Would Any Of These Combos Be Feasable?

[Mako Man111]

Ok these combos will be for a 20 US gallon tank:

1) One Convict Cichlid

2) One Convict Cichlid with 3 or 4 corrys

3) Pair of Rainbow Cichlids

4) One Rainbow Cichlid with say 4 corrys

I would like to stay away from Rams or Apistos for the time being do to availibility.

 

[RadaR]

Id say the best one there is the pair of Rainbow Cichlids. I wouldn't trust the Convicts or Rainbows with Corydoras.

 

[Mako Man111]

Id say the best one there is the pair of Rainbow Cichlids. I wouldn't trust the Convicts or Rainbows with Corydoras.

Would the single convict grow too large for the 20 or should it be alright?

Also, why would the corry's be a problem with either of them?

 

[jayjay]

i used to keep rainbow with cories with no problems.

i'd go with the pair of rainbows though.

 

[Mako Man111]

i used to keep rainbow with cories with no problems.

i'd go with the pair of rainbows though.

Ok, with the pair of rainbows(or convicts for that matter) I'm going to have lots of little fry swimming around, and I cant really handle thier needs and future space, I think I'm going to go with a singe one, either the rainbow or convict.

Now I know the convicts can be quite aggressive, but should they get along with a little shoal of corry's?

 

[jayjay]

convicts and cories don't mix well, it's one or the other.

 

[SamUK]

why are you saying its ok?


for the 3rd time mako, convicts are 2 big for a 20 gallon.

they need atleast 30 gallons even for one as they grow to 6" and have some fair weight to them.


the only small cichlids for a 20 are rams or kribs really....

 

[vancouver]

2 Rainbows are too big for a 20g tank.. My rainbows are about 5''... they would not be happy in a 20g tank.

You should try keyholes... theyre nice cichlids that don't get past about 3''.

 

[jayjay]

keyhole gets 4"

kribs get 4"

convicts get 6"

rainbows get 5"

just thought i'd rule out most of the possiblites

i think rams and apisto's grow up to 2/3" so they would work.

 

[scrappy]

I believe you will be ok to have 1 Convict in your tank on its own, 20gal would be ok for 1, 6" is a maximum size in the wild and its unlikely to get bigger than 4" in captivity.

Im also sick of reading all the do gooders saying "you CANT do this" and "you CANT do that"

You dont see them abscond from buying at their local fish fish trader for the same reasons they complain about on here with regards to "advising" on stocking levels. No one mentions that 20+ convicts are usually kept in a 10gal stock tank for months on end at these shops.

Its not like the poor guy is asking if he can put an Oscar in a 20gal, which i would say is far too small a tank for a fish that will outgrow the tank in a very short space of time.

In my opinion a single convict would be better off in a 20gal than stuck in the fish trader store.

 

[vancouver]

Never seen a 4'' keyhole...

but.. definitely no convict or rainbow.

 

[SamUK]

I believe you will be ok to have 1 Convict in your tank on its own, 20gal would be ok for 1, 6" is a maximum size in the wild and its unlikely to get bigger than 4" in captivity.

tell that to my alpha male!! hes pushing 6" and hes about 6" wide too.

no fish for a 20 gallon.

and jus because the LFS have bad practice doesnt mean we should encourage it by buying there fish.

if my LFS had 20 convicts in a 10 gal then i wouldnt by one cos theyd be stressed and probably ill.

luckily my 13 cons were in a 55 when i bought them

 

[demonmagus]

also there is a high turnover of stock in a fish shop, and they are probably youung

 

[dwarfgourami]

You dont see them abscond from buying at their local fish fish trader for the same reasons they complain about on here with regards to "advising" on stocking levels. No one mentions that 20+ convicts are usually kept in a 10gal stock tank for months on end at these shops.

This one has been up for discussion before. Can I just repeat:

the fish at the lfs are almost invariably juveniles
they are in transit- kept in there for a short time in high numbers which gives them no chance to try to establish territories
the losses most shops calculate with would not be considered acceptable by most hobbyists
lfs also have massive filtration system so they can overstock in a way that is impossible to replicate at home

It always helps to understand what underlies aggression in the behaviour of any particular species. In cichlids it is linked to sexual maturity and the establishing of territories, a process that may take some time. Not a problem for the lfs, in other words, but definitely something to be considered for someone who wants to keep these fish (and any tankmates) alive for the length of their natural lifespan.

 

[Griz]

This isn't directed at you Mako:

If someone just wants "a fish in a tank" - put a plastic one in there, you can put a real big one in it.

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy observing the natural behaviour of the fish you have decided to keep - Take the minimum recommended size tank, double it, and give it the proper conditions, tankmates and food.

There is so much more to consider than "how big a fish can I put in my tank".

To Mako: Go with apistos or rams, they may be difficult for you to find but you will be rewarded in the end. In the meantime you can stock it with compatable tankmates. Look into mail-order, there are some very reputable sellers out there. Also look around for shell-dwellers, they would do well in a 20 but should be in a species tank.