Keeping Cichlids... ??

[lilsilkk1112]

What are the main difference between keeping cichlids and your regular freshwater fish?

The only thing I think I understand about them is that they are pickier about water quality. Aka, do more water changes. I kind of remember reading that unlike regular freshwater fish, Neons for example, or Danios, or any other species, is that Cichlids are more sensitive to nitrates, while other freshwater fish aren't so picky...

Am I on the right track here? The Cichlids are much more attractive it seems than your regular freshwater fish and I'm considering keeping them someday. Problem is, I need to know more about them! Fill me in!

EDIT: I realize "Cichlid" is a very broad term, so I'll narrow it down for you! I'm interested in keeping the smaller (3" or less) Cichlids. Dwarfs, Cockatoo, Blue Rams, maybe the shelldwellers, etc. Nothing that i'll need bigger than a 20-29g for and could possibly trio them in a 10g, similar to the shelldweller tank someone has posted before.

 

[geKo]

cichlids are very difrent then your regular freshwater fish.

I would suggest checking out http://www.cichlid-forum.com/ and reading everything they have to say. Ask questons there and when you feel you know enough stock up

I have cichlids and i can speak from exp that they are very nice fish to have!

 

[1979camaro]

depending on whether they are african/SA they will require different pH...temp will remain about the same...assuming you do regular (at least bi-monthly, preferably weekly) h20 changes you shouldnt have much more in the way of maintenance...most of the cichlids tend to be much more aggressive than community fish...rams tend to be the exception, though there are others...

shellys will do well in a 10 gal (i have posted a shell dweller tank, not sure if it is me you are thinking of) as will a pair of rams and the cockatoos should be ok too i think...heres a good article:

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

though i wouldnt reccomend adding the synodontis' with the africans personally

Kevin

 

[lilsilkk1112]

camaro-
yes u have the shelly tank i like so much!

if i decide to do cichlids, i'd first go with either the shelldwellers, the cockatoos, or rams, so... are those the easiest to maintain in your opinion?

i'll check out the cichlid forum to see what i can learn. i'm good on tank maintanance and usually do weekly water changes to the two small tanks i do have even though they are very easy to keep freshwater fish that would probably survive a month without a h20 change.... so maintanance wont be a problem. are there any cichlid specialty products that set the pH for you or do you need to use things like sodium biphosphate, etc.? either way i guess its not overly difficult...

i'll read up on cichlid forum, but would appreciate any more info you guys can offer

 

[lilsilkk1112]

thanks for the 10g article camaro...

i think i could take a liking to a pair of cockatoo cichlids with some whitecloud minnows...

i'll keep that article in mind if i set up a 10-15g cichlid tank...

 

[1979camaro]

heres the thing...the cichlids will adjust...and the SA cichlids do not need nearly the alkaline environment that the Africans do so you probably wouldn't need to alter your pH any...if you go with africans you can always use a crushed coral substrate which will raise the pH constantly as it leaches calcium into the water...best not to stick chems in the water imo

as for the cockatoos, I have no personal experience, but a pH between 6-8 should do just fine...they are cave spawners so you will want to either build some rock caves (as i did for my n. similis) or else use some flower pots (something i find unapealing aesthetically)...not sure about plants, i think they are ok with plants too...might want to check into that more...

 

[lilsilkk1112]

sounds good... i'd like to do a rockscape sometime, so that'd be cool...

we'll see i suppose! im just going to read up on cichlidforum for now and take anymore advice you people can offer here!