Thinking About Setting Up Cichlid Aquarium

[fish_tank0311]

Hi there,

Im dead keen on setting up a cichlid aquarium because cichlids are like the saltwater fish of freshwater in my opinion, but my mum, (because im 13 years old) wont let me set up a 4th aquarium. So, i am thinking about sacrificing one of my aquariums for a cichlid aquarium. Im planning on setting it up in my 20 gallon tank, (see below) but im not sure if its big enough for any cichlids. Can any tell me what cichlids i can put in there, and how many. Im dead keen on some electric yellows and blues, but is it possible in my small aquarium?

Any other ideas, comments etc please tell me.

Thanks

 

[kiriyama]

If it's Yellow Labs you're after I imagine your tank will be a bit tight, how about a Tanganyikan tank, some shell dwellers and a couple of small cichlids? Have a look at profile / signature for stock

 

[doresy]

I lost my mum years ago but I have a wife so when I got up to the 4 tank stage and wanted Cichlids she put her foot down

The result was all the tanks went and I set up my signature tank and it's the best thing I ever did which reminds me I must update that photo as the tank looks so much better now........

I like your opinion of Africans as it mirrors my own.........let me have a word with ya mum

 

[fish_tank0311]

Thanks so much both of you for your help. I dont have a whole lot of info on cichlids, so whats a shell dweller, and what cool tanganyikans are there. Hehe yea, well since i already have the 3 tanks, and my brother just got his first marine fish in a 55 gallon tank, plus we have a 2 square metre pond with goldfish in it outside (not sure how many gallons that is) i think she has had enough of fish aquariums lol. So exactly what fish are possibilities?

 

[kiriyama]

Check out Neolamprolgus Multifasciatus, Brevis (have a look at sunspot variety), Ocellatus (gold and orange variety), if youre not fussed with shell dwellers then chck out Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus, lelupi, Brichardi, or even some of the Julidochromis species, you could even add your Bristlenose Plec. to that tank, although your cichlids may give it a hard time, good luck hunting and let us all know how you get on
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/

 

[fish_tank0311]

Would it be alright to keep electric blues and yellows, with some brichardis. If so, what numbers? And would the brichardis breed with other fish in there? Any quick info on breeding em would be great.

 

[demasonisrule]

First of all, electric yellows (Labidochromis caeruleus) and electric blues (Sciaenochromis fryeri) are both from lake malawi, whereas brichardi are from lake Tanganyika, and it is not recommended to mix fish from the two lakes, and keep in mind the blues get to be around 6 inches long.

so I would say just brichardi. and they are very easy to breed, when you see them free swimming, just feed them powdered flakes

 

[fish_tank0311]

Thanks alot, but i would like a nice community aquarium with lots of mixed fish, so what are some pretty and colourful fish that would mix well with electric yellows and blues, in a small aquarium like this. Theres a small chance i can get another aquarium going but very small chance. And is it just the blues that get that big or both yellow and blue?

 

[demasonisrule]

Ok...yellows are in a group called mbuna, which I suggest you read up on. Now, the yellows only get to be around 4" long, but their aggression makes up for their size. With mbuna, the rule of thumb is usually 3 females per 1 male. The problem with this in your tank, is that there isn't very much area on the bottom for the mbuna to claim their territory. This means that the fish will almost always be fighting for what little territory there is, and the smallest fish will most likely get pestered to death, then the remaining fish will pester the next smallest to death, and so on. For this reason, it is suggested that there should be no mbuna, unless they are alone, in a tank less than 4 feet.

I'd say do a Tanganyika setup. The fish may not be quite as brightly colored, but imo, they are more interesting to watch. I'd say get some shell dwellers and maybe a julie, but I don't really know a whole lot abot them.

 

[kiriyama]

I have seen Brichardi and Lelupi in with Malawi cichlids but the tank was MASSIVE, I seen very small yellow labs and wanted them pretty badly (it's easy to see why they are so popular), was told my 20 gallon is way to small. if it is cichlids then what about apistos, OR kribs (Pelvicachromis pulcher), (but I don't know much about tank size etc) but to be honest I'd go for a small group of shellies and a couple of Julis, wont be dissapointed

 

[fish_tank0311]

Can anyone give me the exact names of some good shell dwellers. If i end up doing cichlids, i will probably get appistogrammas, but as i said im completely new to cichlids so i dont know all the fishes. Also, can brichardis be kept with appistogrammas and the shell dwellers you guys talk about.

Thanks

 

[kaivalagi]

Can anyone give me the exact names of some good shell dwellers. If i end up doing cichlids, i will probably get appistogrammas, but as i said im completely new to cichlids so i dont know all the fishes. Also, can brichardis be kept with appistogrammas and the shell dwellers you guys talk about.

Thanks

Kiriyama listed a couple of shell dwellers and I am sure you can find more details on them, if you just search for the couple mentioned and I am sure you'll find a good species site which goes into detail on more varieties too


As far as I am aware all apistogrammas come from Central/South America, so you can't mix them in a tank with any Africans, the mix wont work too well.

With a 20gallon I would either go with
1) a group of 3 Apistos, probably cockatoos but you need ideally acidic water (pH < 7) - http/www.fishforum...-dwarf-cichlid/
2) a group of 3-5? Shell dwellers, maybe Lamprologus Similis - nice pic here: http/farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4330638997_43e28d7b91.jpg

 

[kiriyama]

As kaivalagi stated Apistos like acidic water...
Shell dwellers. Nelamprologus Multifasciatus (big thumbs up), lamprologus Brevis, lamprologus Ocellatus,lamprologus Ornatipinnis, lamprologus Similis, lamprologus Signatus, lamprologus Meeli. The first few mentioned are probably the most popular ones. Best not to have more than one species of shell dweller as can lead to conflict, speaking from experience have had a few sore heads over not researching and poor choice of fish as a result.
If you google any of the Julidochromis Species for more info,I have one as a second species in the tank, it gets on fine the the Multifasciatus, also had two juvi Bristlenose plecs which were fine but have a larger male Albino Yellow one now.
With regards to the Julidochromis I think it might be the Ornatus thats the smaller of the group (3"), you can also find Gombe which is a more cylindrical fish, very unusual but very attractive. Not all Neolamprologus or Lamprolgus are shell dwellers, some are rock or cave. Also not a good idea to keep big Cichlids in with the shell dwellers, big cichlid big mouth (enough said) , anyways if you have a look at some of the species mentioned and see what you think.....

 

[fish_tank0311]

So is it possible to keep brichardis with shell dwellers?

 

[kiriyama]

Probably is but I wouldnt advise it in a 20 gallon, I can only go by my own experience where in the short period of time the 1 Brichardi that was in my tank it bullied the Multis and stressed them, it would race out from a rock and chase them into there shells, seen it stick its head in a few times so back to the shop it went, Lelupi have been known to pull shellies from there shells and kill them, cracking fish just a bit boisterous, also Caudopunctatus will bully the shellies, its about twice the size if not bigger. I think the Brichardi need a bigger tank but not 100% sure. You could probably have Brichardi (if tank big enough) and I don't mean tons of them 'cos they breed a lot, Lelupi, Caudopunctatus, maybe one or two of each OR some shell dwellers, a couple of Julis and a Bristlenose.......I'd go for the second choice...
Start some research, see what you like....