New To Cichlids

[kuri33]

I have a big tank that have livebearers in it and a 2.5 tank with fry. Lots of fry. I also have a 10 gallon tank and I was wondering if I could keep a convict cichild in there? I know a lady who has too many and she is just giving them away. I only wanted one because I've heard how crazy they breed and that would be a problem for me. Would it be lonely if I only got one? The one she is giving me is 1" and I was hoping she could tell males from females so I could maybe get two?
I want them because I think they look totally amazing and I was hoping to feed them extra fry that my livebearers have.

 

[KittyKat]

Any 10 gallon tank is much too small for a convict cichlid. These cichlids grow up to 6 inches, so I would not want to keep them in any tank less than 4 ft/120 cm long. Some people keep pairs in 3 ft/90 cm tanks, but then they often have to keep only the pair and nothing else in that tank.

Also, if you don't want your livebearer fry to survive, why not just leave them in with the parents and feed the parents a little bit less?

 

[kuri33]

Any 10 gallon tank is much too small for a convict cichlid. These cichlids grow up to 6 inches, so I would not want to keep them in any tank less than 4 ft/120 cm long. Some people keep pairs in 3 ft/90 cm tanks, but then they often have to keep only the pair and nothing else in that tank.

Also, if you don't want your livebearer fry to survive, why not just leave them in with the parents and feed the parents a little bit less?

What about the 1 inch per gallon thing? If I only got one it would fit that rule.
Also I've had issues with the other fish not eat the fry. They eat a few, but they seem okay with the majority of them. I heard they only eat the weaker ones and let the strong and healthy live.

 

[Essjay]

The one inch per gallon rule is usually quoted with a bit missing. The full 'rule' is "one inch of fish with an adult size of under 3 inches per gallon". So the rule doesn't apply to fish that grow bigger, like convicts. Example - you could keep 10 x 1 inch fish in a 10 gall tank but you couldn't keep 1 x 10 inch fish in the same tank.

Of course, there is a lot more to stocking a tank than just the 1 inch per gall rule, which isn't very good by itself anyway.

 

[dbanner]

I'd say 30 gallons for a pair of convicts comfortably

 

[kuri33]

Was size tank would just one cichlid need?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Depends on the cichlid. You can get a pair of dwarf cichlids for a 10g. Bolivian Rams, German Blue Rams, and apistos could be quite comfortable, although I would spring for bigger if possible. 10g tanks really aren't ideal for much, at least not on the cichlid side.

 

[kuri33]

Depends on the cichlid. You can get a pair of dwarf cichlids for a 10g. Bolivian Rams, German Blue Rams, and apistos could be quite comfortable, although I would spring for bigger if possible. 10g tanks really aren't ideal for much, at least not on the cichlid side.

I live in an area where fish are kind of hard to find. I live in a small town and the pet store here is small. One shelf with fish on it. The only cichild i saw there was a parrot cichlid, i believe, and those get big right?

 

[kuri33]

What other fish could I get that would help control the guppy and platy population that could live in my 10 gallon?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

they get 6-8 inches I believe. They are a large chunky fish and someone can correct me if I m wrong, but I believe they need at least a 55g tank

 

[KittyKat]

Any 10 gallon tank is much too small for a convict cichlid. These cichlids grow up to 6 inches, so I would not want to keep them in any tank less than 4 ft/120 cm long. Some people keep pairs in 3 ft/90 cm tanks, but then they often have to keep only the pair and nothing else in that tank.

What about the 1 inch per gallon thing? If I only got one it would fit that rule.

The one inch per gallon rule is usually quoted with a bit missing. The full 'rule' is "one inch of fish with an adult size of under 3 inches per gallon". So the rule doesn't apply to fish that grow bigger, like convicts. Example - you could keep 10 x 1 inch fish in a 10 gall tank but you couldn't keep 1 x 10 inch fish in the same tank.

Of course, there is a lot more to stocking a tank than just the 1 inch per gall rule, which isn't very good by itself anyway.

+1, but the full rule is actually, "1 inch per gallon for tanks starting from 2 ft long and with an adult size of under 3 inches"

I'd say 30 gallons for a pair of convicts comfortably

This is actually the point we are trying to make. A 1 ft long 30 gallon will be too small because of the length. The volume does not matter, the dimensions do. The tanks must be at least 3 ft long for the fish to grow to their full size without any problems.

they get 6-8 inches I believe. They are a large chunky fish and someone can correct me if I m wrong, but I believe they need at least a 55g tank

Or larger, and they have all sorts of health problems as well and can't be kept with lots of fish because either they can't defend themselves or can eat the other fish.

kuri33, what dimensions does your tank have and what country are you in? It is also possible to get fish by mail order, which is relatively safe when dealing with reputable dealers. Most LFS will also order in fish for you, on request. Also, have you tried taking the fry to the LFS? They might be more willing to give you special treatment (like order in what you ask for) if they like you.

 

[kuri33]

Any 10 gallon tank is much too small for a convict cichlid. These cichlids grow up to 6 inches, so I would not want to keep them in any tank less than 4 ft/120 cm long. Some people keep pairs in 3 ft/90 cm tanks, but then they often have to keep only the pair and nothing else in that tank.

What about the 1 inch per gallon thing? If I only got one it would fit that rule.

The one inch per gallon rule is usually quoted with a bit missing. The full 'rule' is "one inch of fish with an adult size of under 3 inches per gallon". So the rule doesn't apply to fish that grow bigger, like convicts. Example - you could keep 10 x 1 inch fish in a 10 gall tank but you couldn't keep 1 x 10 inch fish in the same tank.

Of course, there is a lot more to stocking a tank than just the 1 inch per gall rule, which isn't very good by itself anyway.

+1, but the full rule is actually, "1 inch per gallon for tanks starting from 2 ft long and with an adult size of under 3 inches"

I'd say 30 gallons for a pair of convicts comfortably

This is actually the point we are trying to make. A 1 ft long 30 gallon will be too small because of the length. The volume does not matter, the dimensions do. The tanks must be at least 3 ft long for the fish to grow to their full size without any problems.

they get 6-8 inches I believe. They are a large chunky fish and someone can correct me if I m wrong, but I believe they need at least a 55g tank

Or larger, and they have all sorts of health problems as well and can't be kept with lots of fish because either they can't defend themselves or can eat the other fish.

kuri33, what dimensions does your tank have and what country are you in? It is also possible to get fish by mail order, which is relatively safe when dealing with reputable dealers. Most LFS will also order in fish for you, on request. Also, have you tried taking the fry to the LFS? They might be more willing to give you special treatment (like order in what you ask for) if they like you.

20x11x12 are the dimensions of my 10 gallon tank. I live in IL in the US.
My LFS have refused to take the fry. I have to ask them if they can order something for me. With the dimensions can you better guess what can go in there?

 

[KittyKat]

20x11x12 are the dimensions of my 10 gallon tank. I live in IL in the US.
My LFS have refused to take the fry. I have to ask them if they can order something for me. With the dimensions can you better guess what can go in there?

Check out aquabid.com, but be aware, as with all sites like that, that there are plenty of scammers on there. I've also come across liveaquaria.com, but cannot say if they are any good.

Regarding the LFS problem: I'd start listing the fry in the local free classifieds/ads or giving them away for free… generally does not take long before LFS realises that this is not to their benefit.

20 inches is really rather small Can't think of any specific cichlid species off the top of my head, but if I were you, I'd research dwarf puffers, Elassoma evergladei (Everglades sunfish), Lake Tanganyika shell dwelling cichlids, Brachygobius aggregatus (gobies), dwarf livebearers, Erethistes jerdoni (tiny catfish), dwarf Danio, peaceful pairs of gouramis (including Betta species), Betta splendens (single male only) and dwarf tetras.

Some of the fish in this list are suitable: http/blog.natureaquarium.co.uk/?page_id=278 (not dwarf SA cichlid, not SA bottom dwellers and not anything that is on the larger side of things).

It's quite normal to spend a couple of hours reading about each potential species, and a couple of days researching each "finalist" before buying

 

[kuri33]

20x11x12 are the dimensions of my 10 gallon tank. I live in IL in the US.
My LFS have refused to take the fry. I have to ask them if they can order something for me. With the dimensions can you better guess what can go in there?

Check out aquabid.com, but be aware, as with all sites like that, that there are plenty of scammers on there. I've also come across liveaquaria.com, but cannot say if they are any good.

Regarding the LFS problem: I'd start listing the fry in the local free classifieds/ads or giving them away for free… generally does not take long before LFS realises that this is not to their benefit.

20 inches is really rather small Can't think of any specific cichlid species off the top of my head, but if I were you, I'd research dwarf puffers, Elassoma evergladei (Everglades sunfish), Lake Tanganyika shell dwelling cichlids, Brachygobius aggregatus (gobies), dwarf livebearers, Erethistes jerdoni (tiny catfish), dwarf Danio, peaceful pairs of gouramis (including Betta species), Betta splendens (single male only) and dwarf tetras.

Some of the fish in this list are suitable: http/blog.natureaquarium.co.uk/?page_id=278 (not dwarf SA cichlid, not SA bottom dwellers and not anything that is on the larger side of things).

It's quite normal to spend a couple of hours reading about each potential species, and a couple of days researching each "finalist" before buying

Thank you! You've been a big help!