Small Lake Tanganyika Tank?

[briielzebub]

Hi. I'm an SA/CA cichlid person so I really don't know much about africans, but I really like the look of a lot of the fish from Lake Tanganyika. So I thought maybe I'd give it a try instead of getting a new pair of Dwarfs (ca't decide on what kind). But maybe not, we'll see.

I have 2 tanks I can put the fish in, either a 20g or a 20gL. If possible I'd like to keep them with my black phantom tetras, but as they are south american I can see how that wouldn't work. But is it possible? Anyone here have SA tetras with their africans?

The fish I like, but have no idea if they can fit in my tank, are calvus (or any altos for that matter), brichardis, julies, and shell dwellers. I'd really prefer to not have just a shell dweller tank.

Is there any combonation of those fish that could work? Or even just a pair of one of the kinds of fish? Or are my tanks just too small? Is it easy to find any of these fish and are they expensive (with my lack of african experience I'm a little worried, haha)?

I'm not really upset if my tanks don't work for these fish, just thought it would be interesting to give some litle africans a try.

Thanks!

 

[14gtr14]

Probably just a colony of shell dwellers in a 20g. Maybe even a pair of julies. I have heard danios are fine with Tanganyikans. Maybe 4 (1m 3 f) shellies and 6 or so danios? I have asked the same thing about other tetras and barbs (tiger barbs particularly), but haven't had a conclusive answer. Why would you not want just shell dwellers?


greg

 

[pmdf]

I wouldn't consider anything other than shellies for a 20g. A small colony of multis would be perfect for that tank. There's a few members here and on the cichlid forums who have fantastic little shellie tanks as an inspiration. I certainly wouldn't consider any altolamps in there (perhaps bar the compressiceps shell sumbu if you'd be happy with just a pair, but even then I'd prefer a bigger tank).

As for keeping SA tetras with Tanganyikans - they have very differing requirements. It wouldn't be advised, even though it may be possible, at the expense of the fishes welfare.

 

[14gtr14]

ye that would be best actually. Just a group of shelldwellers.

4 or 5 multis
loads of shells
some rocks
fine sand
maybe some vallis, anubias or java fern

...and you'll have yourself i nice little, active tank!

 

[Griz]

I researched pretty much the same thing that you are looking into some time ago. I wanted 2 species of Tanganyikans that would coexist in a smaller tank but everything I read suggested that it wouldn't work out. You need to go to a 3 ft tank or better and even then you really have to watch which combination you pick. In a 20 gal long your choices for Tangs are pretty limited. I know that you said you didn't want shellies but they are really the best choice IMO. A pair of Julidochromis with a lot of rockwork would be a nice setup to.

edit: Get the 20 long, floor space is more important than hieght if you want to keep cichlids.