Lamprologus Occelatus

[@ombomb]

Thinking about a small (20G) tank for these shell dwellers and was wondering if anyone had any success with other fish to fill the upper levels of the tank?

 

[cometcattle]

I kept a school of White Clouds (6) in with my breeding pair. One day I noticed an Occie fry sticking out of the mouth of one of the WCMM. I immediately removed the WCMM because I was trying to raise the fry at the time.

I've heard of some people keeping Zebra Danios with them, but I personally have not. I would assume the Danios got quite fat, as they are much faster eaters than Occies.

Are you going to try to plant the tank?

 

[@ombomb]

The plan is to keep the lighting fairly low, but I may transfer some bogwood with java fern attached from my main tank. I'd like to try and heep the substrate fairly clear, just sand and shells and then the bogwood / plants in the upper levels.

Any there any other small Tang Cichlids that would be OK with them?

 

[freddyk]

A 20 gallon is pretty small, so mixing cichlid may not prove easy. You can try a pair of Juli. Regani or Neo. Caudopunctatus, but it's still a bit of a risk and it might be better to keep this as a shelldweller setup.

Any shoaling fish that is fast sticks to the top of the water will generally work. Danio's are the type of thing you're looking for.

 

[cometcattle]

I agree with Freddy about keeping it a Shell dweller tank as a 20g is a bit on the small side.

I was surprised to see this cookie-cutter for a 20g:
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php

It seems like a lot of cichlids for a 20g.