Does a cichlid need another fish in its tank or can it do well by itself?

Question

African cichlids

Answer 1

They don't necessarily need tank mates, but many cichlids will do just fine with tank mates. It all depends on selecting the right fish to go in your tank with your fish. most fish will also do just fine without other fish in the tank, so its really your call after learning the needs of your particular fish

MM

Answer 2

Cichlids can do fine all by themselves. If you want to add another fish, it all depends on the size of the tank and the species of fish you are thinking about adding.

If it is a tank that is smaller than 30 gallons and the cichlid has been in it by himself for more than a few days to a week he has already claimed the whole tank for himself and if you add another fish that swims in the lower level of the tank, it will be viewed as a threat to his "territory" and attacked.

Cichlids are very territorial and are bottom dwelling fish. You might be able to add some upper water fish such as danios or fast moving tetras that never go to the lower levels of the tank. That way the cichlid would not feel like they were "invading" his territory and might not attack them.

I keep some giant danios (6) with my 4 albino red top pseudotropheus (zebras) and they get along with each other because they live in different levels of the tank (29 gallon). The danios, who swim in a school together all the time, never venture to the bottom so the zebras are not interested in them at all.

I also have some Buenos Aires tetras (6) in a 20 long with some multifaciatus shell dwellers (10), but I have just recently found out that the Buenos Aires tetra will eat fry of other fish if available so the tetras will be moving to a new home shortly. They are pretty fish and school well together like the danios, so I am not getting rid of them, just relocating them.

Answer 3

Here is the ruth about cichlids.

You can't generalize them. The only thing they all have in common is that they are all territorial to some degree.

They are a group of thousands of species that come from all sorts of biotopes dispersed all over the globe. They range from less then an inch long to over two feet long, from quite peaceful to downright hostile. Some are monogomous and show their best in pairs, others are grouping fish and should be kept as such. Some are solitary preditors that will destroy any tankmates. Some are bottom dwellers, some are mid water dwellers. Some live in rocks, others in plants, still others over open sand or in open water. There are cichlids that are herbivores, cichlids that are omnivores, and cichlids that are carnivores. I think you get the point anyway. If you want accurate advice, you must help us help you by providing the species in question.

One thing is for certain - without knowing what kind of cichlid is in question, it's much more advisable to keep it alone then risk placing random fish with it - the chances are greater that it would not work.

Answer 4

Some large cichlids will kill off other fish in the tank till it is the only one and my oscar has been alone (other than an algae eater) for 2 years now.

Specifically, what type of cichlid are you thinking about?

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

i believe african chiclids are best left alone depending on the breed. I am not sure, but i think my oscar is an african chiclid, and if another fish will be put in that tank, the new fihc would be dead within a few minutes. A good way to find out is for the breed you are looking for, try one of those chatrooms made for that anamal. I belong to one for an oscar fish site. MOst of them are free that i know of, so post your question there. YOu will know it is awnsered by a professional.

Answer 6

African chichlids can do well by themselves in general. I would do a search on the type you plan to buy just to make certain.