New Cichlid tank

[brian]

Hey fellas :o

Just registered and looking for a little advice
My girlfiend and i are starting a new cichlid tank because we think they are just the coolest fresh water fish :D Its only a 20 gallon tank and i plan on getting some smaller african cichlids. What other types of fish can go with them? I know they're not community fish , but i plan on getting like 5 or 6 cichlids and maybe a pleco? I have an electric blue crawfish in my other tank. He's about 2 inches long. Do you think the cichlids would just destroy him? I'll be getting African cichlids.. i cant mix the Malawi, Tanganyika, and Victoria species right? I'm new to this so any help would be appreciated.. thanks :)

Brian

[Rudy]

Hi Brian.

Glad to have you aboard.

With a twenty gallon you are a bit limited with the types of africans you can put in there, only due to the fact that most are quite territorial and breed like rabbits. You may want to either keep to dwarf Tanginikan cichlids, or if you want to try lake Malawi (usually more coloful) you would want to go with a dwarf single species with only one male in the tank and 3-4 females and lots of rocks. This is a species tank.
Most Tanginikan shell dwellers that would go in there no problem. You could probably have 2 pairs of shellies, and a pair of smaller Juliochromis rock dwellers. Here is a link that will get you started. www.cichlidrecipe.com


Check it out and get a general idea of what you would like and check back. There are lots of african freaks on the board who will help you out.

Good luck and as for the blue lobster. Depending on which way you go. He is going to eat one of them, or they are going to eat him. :?

[jonah]

I'd go with Tanganyikan shell dwellers in a 20g. I don't think it's big enough even for smaller Malawi species. Maybe rusties, but they aren't very attractive to me.

I have to agree with Rudy on the crawfish too. Sorry. :(

[brian]

ok, i'll check out those btw here is a pic of the crawfish. I have him in a tank right now with tetras etc and he hasnt even tried to attack anyone. he just eats the pellets i give him hehe. heres some pics of him

http://www.brianedge.com/crawfish.jpg
http://www.brianedge.com/crawfish4.jpg
http://www.brianedge.com/crawfish5.jpg
http://www.brianedge.com/crawfish3.jpg
http://www.brianedge.com/frog.jpg (frog)

I was at the fish store the other day and saw these lemon cichlids, they looked awesome.. what type of cichlids are they? They were pretty small and bright yellow. I just love the bright fish.. The dont have this info at the fish store

thanks!

[jonah]

Lemon cichlid=Neolamprologus leleupi from Lake Tanganyika. 8cm-13cm. Males are larger. Info I've seen on feeding conflicts. Some say omnivorous and others say live food only, so it may depend on the fish. Aggression also seems to depend on the fish.

Beautiful fish, but I don't think these would be good in a 20 either unless it's a single pair. They're considered monogamous in the sites I checked out, so a pair would probably okay.

[jonah]

The thing with the crawfish is I'm judging from what would probably happen in my mbuna tank. It would last about 3 minutes with my mbuna, but with smaller, less aggressive fish it might be a good idea. The crawfish might take care of any extra fry as well. I could use that service in my tanks.

[brian]

hmm ok i think im gonna drop the crawfish in there and just keep a close eye on him. Its the fish picking on the crawfish that i'd worry about, not the crawfish grabbin the fish, Lionel is pretty layed back :D What about some smaller catfish that look like the irridescent sharks? What do you guys use to eat the stuff off the bottom of the tanks?

[brian]

also, when i go in the actual shops, any of the fish that are actually being sold together in the same tank should be fine to live in right? It seems lik theres always like 3 or 4 cichlid tanks in the store with different cichlids in each tank.. I'd hate to get like 5 cichlids out of the same tank in the store and put them in my tank.. and have them destroy each other heh.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i have a crawfish in my mbuna tank that's been in there for about a year and a half--but my tank is one huge rockpile, so he has obviously found someplace to hide when he moults. however--i did start out with 3 crawdads--he's the only one that made it.

most of the cichlids are bottom feeders, so you don't have to really worry about that, but i like to keep synodontis cats with my lake cichlids--but in your small tank--that's gonna take up cichlid space.

[CichlidPete]

[quote:222657da1c="brian"]also, when i go in the actual shops, any of the fish that are actually being sold together in the same tank should be fine to live in right?[/quote:222657da1c]

Not really, what works with young fish in crowded fish store tanks may not work in the real world. Fish tanks at the store don't have any real territory for the fish to defend. Also just as children become more annoying as they get older so do fish, they become more aggressive as they approach breeding age

[quote:222657da1c]I'd hate to get like 5 cichlids out of the same tank in the store and put them in my tank.. and have them destroy each other heh.[/quote:222657da1c]

I just got a 4 inch shovelnose catfish and a 2.5 convict for my american tank. The were in the same 10 gallon at the fish store along with 3 or 4 cons and 3 more cats. They were fine. within 24 hours of being in my 20 gal quarentine tank, the convict is after the shovelnose constantly. You'd think he'd be nicer as the shovelnose will most likely eat him at some point. (within the year)

Pete

[SGypsyMermaid]

pete, that little convict is smart--he probably figures he should get rid of that cat now, while he still can! :lol:

[brian]

thanks for all the input guys. This forum is great, i'll definatley let you know what happens :) thanks again.

Brian

ps i'll be sure to ask any other questions i have :lol:

[CichlidPete]

[quote:9feb1ccae9="SGypsyMermaid"]pete, that little convict is smart--he probably figures he should get rid of that cat now, while he still can! :lol:[/quote:9feb1ccae9]

Do unto others before others do unto you.

[madgamer89]

lake tanganyikan\
sould be good

[M_sfan87]

Dwarf Tanginikan Cichlids or Sheller's. I had a 1 inch crawdad in my tank and my fry mbuna ate it. My brother had one in his and a oscer ate it, that wasn't a big surprise. :P