Potential Inhabitants

[punkrockfish]

Did some more research today for my 20gL tank. The goal is for small, lake tang species tank, but am limited with what the stores around here have. Here are the species I have found that I feel may be suitable (not all together of course). Tell me what you think.

Julie Regani, Julie Transcriptus, Julie Maleri

Lamp. Brevis "sunspot" and "zebra m'toto" (can different types of Brevis be mixed?)

Multies

Lamp Ocellatus "gold" (also saw what appeared to be this fish at another store but was in an assorted tank with no lables. only thing is that the coloring was different, less gold, and more of a blue/purple streak running down the side of the fish.)

Brichardi

 

[Orion]

I would probably pass over the L. brevis. I found them not to want to move around much from the picked shell they live in. A very sedate fish in general. But to your question, they are the same species, just a different color morph, so they can be mixed but will produce 'mutt' offspring between the two color strains.

I would skip the Julie regani and maleri for this tank as they get rather large. Transcriptus, ornatus or dickfeldi would be great for a 20 gallon tank. A good way to describe them would be goofballs. I had some dickfeldi a while back and they were a joy to watch. Due to forces outside my control, I had a female krib in with them, and one of the julies loved to play a game of 'hide and seek' with the krib. Julies have an elongated swim bladder, so they can swim/hover in a vertical position as well, and this always confused the krib. Great personality and got along good with my other fish. I can't say about when breeding as I didn't hang on to them long enough to find out, but I will get some again one day.

I think you kept some multies before, so I won't get into detail about them.

I've never kept L. ocellatus (occies), but have always wanted too. They are said to be one of the more spunky shellies, and without a doubt one of the most colorfull. Fairly good temperment.

Brichardi make a great species only tank. Evil fish to try to keep with other fish when they breed though. They allow former fry to stay in the colony, and they in turn help with the rearing of younger fry. Breed really easy, and are a pretty fish IMO. Subtle, but pretty.

I think that if you wanted too, and depending on price that you might get away with some transcriptus and a shellie species, probably the occies or multies. Setup of territories would be important to try to keep the julies out of the shells and keep them from harrasing the shellies.

 

[Big Vine]

I'd love to see someone on here with occies!

I've never kept L. ocellatus (occies), but have always wanted too. They are said to be one of the more spunky shellies, and without a doubt one of the most colorfull. Fairly good temperment.

Yup, I'd love to try em' out one day too.
The species article over on cichlid-forum is great---go check it out if you haven't already. Definitely worth your while. *thumbsups

BV

 

[punkrockfish]

hmmm...decisions, decisions...i've done multies. they were very interesting, but hey, when you got a chance to try something new, might as well go for it. the brichardi are a very pretty fish, and the store has a ton of them. the more i look into julies the more i think i'd like to take a crack at them, but I need to track down some good rocks first (suggestions? landscaping places?) and make sure i'm getting the right species. my tank is already full of shells, and the occies do have a very nice color, plus the benefit of being able to add more than one species to the tank. i think i'll go with the occies for sure, and set up one corner of the tank with rockwork if i decide to add julies later. i found a total of 5 occies (4 at one place). what would be a good number to start with?

 

[Orion]

With only a 20 gallon tank, IMHO one species is going to get the shaft in a manner of speaking. You can either concentrate on breeding the occies, with only a few julies, or concentrate on breeding the julies with the occies hanging out.

Sorry, when I think of setting up a tank, my goal in mind is how to set it up for breeding, and that my not be your goal. So how about it? This is important to know in setting the tank up.

Landscapeing places would be good to start looking for rocks. If you want to go with a more 'natural' look of Tanganyika, look for rocks that are rounded in shape.

 

[punkrockfish]

Never tried to breed before. I came across some info that said julies could prey upon occies and other small shell dwellers, which would then be even more likely with fry swimming around the tank. I think my game plan is to focus on the occies. I'll build a small rock structure on one side of the tank for a potential introduction of a couple julies, but only if I can find the right ones. I'll observe the occies for a bit before that, give them some time, and if they don't breed then I might add some julies. Yay or Nay?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Sounds good to me.

You should have an interesting tank for the boys to observe with even just the occies. Cool little fish.

 

[punkrockfish]

cool, i'll get the ball rolling tomorrow, thanks for the help everybody