New Tank, Need Help...

[anthony6377]

I am in the process of purchasing a new tank and I am trying to see what my options are as far as Cichlids go. I plan on purchasing a 28 gallon bow front tank. What are some types of Africans I could house in a tank this size? I am debating on whether or not I want an African tank or I want a community tank with South American Dwarves so I am trying to gather as much information on each type of Cichlid. I really like the looks of the Yellow Labs but these wouldn't work well in a community tank, would they?

 

[Sky042]

Kinda on the small side for a african rift lake tank.

Typically speaking you want at least 36" in length for a african tank.

FYI glad to see you over hear getting real knowlege compared to some of the scary fish threads I've seen on ls2(i.e. stealing unwashed gravel from a golf course, buying fish just because they're prety, overstocking a tank with majorly agressive fish, fish that grow to be 18" in a 20gallon tank etc etc)

 

[Ferris]

African cichlids, especially Mbuna (including yellow labs) need to be kept in a species tank and will not work in a general community tank because of their aggression. You can however create a Mbuna community tank with different species although a 28 gal is really too small.

You could look at shell dwellers, which are smaller African cichlids from lake Tanganyika (look them up on Google etc), which would be well suited to your tank.

Hope this helps

 

[freddyk]

A community tank with dwarfs (new world or east African) would make much better use of your tank. It's too small for most African rift lake species.

Shelldwellers also would work well, though they're not for everyone - they're big on character and very interesting fish, but are not very impressive at first site so don't make for the best show tanks.

 

[glolite]

A community tank with dwarfs (new world or east African) would make much better use of your tank. It's too small for most African rift lake species.

I agree with freddyk. What pH is your local water? American dwarfs prefer softer water about pH 6-7 I think. There's some lovely varieties out there and my personal favourite are the apistogrammas, especially the cockatoo cichlid.

 

[anthony6377]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was already leaning towards some Rams but it was suggested over in the New World Cichlid forum that I post here just to see what my options are.

 

[Sky042]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was already leaning towards some Rams but it was suggested over in the New World Cichlid forum that I post here just to see what my options are.

Rams could be fun.
Bolivian are nice.
The blue germans are a bit more demanding.

Why not just buy a larger tank?
Especially if you don't go bow front you can pickup a 55 at least where I live with the tank lights and hood for $99

 

[anthony6377]

Why not just buy a larger tank?
Especially if you don't go bow front you can pickup a 55 at least where I live with the tank lights and hood for $99

I would like to buy a larger tank but I am a college student and my parents refuse to take care of anything larger. I tried to convince them that it would be easier in the long run but they won't budge.