Jewel Cichlid

[Becks1985]

Has anyone had any experience with these I would love one in my community tank but don't know if its possible...
My current stock
4 small angels
10 rummynose
5 dwarf neon rainbows soon to be between 10-15
5 sterbai cory
5 otto cats
3 platies
2 guppies don't mind removing
2 dennision barbs size of rummynose

Anyone any advice?.

 

[MBOU]

Don't do it!!
 
Will most likely kill the rest of your fish... they are known for being really territorial and aggressive. Personally I think there are very very few African cichlids that belong in community tanks... and Jewels are certainly not one I would put in with gentle little fish.
 
Aside from that, they have completely different water requirements, they will prefer harder water as opposed to your other fish, some of which will want much softer water.

 

[Becks1985]

Ok thanks just thought I would ask some of them put out some amazing colours ....
I had bolivan rams but they don't show that much colour only a little. I never had any luck with german blue rams an dont really want any gouramis so don't know what else to look at??
Any. Suggestions??
My ph is 7.4
Temp 25.5 degrees

 

[MBOU]

Apistogrammas? Cacatoides or Aggassizzi are generally easy to get hold of
 
Though tbh you will want to remove guppies...

 

[Becks1985]

So would all them be ok with my current stock apart from guppies.... I'm gonna have a look at them now on line ... Are they better in pairs are wat??



Just looked at them there they are really nice some more colourful than others... Thinking of trying to get them my local fish shop doesn't have them an if I ask them to get me 2 they might not be that colourful of ones ya know...

 

[MBOU]

Well if you decide on a species like Apistogramma aggassizzi, they will probably come in to the shop young and under coloured and if you raise them on a good quality diet, they will colour up for you so long as they are happy. They aren't a difficult fish to look after and ought to get on with everything you have.
 
A lot of people say they do better in trios (1 male to 2 females) but I have yet to see this work, I just find the dominant female harasses the submissive female to death every time.
 
Another two nice species are Nannacara anomela and Laetacara curviceps. Both do well as a pair, don't get too big, very docile as cichlids go..

 

[Becks1985]

Ok I'll have a look at them as well... Do all these stay near the bottom of th tank??

 

[MBOU]

Mainly they do, yeah

 

[Becks1985]

Looked at them there the apistogramma cacatoides seems more colourful but don't know they might look different looking at them in a tank...
What do you think...
My aquarium shows up blues an yellow best....