tankmates...recent death and soon upgrade..need ideas/help

[kameronesdiablo]

Hello everyone!! :D I am new to this site and fairly new to cichlids. My husband purchased 4 cichlids about 4 - 6 months ago. About 3 months ago I realized these are not your everyday fish! Since then I have been researching and taking anything and everything in about cichlids.

Husband originally had a 10 gal tank. I am in the middle of having a 20 gal long (30 x 12 1/2 by 12 1/2) do a fishless cycle. You can check this out on my site www.geocities.com/kameronesdiablo and go to the aquatic link. The fish I learned were 1 female red zebra, 1 male kenyii, 1 female kenyii, and 1 bumblebee sex unknow.
The red zebra is the definte "general" of the tank and in the past chases (but not injured or nip) both the male kenyii(not as much) and the bumblebee whom all are her size approx 3-4 inches.
The female and male kenyii recently in the past month and a half have been inseperable and I notice that the male kenyii now chases the bumblebee away when near by (poor bumblebee he doesn't chase anyone!! - I know that the kenyii were probably "dating" and he was just being protective of his territory and "woman")..Unfortunetly my male passed away this weekend (looked like attack..had a stub instead of a tail!! also some nip marks on upper back). Now the chasing is solely on the bumblebee...the female kenyii is half their size and is not bothered by either the bumblebee or the red zebra.

Now upgrading to 20 gal should be ready possibly by friday.
This leaves me with the f red zebra, f kenyi, ? Bumblebee..also have a male bristlenose catfish. concerned because do not want all the aggressiveness to go to the bumblebee...

here are my possiblities..and questions

add new fish when I move my current fish into the new tank..

???what new fish would get along??
??Should it be other cichlids in the Malawi lake??
??maybe trade my mature fish in to lf and get some dwarf cichlids (really do not want that because now attached but husband suggested this..claims doesn't just want 3 fish..specially since red zeb aggressive to one fish)

ANY IDEAS???!!!! Please help...

I will respond tomorrow..I am at work and leaving for the day.

sorry so long!!!

[Overawed]

Hi and welcome kameronesdiablo!

This is the greatest cichlid forum on the net, I am sure you will have these and many more questions answered as well as have a great time.

For starters, you might think about the size of your tank in reference to the size of the fish. A 3'' to 4" cichlid is a little too large for a 20 gallon. You might consider trading the fish you have for a smaller Peacock (aulonocara) cichlid variety or the dwarfs like you mentioned earlier. There are many shell dwelling Tangyikan Cichlids that you might fall in love with. I know that Brichardi's do well in 20gs as well.

The aggressiveness of the RZ can be contributed to the tight space he is in now. RZ's can be viscious. The Kenyi's can be as well. I don't think that I would add any more to the 20g if you are putting the Kenyi, Bumblebee, RZ and Catfish in there. One thing thing about the hobby that remains true is that you will always need a bigger tank.

[jonah]

Hi Kameronesdiablo, it's me OKMIC1, but I go by jonah on most forums. After thinking about your problem I'd lean towards trading in the fish, I know it's hard, I get attached too, but I think they'd be better off in a larger tank (like a 55g).

The 20 long would be excellent for a pair of Neolamprologus brichardi. They're a small cichlid from Lake Tanganyika and are readily available at many fish shops. Start with a pair and you'll end up with an entire tank full. The fish will take care of the young like an extended family. Even older siblings will watch over the younger fry. I'm setting up a 29g just for this reason.

If you're keeping the 10g it would be good for shelldwellers. I have some now in a 10g with sand substrate and a bunch of snail shells. Right now I only have 3, but I'm getting more females soon. Mine are Neolamprologus multifasciatus, very peaceful fish. The males get to about 2" and the females are significantly smaller. They're more difficult to find, but well worth the effort. I really like mine.

Just out of curiousity, how do you know the red zebra is female? Domestic strains make both male and females look orange.

[SGypsyMermaid]

Just out of curiousity, how do you know the red zebra is female? Domestic strains make both male and females look orange.

jonah, the domestic males are usually a much paler color than the females--sort of a pale salmon/pink. welcome, kameronesdiablo. you may as well spring for that fifty-five gal tank, now and get it cycling--cichlids are highly addictive! :sygypsy:

[jonah]

Just out of curiousity, how do you know the red zebra is female? Domestic strains make both male and females look orange.

jonah, the domestic males are usually a much paler color than the females--sort of a pale salmon/pink.

I've had males in the past that were nearly the same color as the female.

[kameronesdiablo]

:D Thank you all for the welcome! I do belong to a few other forums but I have been so impressed with this one so far! And I actually learned stuff from the other post!!!

I was actually told that the male RZ usually also have a blue undertone on their belly. Mine, if you check my website, is very orange!! She is definetly aggresive...one odd thing about them though is I noticed that they usually all hang out in one area of the tank. I set up differnt places in the ten for them to hang out in but they all hang in the same area!?!?!

I am so greatful for the suggestions...I hate to give my fish up but I know that it is in their best interest. Again, I am not sure that I am even going to get the 55 gal (although I saw one at petsmart the other day for $99.00!!!! But I have no stand and the stand I saw were all really expensive and the cheapest stand was like $200+!!! Husband almost got it but between school, morgage, 2 cars and dog and his racing ...we are kind of on a budget.

Thank you and I hope to talk to you all soon!!!! :D :D

[fitch]

Build a stand, or find an old dest to suit the size of the tank... I prefer building myself. But you have to have a little spare time to get it done.

Cheers
Jay

[kameronesdiablo]

I could probably convince my father in law to help me build a stand but my husband is very picky! He is starting to get into the fish now that I am so gun ho! I like my 20 gal long because I worked hard on it and it is all my sweat and tears in it...got it for free, the stand for free..only real cost of it was the hood, and some of the decorations and gravel (somehow I got a free filter...cannot remember this moment how but was brand new!). I actually just recently bought containers for under the tank to hold my fishy stuff and I paid a total of maybe $45.00 and they look great (no picture yet but coming soon).


I really would like the 55 in my bedroom but Kris says that something that grand should be in the living room (where the 20 is).

we will see...I am sure I can get the 55 but it may take some time..

thanks again!