sutiable cichlids for a 46 gallon

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

I'm setting up a tank for cichlids it's 46 gallons and I've been trying to figure out what kinds of fish to put in it. I have alot of hiding places for them. But I'm not sure which fish to get. Can anyone give me some ideas?

 

[SinisterKisses]

Well, one thing that would really help out is if you could let us know what the tank dimensions are? Then we can go from there.

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

it's about (ish) 19" high x 12" deep x 36" long but I'm just sorta improvising cause I can't find the tape measure. it's a bow front though so it's longer on the front. it's like 39ish inches on the front.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Okay, so its a 3ft. tank. Were there any fish in particular that you already know you might like to keep, if possible? Generally speaking though, your options would be:

A pair of small Central Americans: convicts, rainbows, cutteri, etc.

Small South Americans: apistos, rams, a pair of angels, etc.

A species tank with dwarf mbuna from Lake Malawi: saulosi, afras, etc.

Small Lake Tanganyikas: shellies, multies, julies, some of the Neolamps., Altolamprologus, etc.

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

it's been set up a while but nobody's in there yet I'm just ready to start adding. I don't want angels though I have a pair of them in my other tank along with some breeders and tetras so I want this other tank to be different

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

Thanks
also is there a more hardy and preferably less expensive breed I can start out with?

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

when you say that above statement do you mean A pair of small Central Americans: convicts, rainbows, cutteri, etc. AND

Small South Americans: apistos, rams, a pair of angels, etc. AND

A species tank with dwarf mbuna from Lake Malawi: saulosi, afras, etc. AND

Small Lake Tanganyikas: shellies, multies, julies, some of the Neolamps., Altolamprologus, etc.

or do you mean

A pair of small Central Americans: convicts, rainbows, cutteri, etc.OR

Small South Americans: apistos, rams, a pair of angels, etc. OR

A species tank with dwarf mbuna from Lake Malawi: saulosi, afras, etc. OR

Small Lake Tanganyikas: shellies, multies, julies, some of the Neolamps., Altolamprologus, etc.

I'm sorry I'm not well versed in the way of the cichlids.

 

[SinisterKisses]

God no, you can't mix the different regions like that. Its very much one or the other

 

[sweetpickles7]

To answer one of your questions convicts are quite hardy and very cheap, but they can be very aggressive and if your looking for a communtiy with small tetras or something like that they will be eaten.

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

thanks wow yeah I realize now different regions....yeah they don't go together ha oops.

Umm I really like the rams! what else would get along with them and not hurt them or die.

 

[SinisterKisses]

If you do rams, I would recommend keeping them as the only cichlids in the tank (with a very, very few exceptions, like angels). They'd do best with other community fish like tetras, platies, guppies, etc.

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

Oh really? Poo Oh well I guess I can deal with that My other tank is tetras, angels, and guppies so i already have that. Could I put some of the dwarf sciecies of cichlids in with the rams?

 

[sweetpickles7]

Actually to change your mind completly, you could go with some sort of mbuna.Most of them are really beautiful, it would give you a cichlid community, and most breed pretty easily.

 

[CichlidEntrepreneur]

I have my tank set up already though... and it has soft water and lower PH