How does this sound?

[FrAnK3333]

Well my friend said he wanted my zebras and neons, and I want a loach and cichlid tank, so Im doing reseach and this is what Ive come up with..
-2 German Blue Rams Cichlids
-2 Cockatoo Cichlids
-1 Female Convict Cichlid
-3 Gold Zebra Loaches
-1 Clown Loach- which my friend is think of taking and puting in his tank with some other clowns, not definte yet.
This would all go into my 20L gallon

 

[Yenko]

WAY overstocked. You should probably just keep the blue Rams and some small tetras.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Hmmm, 2 rams is 5 inches, 1 convict 4 inches, 2 cockatoo 5 inches, and 3 gold zebra loaches 7 and a half comes to 21.5 inches, and the clown which will probaly go to my friend, when he can get his 55 gallon cycled, then he would move it to his 85 gallon. Doesnt seemed overstocked to me. Bear in mind I do water changes twice a week and have a emperor 400.

 

[Dwarfs]

The convict may be too aggressive for those dwarf cichlids IMO

 

[yvez9]

new world cichlids don't go by the 1 inch per gallon rule. They are too territorial.

That rule is a guideline and does not apply to every fish.... Even if you ahve the best filtration system in the world, the fish ahve their instinct you can't control. If you try to kill their instinct, you're basically raising unhappy fish.

in a 20 gallon, you could keep one pair of small cichlid, and I don't recommend the convict. The rams would be a fine choice with your loaches as they are both bottom fish, and the blue rams are probably the least agressive of cichlids.

You could get some top and middle dwellers to complete your setup.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Convicts are really argressive until breeding, and I have already the female in my tank, she is lamost full grown, and my rams too are almost full growen. There is no problems with that combo.

 

[Dragonscales]

You are lucky then, I have had single convicts which are almost as agressive as a breeding pair. I suspect that you may see some more agression as you begin to add more fish and territory starts to be smaller. If this starts to happen then the rams are not going to be able to withstand the convict (no way, no how), they would have a hard enough time staying alive from the cockatoos let alone a bigger, more agressive fish.

Also be aware that the cockatoos are harem breeders, not paired breeders. Like the beachboy song goes, "two girls for every guy", bare minimum at that, 3 females to every male is better. They are also alot more agressive at protecting their territory than rams, especially when breeding and as I said before, you are going to know about it once more fish begin to be added. The problem comes from alot of dwarves needing a large area for territory, some rams patrolling anywhere up to 2 feet square in the wild. This is a natural instinct which cannot be trained or adjusted out of the fish, it is inherent and nine times out of ten the rams are gunna get their asses kicked trying to protect their space. I would personally ditch the con and stick with a harem of cockatoos and maybe the rams as well if there is enough cover to hide in.

I am not trying to discourage you or be matter of fact either, I just don't want to see you blow alot of money and end up with a 20 gallon with one convict in it to show for your efforts.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Thanks dragonscales, so I can keep cockatoos and rams together? But no on the convict? If I buy cockatoos I dotn want anything to happen to them because they are rare around where I live and expensive.
So does this list sound better?
-4 cockatoos 3 female 1 male
-2 rams
-3 gold zebra loaches

 

[Dragonscales]

looking alot better Frank

I am unsure on zebra loaches as I've never kept them but I can comment on both the rams and the cockatoos (both of which I have kept).

You will be more likely of losing the rams through agression than the cockatoos as the rams are less capable of looking after themselves. That said, the cockatoos are also classed as a "placid" fish and most problems will erupt during breeding. Given plenty of hiding places though I believe both can peacefully co-exist, even while breeding. Hope this clears a few things up for you

On a side note, I forgot to mention that most convicts will dig pits and get as agressive as if they were breeding even if they are the only con in the tank. As far as I can tell, they do this on the odd chance that another convict will show up and breed with them. Both females and males I've had have exhibited this.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Thanks for the advice. You have answered all my questions, and at the same time you were nice about it, and that a thank you. Im trying to find a petshop to place my order for the cockatoos, or even find a place that carrys them.