New to Cichlids

[lithis]

Hi,

I've had aquariums for a while, but have just recently gotten into cichlids. I have a large 55 gallon tank stocked with a variety of freshwater fish, and a small desktop aquarium in my office. The desktop tank is 5 gallons and has BioWheel filtration (if that make any difference).

I found a nice petstore with a phenomenal fish section, everything clean and nice. They had a large tank of "Asst. African Cichlids" for $5 a piece. They seemed nice so I got a couple to put into my 5 gal tank (no other fish in it). One was bright orange and the other blue with dark stripes. From my research, I can only assume that the orange one is a Red Zebra and the blue is a Kenyi? Again, I'm not positive, so are those two species the most common you'd find in a pet store?

The first day I got them, after acclimation, they zoomed around, playing with their reflections and gobbled up the food I gave them. The next day, the orange on found a cave he liked and stayed in it, laying on the bottom. The blue one stayed outside the cave and barely moved. When I fed them, they barely went after the food. I figured they were just a bit stressed and getting used to the new tank.

Today, day three, they act the same way. I put food in and watch, and they don't move. My computer is on the same desk so, I catch them out of the corner of my eye. They eat up the food they wouldn't touch when I was watching and move outside of the cave. Apparently they're shy because when I turn to look, the orange one zips into his cave and the blue one sits still.

Is this behavior normal? Is something wrong with my setup?

(PS: Would adding a couple feeder guppies liven them up or just stress them out?)

Thanks!

 

[FloridaFishGuy]

Im pretty new to cichlids but I think these fish are not going to do very well in such a small tank. I would put them in the 55g and then maybe get some shell dweller cichlids like Neolamprologus multifasciatus for the 5g.

 

[semper fi]

imo a 5 gallon is just to small for any of the cichlids. would not keep any in a tank smaller than a 20.

 

[Becca]

The blue one you mentioned, is he black and blue? And do the stripes go underneath his belly? If so - you could have a Demasoni. Those are pretty common in fish stores - IMO, they're like a freshwater version of the SW Clown Fish, only in blue! I love mine.

I also have a Kenyi, but it's yellow... i can't remember if this is a female or male trait, but i know one of them is blue.

As for keeping them in a 5 gallon, your red zebra will get to be about 5-6 inches, and if you have a kenyi - it'll get close to the same..if it's a demasoni, it'll get to about 3. both love lots of space, so you'll want to reconsider their home.

 

[blakwidoe]

I cannot see any chiclid in a 5 gal tank please be kind and find them a bigger space

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Me neither, I think you have found your problem to be honest. I am sorry to hear what has happened but those fish need more room. The only fish I'd put in a 5gall would be a betta and maybe a couple of pygmy cories.

 

[tizme]

I also have a Kenyi, but it's yellow... i can't remember if this is a female or male trait, but i know one of them is blue.

From my reading it is the male who turns yellow and the female stays blue....juveniles of both sexes are blue.

We have 2 kenyi and they both were blue when we got them, now one of them is turning yellow....the other is still blue.

 

[jtyce]

I have been raising cichlids for years, and they will definately not do well in a 5 gal tank. You could keep some fry in there for a short period of time; but many cichlids grow very quickly. The slower growers tend to get very large. Cichlids are messy carnivors, who need lots of water and filtration. You could get away with some Alonocara varieties, c. Moorii, Jakes, and protomelus varieties in a thirty - 40 gallon tank for a little while. The protomelus will grow quickly, and soon need a larger tank. Some of the Alonocara grew pretty fast also. To cut the story short, I recommend at least a 55 gallon tank for a cichlid setup. Plan to gradute later as you cannot resist the larger varieties like frontosa, protomelus spilinotus, and C. Moorii.

Have fun new comer. I love my cichlids.

 

[jtyce]

dido

 

[muzscman]

bigger tank...each of those fish will grow to be at least 4 inches long....if not 5 inches long.....

 

[jordan barnhart]

Kenyi males turn yellow when they mature, females maintain their blue color.

No cichlid should be kept in a 5 gallon.