Want to try chiclids

[Bruckm]

Ok, A friend just gave me 2 tanks. One is 20H and the other I'm not sure of yet. He said it's 40 gallon but I measured it. It's 48" long, 12.75" deep, and 18" tall. Basically 50, right? It's old and all glass. Too small for chichlids? Even dwarf chichlids? Even *chromis?

But they're sooo pretty.

 

[Purple]

The 20 is a tricky proposition for most Cichlids - but some suggestions may come up.

The news on the 50 is better - but be aware it will probably end up only taking 45 when you try to fill it. I have a 4ft 50 with 4 Blue Acara, a Blood Parrot, and a Pl*co in and it works quite well. Just think of fish that don't get much over 4 inches and you'll be ok.

 

[wayne]

You can have plenty of cichlid fun in a 4 foot long tank - you just need to decide what you want up front. Most people with cichlid problems don't plan properly - they buy a lot of fish they don't really want, then try to build what they actually want around what's already there

 

[Bruckm]

Thanks

My native water is apparently perfect for the African Chichlids and especially the Malawi.
The labidochromis seems like a good species. Actually, all of the chromis suffixed chichlids seem to be a good bet.

When you say set it up right, that means lots of rocks, caves, places to hide...right?

Since they dig what about anachris as the primary plant? It can be used floating. Driftwood with java moss and fern,right?

 

[JWright]

Labids are great fish, I have a trio of L. caeruleus in a 45, and they're quite busy making baby labids.

They do like hiding places, mostly rockwork. Dirtwood will probably drop your pH to some degree as most pieces of driftwood leach tannic acid. I wouldn't bother with plants in a tank with Malawian mbunas...they'll just be expensive fish-food...

 

[Somonas]

the 50 is great for pretty much anything less than 5", the 20 is only suitable for the smallest dwarfs or for fry growout. Do a search here for "dwarf cichlids" or just look back a few pages for any thread titled "how many cichlids can I put in a 10 - 15 - 20 - 30 gallon tank"

 

[Managuense]

all of the chromis suffixed chichlids seem to be a good bet.

hold up now! boulengerochromis microlepis is the largest cichlid species on the planet!!!!

 

[Somonas]

heheh.