Lake Malawi- Question From A Beginner

[rossyboy]

I've kept tropical fish for a number of years and always been amazed by the cichlids in my local pet store.

I've got a 60 litre aquairum thats free now, I was just wandering if it was big enough to house any Lake Malawi species?

I know most need around 50 gallons plus, but I've also read somewhere that some smaller species will be ok in a smaller tank?

thanks...

 

[Colin_T]

not sure about small Malawis but there are small Tanganyikan cichlids that would live in there.
Shell dwellers, Julidochromis, Lamprologus, Cyprichromis, etc. You wouldn't have many, probably a pr of 1 male and 2 or 3 females, depending on fish.

 

[darrel69]

No, 60litres is too small for any cichlids from Lake Malawi... I also recommend shell-dwellers

 

[rossyboy]

I think my Local store only stocks Malawi species, do you think they'll be able to order some stock in if i told them what I need?

Also, in this type of setup what filtration is needed?

The tank currently has a fitted Jewel internal filter?

 

[Colin_T]

any good shop will get you fish in if you ask them nicely. They usually have a customer request book and your name, phone number and fish wish list goes in it. Then when the fish come in the shop gives you a call and you go and get them. Most shops will require a deposit for really unusual stuff and for expensive stuff.

An internal or external power filter should be fine. The bigger the filter the better.

 

[rossyboy]

In comparison, to say... tropical fish in which i used to stock a variety of tetras etc..

How messy are this type of species?

 

[Colin_T]

Small cichlids don't eat any more food than a barb of similar size. Big cichlids eat more compared to a tetra but that is because they are bigger fish. Hypothetically if you have a 5 inch rosy barb and a 5 inch cichlid they would eat about the same and create similar amounts of waste.
They will eat a bit more food than a similar sized tetra but not a lot.

 

[rossyboy]

ok excellent. So 'shell dwellers' are the way forward for my sized tank?

I'm going to do some reading up on them, but could somebody tell me more about them? Just the basics

oh and also (sorry for all the questions) where can i get some shells from?

Like I said my local store doesn't normally stock these fish so i'll have to get them ordered in so i don't think they stock shells (not that i've seen)

 

[Colin_T]

Shell dwellers or any of the small Tanganyikans.

Shell dwellers are small cichlids that live in colonies on the bottom of the lake. Each fish has a little territory with a shell in it. They sleep or hide in the shell and hang out near the shell during the day. A male will have a territory that has a number of females living within it. They lay their eggs in the shell and look after the eggs and young. There is a few different species but if you google shell dwellers then you should find the different species. They eat most foods that are small and sink to the bottom.

Any petshop that sells land hermit crabs (crazy crabs) should have spare shells for sale. Stores that sell rocks and shells or go have a look at the beach.

 

[darrel69]

A list of Shell Dwellers and info HERE ...

Also, people sell bags of shells of different varieties on ebay too ..

 

[rossyboy]

ok thanks for your help guys.

JUst one more question, i'm assuming these little fellas stay within the lower depths of the aquarium? If so are there any other species i could have which take a more middle/top level position?

 

[Colin_T]

Cyprichromis leptosoma or Paracyprichromis nigripinnis are both mid to surface dwellers.
You could also have a couple of small rainbowfish in the tank. Perhaps Melanotaenia praecox or Pseudomugil signifer. They aren't cichlids but do get on quite well in hard alkaline water.

 

[rossyboy]

ok thanks for this i really appreciate it

Going to bug you with another question haha. I've got a test kit and things, so that's not a problem... In terms of getting the hardness right etc, i am assuming my pet store will sell these products to condition the water?

 

[darrel69]

ok thanks for this i really appreciate it

Going to bug you with another question haha. I've got a test kit and things, so that's not a problem... In terms of getting the hardness right etc, i am assuming my pet store will sell these products to condition the water?

What ever you buy, dont buy any pH adjusters like 'API pH Up' ect !! They're too unstable... If you want to adjust the pH, use BiCarb of Soda or put limestone/crushed coral ect in your tank. All you should need is some dechlorinator (obviousley if you dont already have), and maybe some African Cichlid Conditioner/Tanganyikan Condidtioner to add minerals, thus hardening your water.

 

[lil.guppy]

YEA another cichlid lover!! I got hooked on mine through the pet store too! No matter what you get your gonna love em!