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[Waterbox]

I picked up a free 4 ft tank last night and I am thinking about stocking it with Tanganyikan Cichlids. So far the only fish that I know I want is some calvus, but I am open to any stocking suggestions. Anyone have some experience with Tanganyikans and can give me some options on what to stock?

Also, I was at my LFS the other day and they had this little black fish maybe 1.5-2 inches long with little white spots all over it, I dont remember what it was called and I was just curious is this what young calvus look like?

 

[fish_r_great]

I'd just browse profiles on here
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/?region=T

 

[Irf]

Could it be this? I've recently bought 2 of these.....

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1866

Or how about the juvies here:

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1864

Or this:

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1863

Irf

 

[dthoffsett]

How many gallons are you working with? Here are the stocking suggestions for a 40 long and a 55.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_40g.php
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

 

[Waterbox]

Thanks for the Replies.

Yeah Irf, that is actually what I saw. I hear they are very aggressive however, so I do not think I will keep any. But it is possible.

Thanks for the links dthoffsett, those help alot. I saw in a few of those that the Calvus and Comps. could be kept with some of the smaller shelldwellers. This is something that I would like to do, because I figure he would eat some of their fry but not the adults. However I am worried that maybe the shellies would be terrified having a Calvus swimming around all the time?

Also, I really like the looks of some of the Judilochromis, would a pair of them be OK with a group of shell dwellers or would it be chaos because they both occupy the bottom?

 

[Irf]

Just a comment on the aggression mate....

The cichlid-forum linked to and books I have don't list the Tropheus Duboisi as being highly aggressive, but mildly aggressive. I think it's unlikely you'll get much better than that within the cichlid community....

Best of luck,

Irf.

 

[Waterbox]

Oh ok I forgot I read they are aggressive to conspecifics. I might have to throw some of those in my tank as well, they look like very interesting fish. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Waterbox]

I want to put dark sand in this tank, so I saw this stuff and if one of my LFS has it is it worth the money?

Eco Complete Sand

It says it buffers Ph and all that good stuff so are a couple sacks of this worth it or should I just get regular sand and buffer with rock strucktures?

 

[fishwatcher]

I've been told that while it isn't needed, it is recommended. I will probably go with something like this myself. (I'm setting up a shellie tank soon, too!)

 

[Waterbox]

Oh yeah I saw your post about finding some shellies, congratulations! I have one LFS that gets them from time to time so I guess I'm lucky. Are you keeping anything with yours or is it going to be a species only tank?

 

[fishwatcher]

I actually have a post about this very question, but no one has been able to help out yet. According the lfs it will be ok, so if I don't get any feedback I'll try it.
In a 20g there will be 1 pair of brevis, a trio of multis and a pair of juli. transcriptus, marlieri or dickfeldi. All 3 of these live in rockwork, which is how I'll be dividing my tank for the shellies. I'll be putting a group of tufa/lace rock in the center of the tank for the julis, and then the shellies on either side of that. Add in a few onion or val plants, and it will be done.

 

[Waterbox]

thats what I was thinking of doing, maybe 2-3 piles of rock for some julies, then shells in the empty space which the shellies will hopefully enjoy. Then 1-2 Calvus, and a group of those top dwelling cichlids i dont remember their name.

 

[fishwatcher]

Cool! Post some pix when it's all done... I'd love to see it!