Small Cichlids To Go With My Pair Of Keyholes

[DoyouWantsum]

What small cichlids can i put in with my keyholes. The tank is a 170 litre(40uk gallon), It has the pair of keyholes, 2x dwarf puffers and a red eyed puffer.

It needs to be a small cichlid so that the dwarf puffers dont become food, but also be smart enough to watch its tailfin around the dwarf puffers(little barstools).

 

[kev_kb]

Not sure you should be mixing the puffers with cichlids???

Ignoring the puffers, rams or apistos would work.

 

[rixy]

you have to be careful with more than one pair of cichlids in a tank your size.if you have 2 or 3 pairs and they all decide to make some babies then world war 3 is just around the corner.this is only my advice by the way.if you want to get a small pair of cichlids then i'd suggest a pair of rams or a pair of kribs.super red kribs are stunning(i have some) and cost approx £5 each from trimar.some people say kribs are a nightmare when breeding but my 2 pairs are really placid and only go to nip another fish when it gets too close to the coconut shell(the babies house lol).all fish have different personalities and you may end up with placid fish or you may get nippy,boisterous fish that dont get on with the other tank inhabitants.ask your lfs when you buy the fish that,if they dont get on,can you bring them back and exchange them.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

you have to be careful with more than one pair of cichlids in a tank your size.if you have 2 or 3 pairs and they all decide to make some babies then world war 3 is just around the corner.this is only my advice by the way.if you want to get a small pair of cichlids then i'd suggest a pair of rams or a pair of kribs.super red kribs are stunning(i have some) and cost approx £5 each from trimar.some people say kribs are a nightmare when breeding but my 2 pairs are really placid and only go to nip another fish when it gets too close to the coconut shell(the babies house lol).all fish have different personalities and you may end up with placid fish or you may get nippy,boisterous fish that dont get on with the other tank inhabitants.ask your lfs when you buy the fish that,if they dont get on,can you bring them back and exchange them.

Yep i had been resurching cyclids all yesterday and today and had pretty much decided on Pelvicachromis pulcher (Rainbow Krib). I posted this to help speed things up but it didn't unfortunatly.

But thanks for both your answers and thanks Rixy for conferming my choice.

 

[rixy]

no problems.kribs are a very colourful cichlid and they are easy to breed and make excellant parents.good luck.ps make sure you put in a cave,or coconut shell or a flowerpot for the kribs to breed in.cut a small v out of the front of whatever you put in,just big enough for the kribs to get in.it will keep other unwanted guests out and be easy for the kribs to defend.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

Will do, thanks

 

[rixy]

try to find a pair in your lfs that look like they are getting it on.if you get any old male and female its pot luck if they get it on but i usually look at the tank for a while and sometimes(if theres only a few) in the tank,you can see a pair trying to breed.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Sorry but puffers need brakish water and cichlids don't so you have mis-stocked your tank. I wouldn't buy anymore fish until you get that sorted out.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

So they'r like the keyholes, if i dont see a pair like you said then i'll have to convince my lfs to let me take a few home until 2 pair up and then take the rest back.

 

[rixy]

yep you got it.males and females are easy peasy to tell apart.id get 2 x males and 2 x females.its not messing the lfs around too much and you should get a pair out of that.as with all fish,make sure they are active,healthy looking(no missing eyes,chunks of fin etc) and a decent colour although its not always easy to pick decent coloured kribs when there is like 30 of the little suckers all jammed in one lfs tank.good luck anyway,im off to bed lol.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

rixy. no offense but your giving out some bad information. You really need to get the puffers sorted out before anything

 

[rixy]

im not giving anyone bad advice.im giving advice on kribs not puffers.i wouldnt keep puffers either with cichlids but its not my tank.id rather doyouwantsome listened to my advice about kribs than goes and buys some other large cichlid that creates carnage in the tank.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

Sorry but puffers need brakish water and cichlids don't so you have mis-stocked your tank. I wouldn't buy anymore fish until you get that sorted out.

I have 2xdwarf puffers (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)

####/forum/ug.php..._Travancoricus/

and 1xred eyed puffer (Carinotetraodon irrubesco)

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/puf-irrub.htm


Follow the links for some knowledge.

Sorry that first link doesn't work for some reson but you have the scientific name so look it up.

Thanks for all your help Rixi.

 

[vancouver]

Both of those puffers are freshwater, but I don't think they will be able to stand up to a breeding pair of kribs... the keyholes even might have problems dealing with a breeding pair of kribs.


You MIGHT be ok with adding a kribensis or 2, but only if they are both females, but putting a breeding pair in there is just asking for trouble.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

Both of those puffers are freshwater, but I don't think they will be able to stand up to a breeding pair of kribs... the keyholes even might have problems dealing with a breeding pair of kribs.


You MIGHT be ok with adding a kribensis or 2, but only if they are both females, but putting a breeding pair in there is just asking for trouble.

I've had no problems with mixing the puffers with the keyholes, but im inclined to put them in there own tank now after this posting.

If you dont think the kribs will work, what else would you suggest.