The cichlids will all be 3 to 6 inches long execpt one of them can get up to 12 inches. How many gallons should I need?
2006-07-13 15:24:22 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
1 inch per gallon when their full grown and make sure the tank is heavily decorated, cichlids are territorial
2006-07-13 15:30:12 · answer #1 · answered by Taldeara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
75 Gallon Cichlid Tank
2016-11-11 06:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule of thumb for stocking a tank is one inch of fish per gallon. This works for community fish - not cichlids. Cichlids require more room for their territories and more swimming room. Yes, they will live in a tank that is stocked to the rule of thumb but the extra stress from defending their territory or fighting for their territory will result in some fish dying. Many of the cichlids will not start defending their territory until they reach maturity. Then watch out! It can be a fight until one leaves the tank (usually by death).
After saying all that - I have a 75 gallon cichlid tank. What I found worked the best (frequent viewing of the fish, no disease, no fighting, etc) was 3 to 6 of the cichlids that grow 4 inches maximum and are non aggressive (say 3 that liked the middle section of the tank and 3 that liked to be in the rockwork). Then I added my cleanup crew which consisted of 3 to 5 cories, 2 farlowella (needle catfish), a platydoras costatus catfish, 2 flying foxes, 2 or 3 otocinclus and a macrognathus aculeatus (peacock eel). Then I had a school of rainbows for the top part of the tank.
I found that if I added more cichlids, then each would stay in their territory (rock caves, behind wood, etc) which really limited the viewing. If one would venture out, someone else would chase them back into their home
2006-07-13 15:33:04 · answer #3 · answered by Just Me 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maintain an average of 1 fish per gallon of water. However, ever wondered why you see 100 fishes stock up in a 20-gallon aquarium in stores? And yet all survive??? You sometimes can break the rule but you will have to maintain the quality of the water more often. I have a 75-gallon aquarium at home with 21 cichlids for 5 years now. So far, only 1 of the original 22 fishes died. I change 1/4 of the water every week, and condition the water with aqua safe each time. I also put around 5 tablespoon of rock salt each water change.
2006-07-13 16:29:18 · answer #4 · answered by ED LU 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
From experience and with the help of professionals cichlids are best kept calm by overcrowding so that no-one dominates a whole side of your tank! I have a 200 gallon tank and I have 20 (could fit more) almost full grown cichlids and no bite wounds! Their are certain cichlids that are not recommended with overcrowding! For your tank I would suggest at the 6 in range you could have 10-15 fish!
Good Luck!
2006-07-13 15:32:56 · answer #5 · answered by dbhuntress1966 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rule of thum = 3 inches of fish per 1 gallon
2006-07-13 15:28:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eventually you will have 1. But while they are 3-6 you can comfortably go with 10-15.
2006-07-13 15:30:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think you should have about 10 depending on how big they will grow
2006-07-15 12:11:35 · answer #8 · answered by amira s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
as many as u want but keep it a nice amount for u
2006-07-13 15:30:08 · answer #9 · answered by tinkerberay 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋