Which Cichlid?

[Flute]

Hello all!

New to this section as I've never kept cichlids before, but I've become really interested in certain types as their colours are just stunning

I have a 180 ltr tank set up with 9 female betta, 1 female guppy and 5 corry (peppered, albino and adolfi), and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if/what type of cichlid would be ok to add, and to what ratio?

All my female betta and the guppy keep to the middle and top of the tank, so could I work something out in there? It'll be heavily planted (as soon as my order of plants come ), and I've created some caves out of slate and could add more if needed.

Temp is kept at 24/25C and my pH is 6.4 and the water is very soft.

Thanks to any suggestions

 

[Wills]

Something calm like Laetacaras - L.Dorsiger or L.Curviceps would do quite well in the tank

 

[hamfist]

Bolivian rams would also be perfect.

Not the other types of ram though, as they need higher temperatures, which some of your other fish would not like.

 

[Flute]

Wills: L.Curviceps are absolutely stunning! I especially like the blue coloured ones :3 Have no idea as to where I'd be able to get them though. Are they quite easy to come by or are they rare?

Hamfist: I've always been interested in Bolivian rams If I went with them, how many would I be able to keep in a 180 ltr? Or would it just be one pair?

The only worry I have about keeping pairs is breeding. How aggressive would the L.Curviceps or Bolivians likely to become? Because if it's to the point where I'd have to remove them, then I'm stuck as I wouldn't have the space. Will this be a major problem or could I just leave them to it in the 180 ltr?

Thanks guys!

 

[Wills]

Bolivian rams are quite hard to breed to be fair from what I have read mainly due to the lack of females around. Where abouts are you from - TFF have a good list of shops that have them or you can order then online http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/fish_detail.asp?id=5776&fishType=tropical - or L.Dorsiger is also available at - http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/fish_detail.asp?id=5777&fishType=tropical

If you got Laetacaras dont worry about aggression even when breeding the average foot print of their territory is 8-12 inches square and they are not fierce at all but fish will know to stay away from the eggs.

 

[Flute]

That's great to know, thanks Wills I'm definitely going to go with some sort of cichlid then as a "centre piece" fish

I'm in North Wales- it's incredibly difficult to find anything other than the usual popular or beginner fish around here- with only a small family run shop that isn't fantastic 20 mins away and then nothing until Pets @ Home about an hour away >.< Good old Wales.

Bolivians are easy to find around here though- I just don't trust the pet shops to be able to tell the difference between a male and a female. Would I be able to keep some like 1m:2f?

Really am tempted by the L.Curviceps though

 

[Wills]

Postage might be an option, they are quite secure in the postage its just a case of you being in when they get there which I guess is an issue, not sure how far away you are but I am considering a trip to Pier Aquatics in Wigan soon and I know its going to be worth the drive (from Hull) not sure how north west you are? Or if you can make it to manchester tons of good shops?

Bolivians are good in groups so maybe 4-5 again with the curviceps 2 pairs would be fine in there so 4 of them would be good as well.

You could also ask if the local one will order in fish for you off their supplier lists?

Wills

 

[Flute]

Manchester is about a 2 and a half to 3 hour drive from where I am depending on traffic. I'd be more than happy to drive it but I don't have a car any more. I might be able to borrow my mams car at some point and make a day of it though

I've ordered fish online quite a few times, especially recently, so I've got no problem with doing that. I'd just rather be able to see what I'm buying first in case I'd be able to get a specific colouring that I like more, and for once there doesn't seem to be anything available on ebay >.<

That's great too- I was hoping I'd be able keep more than just the one pair of what ever I choose. How would go about introducing them? All at once, or in pairs?

Sorry about all the questions, but I figure that it's best to find out as much as I can now before I even think about buying cichlids ^^'

 

[chesterjohn]

I have a breeding pair of Bolivian rams, they're so cool! They don't really get aggresive unless fish go right near the eggs or babies.

Don't know where you are in north wales, but you could have some of my babies when they get big enough

 

[Flute]

I think I am going to go with Bolivians for now- they're the easier cichlid to start with, right? I've been keeping fish for quite a while now (about a year and a half by myself, but we've had fish at home for about 10 years now), but as I've never kept cichlids before I don't want to risk anything delicate. Want to play it safe for now And maybe if I'm lucky, when my bf and I get our own place he might let me get another tank so I can keep a pair of L.Curviceps (I can dream XD)

ChesterJohn: I'm not far away from Pwllheli/Porthamdog/Caernarfon/Bangor which ever you recognise How much would you be selling your rams for? And would you consider posting once they are big enough? Cheers for the offer

 

[chesterjohn]

I think I am going to go with Bolivians for now- they're the easier cichlid to start with, right? I've been keeping fish for quite a while now (about a year and a half by myself, but we've had fish at home for about 10 years now), but as I've never kept cichlids before I don't want to risk anything delicate. Want to play it safe for now And maybe if I'm lucky, when my bf and I get our own place he might let me get another tank so I can keep a pair of L.Curviceps (I can dream XD)

ChesterJohn: I'm not far away from Pwllheli/Porthamdog/Caernarfon/Bangor which ever you recognise How much would you be selling your rams for? And would you consider posting once they are big enough? Cheers for the offer

Not really close enough to pick them up then haha.

I wouldn't want much for them, maybe like £1 each. But not entirely certain how to go about posting.

Would that not make it really expensive though?

 

[Flute]

With posting them you double bag them, put them in a small cardboard box with some insulation like polystiring, and a heat pack, and they'd be good for 24 hours or so. I've not had a single DOA from having fish posted to me so far

Aww, I'd have to give you more than £1 each for them- I'd feel like I'd be ripping you off! I'd be willing to pay postage, it's worth it if it means getting better quality fish. At what age are you able to tell the difference between males and females?

 

[chesterjohn]

With posting them you double bag them, put them in a small cardboard box with some insulation like polystiring, and a heat pack, and they'd be good for 24 hours or so. I've not had a single DOA from having fish posted to me so far

Aww, I'd have to give you more than £1 each for them- I'd feel like I'd be ripping you off! I'd be willing to pay postage, it's worth it if it means getting better quality fish. At what age are you able to tell the difference between males and females?

I don't know when you can sex them, but they've eaten the current batch of babies, so next time I'll put them in a breeding trap to grow them out.

I meant £1 each if you were going to collect them, obviously you'd have to pay the postage charges as well.

What is your Ph and water hardness over there? Just as a comparison to what they're living in now.

I guess posting them would be ok, but I'm still a bit cautious about it

 

[Flute]

Like I said before, I've got no problems with paying for postage No worries about risking it if you don't feel comfortable about posting though. Shame about your batch, I've heard that they do that sometimes? Better luck on the next batch

Whoa, I've tested my pH and it's heck of a lot lower than I remember it being It's reading at 6.4. I know this is alright for my betta and cory's, am I right in thinking this would still be alright for cichlids too? I do know for definite that my water is soft, though I don't know the exact reading.

 

[Big_eyes]

I have two bolivian rams available for sale. They've both lived with betta's since I've had them with no problems. I think that they are both female, if you want to pay the postage then you can have them

EDIT: just read the whole thread and seen you're already sorted. If you ever need more give me a shout