Small Tank Can I Use It

[love cichlids]

I have a 10 gallon and 20 gallon empty. Can I get a pair of cichlids for the 20 gallon. Any suggestions, want a tank in my bedroom to look at when I am stuck in bed with my cortizone shot to the hip because of arthritis.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

You could get 1 male and 2 female of some of the smaller Apistogrammas in a 20 gallon. They aren't african cichlids, but they are small, and very colorful.

 

[Xebadir]

If you were looking at africans you could get shelldwelling cichlids: great personality and very interesting: in a 20 gallon you could have a nice community.

 

[love cichlids]

The apistogrammas, never seen them before, sound beautiful. Looked some up on internet. They are colorful. I think I will have to go to the petstore on the other side of town for these fish, the lfs don't have them. I will need to setup the 20 gallon and cycle it first. So it might take a while before I can buy any fish.
If i decide on shell dwellers, I need help with what type of setup they need and any other info would be appreciated. How many can I fit into a 20 gallon. Can I use my 10 gallon, how many. Not sure which tank I should use for them. It looks like that they need sand for substrate, never dealt with sand before. What type and how much in tank. What do the shelldwellers eat. See I have no idea about these little guys, but they do sound interesting. Are they in shells all the time or certain times of the day or night. I don't want fish I can never see in my tank because they are hiding.

 

[dthoffsett]

Here's a great link to several articles all about shelldwellers.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/shel...ller_corner.php

 

[love cichlids]

Thanks for the site. Now I just have to start up the tank with the proper set up and cycle before getting any fish. It might be awhile I am trying to get my other tanks in good shape,neglected them while mother was dying of cancer. Now that she has been gone for almost 3 months I am finding it theraputic to work on my tanks and go shopping for fish and stuff I need for tanks. Keeps me busy. So the shell dwellers tank will keep me busy for awhile when I can start shopping for sand, shells, etc.