Putting A Dwarf Tank Together.

[snowflake311]

So I have a Male Keyhole. and a few tetra a BN pleco and a clown pleco in a 36 GAL tank. I would like to add a Golden Dwarf and this fish.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/208713/product.web

It says
Laetacara thayeri but then it says Redbellied Flag Cichlid. I looked up both and The Redbellied Flag Cichlid is not a Laetacara thayeri. What is that fish?

I really want a dwarf flag but they are all out.

 

[tenohfive]

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?g...yeri&id=939

Looks like one and the same to me, though I know sod all about them.

I've just googled "Red Bellied Flag Cichlid" and I can't find anything to suggest they exist. I suspect its the usual fish supplier thing of making up names? As a Dwarf Flag Cichlid is Laetacara Curviceps, which could well be closely related - from looking at the google images search, I reckon thats the case.

Have a nosy at the SF article. Given Laetacara Thayeri should be kept in a mated pair or a big group (according to SF) I don't think you can get away with it. In fact two types of dwarf cichlid (even peaceful ones like keyholes and nannacara anomala) is probably the limit in a 36G / 125L tank imo.

 

[Wills]

Think I agree a bit with above I was contemplating putting 2 pairs of similar fish in my 30g but decided against it. Some people say you might get away with it with clever aquascaping and hiding holes and placid individuals but there is still a good risk it might end in a battle. I think the single keyhole will be okay with one type of the fish but perhaps not both - unless this is a long tank? Like a 47 x 12 x12 (I think thats a 36) then things might be different

To help out with your fish ID not sure of that one but something similar is Laetacara Dorsigera - often called the redbreasted acara. Nice fish with an apparently peaceful demeanor.

Wills

 

[snowflake311]

I don't want pairs I want just a single fish. I know they say to keep in pairs but I know people keep them as singles with other similar fish. I'm still undecided about what to do with that tank.

 

[tenohfive]

I'd go for some flavour of dwarf cichlid as a centrepiece with two types of shoalers (odd mix I know, but I've mixed 5 pentazona barbs with 9 ember tetras in one of my tanks and they look brilliant together when they're shoaling), some corys, oto's and something else.

If they tanks tall enough what about a single angel and an apisto? And how come you've got your heart set against a pair?