new tank and opinions

[jeffg]

For the last year or so I have kept a single Electric Yellow Labidochromis caeruleus. He had a friend when we started the tank, but it died soon after being introduced to the tank. The fish store did not have a replacement for him, and we never got around to buying another one.

The cruel part is that he has lived in a 10 gallon tank for the last year. Obviously the tank was too small to add any more cichlids, so we tried to keep him company with a small school of Danios and a Pleco to help clean up.

The Labidochromis caeruleus has grown to about 2.5-3" in length and looks healthy. The only problem is he is very anti social. He spends most of his time in his cave, or hiding behind some rocks.

Do you think moving him to the new 40G tank and introducing some more cichlids will help?

How many cichlids should I keep in the new 40G tank? I have an Eclipse 3 hood on the tank, and we are cycling it right now with sand and ornaments from the 10 gallon tank. The chemisty looks pretty good so far.

To make this post even longer, what should I do with the 10 gallon tank? I would like to keep fish in it, but I think its too small for cichlids. What other fish would work good in a small freshwater tank? I am curious what other people keep in their tanks.

J

[jonah]

Put him in the 40g with another 6-10 electric yellows.

I've got a couple of brevis in a 10g, but you might be better off saving it for a q tank or for doing meds on fish.

[tom]

Hi Jeff. Welcome to the board.

Adding to what Jonah said:

I'd place the newly arriving Labs in the 40g before moving the older male there. While this species much more often than not is termed "docile," there are enough exceptions to that generalized label to warrant keeping the ol' eye out.

<small>[edit]</small>

(I'm assuming that other Labs will be a group of juveniles.)