Thinking about cichlids

[Some_Guy888]

Hi,

I am thinking about getting some African cichlids (dont know what kind they are, they just say "assorted") Because my 5 year old angel fish recently died. I have a 25 gallon tank with Ph about 7.3 and have a Rainbow shark (6') and a Pleco (7') and i want to know if African Chilids would attack these bottom feeders.

Thanks

[aharris]

First off, the pH in that tank is a little low. You'd need to look into either using buffers or getting some crushed coral or limestone rock to put in the tank. Fortunately, you don't need to raise it much, but it should get over 7.5.

The second problem is that the fish you see in the "Assorted" tank are mainly mbuna cichlids, and you can rarely get away with keeping them in a 25g tank. Most of the time 40 to 55g is the minimum for a good community.

That being said, there are some cichlids that would be able to live in that tank. Most of them are Tanganyikan cichlids though, and you are highly unlikely to ever find them in an "Assorted" tank. Julidochromis, shell dwellers like Neolamprologus species, leleupi or brichardi would all be candidates.

You could also look into the African riverine cichlids. A pair of Kribensis would go in that tank easily (and you wouldn't have to monkey around with your pH at all), or if you lower you pH to 7.0-6.5, there plenty of South American dwarf cichlid species that would be able to call that tank home.