Just getting started, need some help

[Matt M]

Everyone,
I'm just getting started with keeping fish and would like to populate my new aquarium with cichlids. I have a 20 gallon tank (that I now see might be a little small) and am currently cycling it with Danios.

Questions: How many Cichlids would be too many for a 20 gallon tank?

-- As I research I am very interested in Julidochromis Transcriptus (Tanganyika), Labidochromis Caeruleus (Malawi), Aulonocara Stuartgranti Mbenji (Malawi) and Synodontis Multipunctatus.
What combinations and number of the above would work best for me?

As I said, I am brand new at this and any advice would be beneficial.

Thanks,

Matt:confused:

[SGypsyMermaid]

Everyone,
I'm just getting started with keeping fish and would like to populate my new aquarium with cichlids. I have a 20 gallon tank (that I now see might be a little small) and am currently cycling it with Danios.

Questions: How many Cichlids would be too many for a 20 gallon tank?

-- As I research I am very interested in Julidochromis Transcriptus (Tanganyika), Labidochromis Caeruleus (Malawi), Aulonocara Stuartgranti Mbenji (Malawi) and Synodontis Multipunctatus.
What combinations and number of the above would work best for me?

As I said, I am brand new at this and any advice would be beneficial.

Thanks,

Matt :confused:

hi Matt--as you said, that tank is too small for most cichlids, however, your j. transcriptus should be perfect for that size tank. i would substitute syno. petricola for the multipunctatus--the petricolas remain much smaller than the multis. someone else will have to jump in here...i'm pretty sure that you'll only be able to keep one pair of julies in the tank. maybe there's a shell-dweller that would be okay with the julies. good luck and happy fish-keeping!

[Boilermaker]

Thank you S.gypsy, I was just staring at this post hoping some one else would answer. then I hit refresh and you did answer. I know bad attitude or slow typing. :eek:

[SGypsyMermaid]

Thank you S.gypsy, I was just staring at this post hoping some one else would answer. then I hit refresh and you did answer. I know bad attitude or slow typing. :shock:

oh no--you don't get off that easily! you know more about tangs than i do, so wade in, boilermaker! :lol:

[Matt M]

Thanks! Hopefully I'll be able to contribute more as I learn...

[Boilermaker]

Hi Matt, and I apologize for the comment someday I'll graduate from two fingers to three :) .

Honestly I was gonna mention the same as S.Gypsy and she even did one better with the petricola. As far as other tankmates maybe Redfin Caudopunctatus, Blue Ocellatus or bigger ocellatus.

Alot of it is just trial and error, wich you'll soon find out. I started with just a 20g also, I believe I started with a Aulo. Benga trio and a cheap Synodontis and then later when they turned adults purchased a 55g.

GoodLuck,Boilermaker