cichlid ideas?? for a 55?? read all!!?

Question

i have a 55 set up as a community right now. i am in the very near futear getting a 120. the fish i have in the 55 are getting a new home in the 120 and i am looking to put cichlids in the 120. i need some good colorful sugestions on the tipe of cichlids to put in there.. shripm??corys??catfish??
i have a yellow lab i am going to put in there!!
oh, and for all of you who didn't know i have had 2 male bettas(different times) in a 55 with 2 females and (somithing poisened our tank) the 1 still alive is more colorful than he has ever been!! he isn't mean to any fish!!
the person with the best answer gets 10 points
name (common)
behavior
requierments

Answer 1

The betta isn't mean because they only fight with other male bettas. They are actually non-agressive where other species are concerned and only beat up the females in smaller tanks when the female will not spawn with them or has given up all her eggs and has no more to give him.

I have a lot of cichlids in my 24 tanks. Some of the least agressive are the yellow labs (I have a pair that spawn often). They share a 55 with red zebras, perlmutts, O.B. zebras and a couple of large peacock cichlids (7").

The requirements to keep many cichlids together is to have many, many hiding places for them (I use flower pots propped up on rocks, turned on the sides and siliconed together with one bottom broken out. Hollow tank ornaments are good for the smaller ones too.

Another way to keep cichlids is to "crowd" them so the agression is spread around and not concentrated on one or two fish (this happens a lot with cichlids). In my 55, I have 22 fish, most are 4-6 inches long. I know, I know too many fish. I do water changes twice a week on this one and they all have a place to call their own and hide in. The trick is, only one male per species and don't keep similar looking species together, the males will fight.

A bigger than needed double bio-wheel filter provides cleaning and an extra air stone keeps the water moving for oxygen transfer (as if the fish didn't keep it moving all by themselves).

A 120 (wish I had the room for one) will be perfect for a group of cichlids. There will be enough space for each group to have their own area. The males will probably stay in them and the females will wander around the tank until they are enticed to spawn by a resident male.

Email me if you have more questions. Remember, you have to enter your email address twice to confirm it before anyone can return you emails.

Good luck, cichlids are great!

BTW, angels are carriers of a disease that only infects discus and kills them slowly. The angels are not affected. It is not wise to mix store bought angels and discus. If you get them from a breeder, maybe....

Oh, and discus need very soft acid water (about 6.0-6.5 pH) so unless your water is that low to begin with, you will end up having to adjust the pH all the time to keep them at their best and healthy.

Answer 2

If you have a yellow lab, you should get Malawi cichlids only.

You should get several (say, 3) yellow labs, 3 electric blue haps : http://www.alloddballaquatics.com/cichlids/Electric_Blue.jpg

Or a few multispots (Aulonocara gertrudae )
http://www.malawimayhem.com//images/profiles/A_gertrude_m.jpg

Or you can go with peacocks:
http://www.malawimayhem.com/profile_show.php?id=543

Anyway, I suggest you get a total of 8-12 fish, 2 to 3 each of 4 different types. Don't forget lots fo rocks :)

You will not be avble to put in any shrimp, cories or catfish. Cichlids will kill all other fish except other cichlids.

Answer 3

Managuense aka Jaguar Cichlids are gorgeous, but very territorial. You probably won't have a problem because of your 120 g. tank, but Jags will cap out at 14"+ when they're full grown, so I'd say get 1 to 2 max. Oscars also make great aquarium tenants, as do plecos. Good luck to whatever you choose!

Answer 4

if you're going to get cichlids, i'd recommend buying all the same species. Cichlids are better if they are with their own kind.. Most are very aggressive. Go to the pet store and see what you like in terms of looks and behavior.

I personally like Angels, Discus, and you can have a real community environment with these guys...

Save your 55 for the bettas, and smaller fish.

Answer 5

properly, South individuals regularly get larger than their African opposite numbers. IMO, for that tank length, i ought to signify getting some African Cichlids as a replace of the South individuals...yet once you're set on the South individuals, i do not blame you. regularly when I get it in my head what electorate i am going to have for my tank, this is what i go with to stay with. :) once you're prepared to position in slightly more advantageous artwork than time-honored, you should apply your fifty 5 as a "placing out" element for various larger South individuals. My ex had a fifty 5 South American tank setup that he used entirely to pork up toddler South individuals, and then promote to interior sight breeders/fish shops/hobbyists. that must be an option for you...and this is going to help you've fish that you regularly can not save for lengthy in those tanks (Buddas right now come to ideas!) Alternately, once you're attracted to preserving the fish their entire lives, i encounter pink Devils (although very agressive) are rather quite, and relaxing to have. i ought to steer faraway from Oscars...they have an inclination to be somewhat dirty...yet they do have a lot of personality. :) Jack Dempseys are suited besides, and so are eco-friendly Terrors - that are troublesome to discover round my section presently!