I was given a 60 gallon tank and an African Ciclid. I was wondering what types of other fish I can put in with it. I don't have a picture of it but it is blue with orange on it's tail and fins.
2007-02-17 13:53:51 · 6 answers · asked by Brandi W 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
I bet you have a Haplochromis sp. There are several that have those color patterns. Here's a link to a bunch of pictures of them:
http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/directory/gallery_Haplochromis_0.php
See if any of those look like your fish.
If this is the case, you should select a few more from the same group, Haplochromis and they should do well together. If you can find your exact fish a great thing to do would be get several more of the same type and have a species tank. They would probably even breed for you.
Of course, what might be the best answer of all is to take the fish to a pet shop and exchange him for some store credit on other fish that you know will do well together or a small group of some type of african cichlid you see there.
MM
2007-02-17 14:03:53 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WIth only few exceptions African cichlids should be kept with other African cichlids. they are strong, aggressive, territorial fish that should be treated carefully.
Any advice on stocking here is pretty much wrong unless the poster knows exactly which fish you have. "African cichlid' covers fish from 1" long to almost 2 feet long, from quite mild to extraordinarily hostile.
I picture a pseudotropheus acei (look it up on google images) and if it were this I'd say get more of them since they're grouping fish, and stick to milder mbuna types and/or smaller, more mild haps, as tankmates. If I'm wrong, then I can't recommend anything any more then anyone else. Find out what you have first.
Check out www.cichlid-forum.com to learn more about these fish and avoid the common, and often fatal, beginners mistakes. You especially should start learning if you had no idea what I meant by mbuna and haps. It's a good idea to learn how to set up and stock the tank properly to ease the aggression, and choose species that are compatable. Coming from the same lake does not default to compatibility.
2007-02-17 14:01:54 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
African Ciclids are very aggressive, which gives them personality but can make it hard to find tank mates. To your advantage, your tank is pretty big so you could put many other types of ciclids like the orange parrot ciclid, so.African zebra ciclid and so on. be careful not to get fish smaller than him because he will eat them. a very good website to check out is liveaquaria.com
2007-02-17 14:12:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
To conclude my previous answer, get cube shaped rocks spaced apart, then cover them with a flat rock, thereby creating a hiding space. Cichlids love this. Makes them feel secure. Repeat this across a good length of your tank, and then build them up the same way a level or two until you have built several "covey holes". With a little practice, you will be able to place the rocks in a natural looking manner. Try to avoid rocks that have edges that are too sharp. They will aggressively chase each other, less for them to scrape against the better.
Do not bother with plants, Cichlids will dig them up. Trust me. You will spend all of your time replanting.
2007-02-17 14:02:33 · answer #4 · answered by Earnie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sound's like you have a Sciaenochromis fryeri (Electric blue hap) if so they are very tearatoreal and if you put some more fish in with hem they need to be semi agressive 3 female's to each male put your fish on cichlids.com and post a PIC. under title ask ID me please and i will see it along with many other good luck. James
2007-02-20 02:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by james w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are aggressive and will kill other fish. They like to build little caves to hide their babies if you have a male and female.
2007-02-17 13:57:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋