What cichlids can live in a small tank?

[aquarius]

my tank is only 12 gallons but i really want to have cichlids. so is it possible to have like a pair living in it? and what type? thanks

 

[Pleco-Heaven]

I heard you could breed rams in the minimum of 10 gallons.

 

[treefrog]

Or you could have apistos.

 

[wrs]

there are these africans, the shell ones that can live in a 10 gallon because theyre so small. You minght be able to have a few of them. Maybe 1m 3f, and a catfish, not a cory, an african one.

 

[parker313]

I've got a 10 gallon and will be getting a pair of Rams to go in it on Friday. Their tankmaktes are 5 neon tetras.

Apistos and the shell dwellers are good options too.

 

[aquarius]

great, thanks i'm glad there's something i can have, now i just hope that my lfs has them. now a couple more questions. what are these shelled dwellers?? and how do you sex cichlids? if i get a pair, should it be male and female and will two males cause problems?

 

[parker313]

The shell dwellers are small cichlids that "adopt" a shell and hang out in it a lot. I forget the scientific names for them, but there are several species. Sexing cichlids is going to be different for different varieties. Just do a search for "sexing convict cichlids" or whatever species you're looking for info on and you'll get some good results. I don't *think* that the pairs have to be male/female, but I'm not sure.

 

[wrs]

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_10g.php

the shell ones im talking about are Neolamprologus multifasciatus. It says three but people that have some say up to five is okay.

 

[Fishkiller]

You could breed Convicts in a ten just watch carefully for any abuse from the male.