help me identify this fish

[mmmbong]

I am new to owning cichlids and have no idea what kind this is. Can someone please identify it? I have noticed that the stripes on its sides tend to get darker sometimes.

[Seedy]

Probably a South or Central American fish...Maybe a lil convict....

BTW we have an ID forum for these type questions...PM a moderator to move this thread, and you will get more resoponses....

[Jason_S]

it's hard to tell the coloration of the fish by that pic, but I'd agree it looks like a small convict. if it's not a convict then I'd say it's definitely a different Cryptoheros species. :)

[mmmbong]

thanks for the knowledge yall. Is a 2 1/2 gallon tank to small for this fish? i have a heater and filter, and how many fish could this tank support? Also, this fish was very agressive towards a catfish i had with it which i had to remove, what species would work with this fish?

[Glaive]

Well now for the bad news I know of no cichlid that can live a good happy life in a 2.5 gallon tank. He may do okay for a little bit, but he will soon out grow that tank.

[mmmbong]

ok, what size tank would you say would be the smallest that I could do, this is in my dorm so space is at a premium.

[agez]

25gal minimum for 1 convict and a bristlenose cat

....but then again to me that aint no convict?

[Seedy]

ONce again...I don't know my SA/CA cichlids from a hole in the ground....so I'd listen to someone else besides me....

[Glaive]

Honestly I would loose the convict and aim for dwarfs, maybe Rams if you like new world or shellies or certain julies for africans. Certain ones may be able to go as low as a 10 gallon, though I would personally bite the bullet and go 20, preferably long. Others may be able to add more.

[mmmbong]

lets just say that 10 gallons is my max size because i literally have no more room then that. Which fish would you recommend? and how many?

[Seedy]

N. multifasciatus....YOu could have a breeding pair in a ten...They are shell dwelling cichlids from Lake Tang. in Africa....THey are also the smallest cichlid species in the world....

[jennigypsy]

...and once they got to breeding, you'd have wayyyy more than 10 :)
They're cool little fish...very interesting to watch....they move more sand in a day!

[mmmbong]

cool. thanks for the advice.