I'm semi-new to keeping fish. I've had a small peaceful tank for about a year and a half. I've been trolling the site for info the past few days and thought, what the hell, might as well post my question. I'd like to start a cichlid tank and would love some advice on what types of fish might be right. The new tank is 50gal. I've got a sandy substrate and quite a few rocks/caves going already. I'd like to keep smaller cichlids and not go for anything too big that might be cramped. And, really, the more the merrier. Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Wanting to start a cichlid tank...
- Thread starter Nictitating Membrane
- Start date
Is the tank already cycled? How long is the tank?
Judging from what you said, sounds like you might want to look into Lake Malawi Mbuna cichlids. These fish are quite active and most males are very colorfull. These fish in general are known to be rather aggressive to each other, so a method of organized chaos often referred to as controlled overstocking is often used to help keep the aggression down. This ends up with what looks like a whole lot of fish in the tank, but it works out very well for the fish so long as you keep up with water changes.
Lake Malawi is one of my weak spots for African Cichlids, so I'm afraid I can't offer much help in way of species recommendations. Yellow Labs are quite popular and for good reason. They are also one of the more docile species.
I would avoid buying fish from the 'mixed African cichlid' tank at your LFS untill you've had a chance to do a little reading and research first. Many times fish in these tanks can be a crap shoot and you just don't know what your going to get.
Judging from what you said, sounds like you might want to look into Lake Malawi Mbuna cichlids. These fish are quite active and most males are very colorfull. These fish in general are known to be rather aggressive to each other, so a method of organized chaos often referred to as controlled overstocking is often used to help keep the aggression down. This ends up with what looks like a whole lot of fish in the tank, but it works out very well for the fish so long as you keep up with water changes.
Lake Malawi is one of my weak spots for African Cichlids, so I'm afraid I can't offer much help in way of species recommendations. Yellow Labs are quite popular and for good reason. They are also one of the more docile species.
I would avoid buying fish from the 'mixed African cichlid' tank at your LFS untill you've had a chance to do a little reading and research first. Many times fish in these tanks can be a crap shoot and you just don't know what your going to get.
Thanks for the advice! My tank dimensions are 36"W X 15"D X 20"H. I imagine its a fine line between 'controlled' overstocking and true overstocking. What would be over the line?
I've been doing some research and it seems like its ok to mix types of cichlids from the same location, provided they have different territorial needs (and those needs are met!). Does this hold true? Again, I assume numbers have something to do with it.
Any thoughts about: Firemouth Cichlid
Archocentrus centrarchus
red zebra cichlid
salvani cichlid
demasoni cichlid?
Thanks for the advice and help. In addition to having a nice looking tank, I'd like the fish needs to be met. So any info i can get is greatly appreciated.
I've been doing some research and it seems like its ok to mix types of cichlids from the same location, provided they have different territorial needs (and those needs are met!). Does this hold true? Again, I assume numbers have something to do with it.
Any thoughts about: Firemouth Cichlid
Archocentrus centrarchus
red zebra cichlid
salvani cichlid
demasoni cichlid?
Thanks for the advice and help. In addition to having a nice looking tank, I'd like the fish needs to be met. So any info i can get is greatly appreciated.
Also, I've been thinking about putting in a rock background. Something like the back to nature modules (Back to Nature)
Does anyone know of anything like this available in the US, and that looks good.
Thanks again.
Does anyone know of anything like this available in the US, and that looks good.
Thanks again.
That's exactly it. Overstocked to the point that no one fish is able to be constantly singled out and picked on, they are able to get lost in the crowd so to speak. Now, controlled overstocking is generally used when dealing Malawian cichlids like the demansii or red zebra's. The firemouths you mentioned are Central American and those are bit of a different ball game. In Lake Malawi, the density of fish like Mbuna and Haps are so great, that in a way the fish are used to rubbing shoulders with their neighbor. Territories are at a premium, and they aren't that large when compared to other cichlid's territories. This is the exception to the rule, not the norm.
Not trying to preach you an earfull , just want to you to be armed with the right information.
For mbuna, I'd say around 15-18 would be a good total number to shoot for in a tank that size. The number of males to females is important as well. You want more females than males so that the females do not get harrassed all the time by over amourus males. I'm not sure the ratio, 1-3 maybe?
I love those back to nature backgrounds. But I don't know of a place in the states to get them at.
Backgrounds: Black Jungle Terrarium Supply
This place has some 3-d backgrounds that look pretty darn neat, but are pretty expensive IMHO. They don't flat out say 'safe to use in aquariums' so I might call them just to be sure before I ordered one if I was going too.
Not trying to preach you an earfull , just want to you to be armed with the right information.
For mbuna, I'd say around 15-18 would be a good total number to shoot for in a tank that size. The number of males to females is important as well. You want more females than males so that the females do not get harrassed all the time by over amourus males. I'm not sure the ratio, 1-3 maybe?
I love those back to nature backgrounds. But I don't know of a place in the states to get them at.
Backgrounds: Black Jungle Terrarium Supply
This place has some 3-d backgrounds that look pretty darn neat, but are pretty expensive IMHO. They don't flat out say 'safe to use in aquariums' so I might call them just to be sure before I ordered one if I was going too.
No, controlled overstocking doesn't apply for just about any cichlid other than the above mentioned. Their territorial requirements are very different than that of mbuna.
Sure, you can do more than one dwarf in a tank, just so long the tank is large enough and there is enough territory. And depends on the fish in question. It's not as cut and dry as that, but in short, yes it is very possible.
Sure, you can do more than one dwarf in a tank, just so long the tank is large enough and there is enough territory. And depends on the fish in question. It's not as cut and dry as that, but in short, yes it is very possible.
I love my yellow labs I got 6 of them and also peter davis peacocks are a nice african as well in a 50g. Blue dolphins, rainbow cichlids for ur main fish and if u want a bottom fish most of the larger catfish do well. Dragon, killer, sun, and angelicus catfish have done well in my tanks as well as some of my friends tanks. really when it comes to cichlids there seems to be an almost unlimited variaty and combinaiton that is availible. all I can say is good luck and listen to the people on here. that is ur best bet for having a well groomed healthy tank.