How Big Are Chilids?

[fishy55599]

Title says it all

 

[kaivalagi]

Anything from a couple of inches to a foot or more when adult...

Have a look at the fish species list to get an idea of the variety, but bear in mind these lists are just a small fraction of what is out there!

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/41-cichlids-african/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/42-cichlids-central-and-south-american/

Why do you ask?

 

[fishy55599]

I think that they look very nice but im not sure if they would fit in my tank and go with my guppies and little swordtails

 

[star4]

Lots of dwarf cichlids are available, rams (bolivian, blue etc) Kribensis (african) Try this link got names and pictures of a lot of the dwarf cichlids.
http/www.cheshirewaterlife.co.uk/species_livestock/35_AmericanDwarfCichlids.htm

You would need to check which are compatable with your current stock, majority of the smaller ones are ok.

 

[kaivalagi]

Also, even with a tank as small as 10USG you could have african shell dwellers, they're tiny and live surprisingly in shells (at least the females tend to)

What is the tank size and what have you got in it right now?

 

[fishy55599]

Also, even with a tank as small as 10USG you could have african shell dwellers, they're tiny and live surprisingly in shells (at least the females tend to)

What is the tank size and what have you got in it right now?

it is 55 gallons , i have 4 littleish swordtails, 3 guppies, 1 platy, 1 bristlenose plec and 1 siamese algae eater

 

[kaivalagi]

oooo, lots of room!

Only things like Severum, Oscar etc would be questionable...a 55G tank though will take on nearly all medium sized cichlids and smaller for sure, you could have bigger (i.e. ~ 10") in there fine but not a big group of them without space problems...

Have you had a look at what there is available? Anything catch your eye? American or African? Species only setup for breeding or mixed tank without?

 

[star4]

Guppies could pose a problem, long tails being a target for the more mid range cichlids. I have Ellioti (relative of the firemouth) in with a lone platy they are pretty laid back for a mid size cichlid (reaching max 6"), Blue acara little larger around 8" you may get away with single possibly 2 pretty laid back cichlid too if mine are anything to go by. Trouble with cichlids is they have personality, you can get a good one or a nasty one. Keyholes are also nice fairly calm too, flag cichlid, not owned one but really nice.

I think for the smaller severum, rotkeil etc a min would be 75 gal not 55

 

[fishy55599]

I like the look of bolivian rams (not sure if there chilids?)

 

[kaivalagi]

Yes they are (South American Cichlids)...look at the linked fish species sections I posted earlier, the specific page for these is here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/59127-bolivian-ram/


Although you have so much space you could also go with something bigger than that...Acara are a nice medium sized cichlid, and are generally (I say that, you could still get a bad one) very good in a community tank too, again they are South American cichlids...Blue Acara are detailed here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/63652-blue-acara/

Hope that helps...I suggest you do lots and lots of reading, there is a lot of choice and a lot of pitfalls too...

 

[Glenbo1981]

Its 'Cichlid' not Chililid

Yeh Cichlid is not one fish, there is millions of varietys, its like thinking all Birds are the same.

 

[england]

Hmm thats a question and a half to reply to. Smallest being a couple of inches up to anywhere around 2plus feet for some

smallest being Neolamprologus multifasciatus...

largest i think is Boulengerochromis microlepis,

 

[kaivalagi]

I think I saw those big cichlids (Boulengerochromis microlepis) on a Lake Tanganyika documentary, do they have a common name of Emperor Cichlids?, they were definitely those, maybe the documentary got the name wrong as all I can find is Giant Tanganyika Cichlid as a common name...
I remember they were defending their nest from a rather large turtle, the turtle was getting thrown about until he decided it just wasn't worth the hassle, awesome fish, you'd want a 20ft tank to enjoy those I reckon
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