Small Sized Cichlids?

[comocrayfish5]

i wasn't sure which cichlid forum to post this under so i am posting it here..
 
i have been wanting to get cichlids for a while now but i never knew which ones to get. right now i am really wanting to get rid of my giant danios who are killing all of my other small fish and replace them with some cichlids that i can feed my baby crayfish to. what cichlids grow up to be small? and will all cichlids eat crayfish babies?
 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Rams, apistogrammas, and kribensis are small cichlids. I don't know if they'll eat those or not.

 

[sawickib]

For a 20 gallon, aspistos or kirbensis would work, not sure theyd eat the crayfish.

 

[attibones]

I know you are looking for cichlids, but if you do a species tank, I think dwarf puffers or figure eights would do well in a twenty gallon and would eat your crayfish babies.

Not sure about other types, but when I kept rams, they were super lazy. They didn't try to get any snails or shrimps or anything little in the tank. I don't think they would do what you are looking for.

 

[AeonMapa]

You can try a single female convict cichlid a 20 is a bit small but they'll eat the crayfish. Puffers would work, maybe some catfish species too. If the crayfish babies are small enough most fish would try to eat them

 

[comocrayfish5]

What about the "assorted cichlids" at petsmart?

 

[sawickib]

Definitely not they need a 50 gallon minimum and are very aggressive.

 

[AeonMapa]

I wouldn't go for any sort of assorted cichlid purchases. Cichlids are a huge family and each species has many specific requirements in terms of water conditions, habitat and diet. Better to pick out a specific species. Kribensis might also eat your crayfish and you can do a pair in a 20 gallon.

 

[DrRob]

Assorted usually refers to a selection from lake malawi, usually the commoner types, but occasionally you can get caught out. As said, avoid in a tank that size.
 
Most cichlids will happily eat small crayfish, so long as they're small enough.

 

[comocrayfish5]

So where could I get some kribs?

 

[sawickib]

You can usually ask your petstore to order them, either a male, female, or pair.

 

[comocrayfish5]

I only have petsmart near me... I don't know if they would do it. I guess I will have to take a trip to the big fish store

 

[simplyfish]

Kribs are pretty common, I'd have thought Petsmart might keep them.

 

[Jesse]

What about some shell dwellers?

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Some julies remain small dunno if they'll eat or just kill your baby crays though