, your lfs dosent have a very big selection of fish, but they are selling a rare form of Kribensis?

Honestly, if they do have them, BUY THEM!!!!!!! But, if they turn out to be a regular Krib, BUY THEM!!!!!!!!!

Or, you could get yellow labs. I am keeping 4 ( almost adults, male is pushing over 4 inches). But, they are in a 30 gallon. Most people will argue that they arent in a big enough tank. The breeder I bought them from, personally assured me they are in a appropiate size. And, they are almost non agressive. There is the occasional chase. But, no real problems.

 

[Bert]

Well with labs it really depends on the fish. I have an alpha male in my tank that WILL NOT put up with any other male lab. Every species has it's traits but each individual fish also has it's own personality.

 

[BobbyBray]

Your LFS has P. subcellatus? Do they look like THIS?

I just don't see it as likely. I mean, your lfs dosent have a very big selection of fish, but they are selling a rare form of Kribensis?

Honestly, if they do have them, BUY THEM!!!!!!! But, if they turn out to be a regular Krib, BUY THEM!!!!!!!!!

Or, you could get yellow labs. I am keeping 4 ( almost adults, male is pushing over 4 inches). But, they are in a 30 gallon. Most people will argue that they arent in a big enough tank. The breeder I bought them from, personally assured me they are in a appropiate size. And, they are almost non agressive. There is the occasional chase. But, no real problems.

Perhaps my LFS didn't properly label the fish (wouldn't be surprised in the least ), I think it looked more like THIS I'll go back tonight and see, maybe they'll let me take a photo, haha.

Well it at least looks like there's a few options I can start with. I'll bring a list of some fish that they don't have now, and see if they can order them for me. Most of the cichlids they had seemed to be too big for my tank, or too aggressive, and I'd rather not do a species thank.

I found this website listing some good options for a tanks with my surface area. The Tanganyika Mini-Community tank housing 1 pair of Juli regani, 1 pair of Neo leleupi and 1 trio of Lamprologus occelatus is what interested me the most. It seemed like the most colorful combination that could still work in a 29 gallon. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[kribensis12]

Those are regular kribs. I would do whatever let's you have the most fish.

 

[Bert]

Tangs are very fun and great for a 30. I have my brichardi colony in a 30.

 

[BobbyBray]

Here's another setup I found, that a guy was using in a 32 gallon, so slightly larger, but what do you guys think?

Julidochromis marlieri x 2
Neolamprologus leleupi x 2
Neolamprologus pulcher x 1
Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus x 1
Neolamprologus tretocephalus x 1
Neolamp Sexfasciatus Tanz Gold x 1

To me it seems like there might be too many fish for a 29 gallon, but then again I haven't kept cichlids before, so thats why I'm here in the first place, haha.

 

[Bert]

I have a feeling that's too many but I couldn't say for sure since I don't know any of those species.

 

[BobbyBray]

Here's another setup I found, that a guy was using in a 32 gallon, so slightly larger, but what do you guys think?

Julidochromis marlieri x 2
Neolamprologus leleupi x 2
Neolamprologus pulcher x 1
Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus x 1
Neolamprologus tretocephalus x 1
Neolamp Sexfasciatus Tanz Gold x 1

To me it seems like there might be too many fish for a 29 gallon, but then again I haven't kept cichlids before, so thats why I'm here in the first place, haha.

I gave my LFS a list of cichlids that I'm interested in, so if they can get most of them, I think I'll go with this list minus the N. tretocephalus and N. sexfasciatus, looks like they'll get too big and aggressive. If the FS can't get the rest of the list, then I'll either go with jewel cichlids or a simple setup with 2-3 species.

 

[Bert]

I think that list is a tang set up so Jewels wouldn't be good. They're known for being MEAN very MEAN. I saw a video of a Jewel taking on a flowerhorn double it's size.

 

[BobbyBray]

Yea, the list is tangs. Sorry, I meant to say I would do either the mini tang tank, or get some jewels, not both. Thanks for catching that mistake.