Any one recommend what tyoe of Cichlids to put in my 75 gallen?

Question

I have just purchased a 75 gallen tank for my wife and I.I have owned Oscars and a few cichlids in the past.I wont get Oscars again.I enjoyed my Cichlids even though there were only 5 in a 10 gallen tank.Im trying to learn more about them before purchasing.I enjoy the African Cichlids more.Anyone recommend any sites?I am looking to see the amount and what type.Of course the wife likes the ones that are colorful.She loves the Peacocks.She also likes the Red Jewels.Although I dont know about mixing them.I have already started buying some rocks and a few Articles of wood.Im using some good size pebbles at the bottom cause I hear they dig alot.Im looking for some good sites and some help on what would go best and how many.(Oh yeah, Ive heard Lake Malawi offers some good Cichlids

Answer 1

Why not try the Peaceful Cichlids
http://www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com/Articles/The_Peaceful_Amazonian_Cichlid_Community_Tank.html

Or if you really want Lake Malawi
http://malawicichlids.com/index.htm

:-D

Answer 2

First question-How hard is your water? It is easier to keep fish that will live in your tap water with minimal treatment. If your water is soft, you should look at South American cichlids like the Blue Ram. Medium-hard, Central American cichlids like the Firemouth Meeki. Very Hard, then you can look at the African cichlids. Choosing fish that like your water makes maintenance MUCH simpler.

Second question-What else do you want in your tank? I personally enjoy having a community tank with several different types of fish. That is not possible with the more aggressive cichlids like the Africans. African tanks can only have other African cichlids in it. I also like having a planted tank with decor that doesn't get re-arranged by the fish. Again, not possible with the Africans. They will move everything but large rocks.

Suggestion-think about those questions, and then research more about cichlids, good website to follow.

Answer 3

Jewels are from the rivers of Africa - they have different behaviours and needs then the ones from lake Malawi, like those Peacocks.

Don't start counting inches per gallon, it's a silly way to stock a tank - better to do research and combine knowledge with common sense.

The best site I've found on the web is www.cichlid-forum.com. Lots of great articles and a fairly dependable forum.

Be very careful about mixing, as the aggression can vary greatly between species. If you choose Peacocks, for example, you must be very selective about any mbuna you keep with them, and only go with mild types like L. Caeruleus, P. Saulosi, or I. Sprengerae.

I highly recommend going with a smaller sized substrate, that way the cichlids can dig (this is a good thing, why inhibit natural behaviour by going with big pebbles?) and less waste and food will sink into it and disappear - in the end fine gravel or sand leads to a cleaner long term tank, even if you can see more waste between cleanings. By placing the rocks on the bottom of the tank, rather then on top of the substrate, the cichlids will not be able to undermine them through digging.

Please don't go deciding how many fish until you decide on species. Malawi cichlids range from two inches long to two feet long!

I've been keeping Africans (the term is generic and doesn't say much) for over ten years now and thoroughly enjoy them - nicest FW fish there are and draw more compliments then any other tank I've had, but they do take care and research to keep successfully. My recommendation is to stick to the less aggressive types, that way you won't endlessly be battling high aggression.

Recommendations:

A hap tank:
Aulonocara, Fryeri, Red Empress, Taiwan reef, Caeruleus (electric yellow, an mbuna that gets on very well with haps)
or

A Mbuna tank: Iodotropheus (aka rusty), Caeruleus (aka electric yellow), P. Saulosi, P. Acei, Cynotilapia Afra, Aulonocara (not mbuna, but do well with the milder ones like these)

It's best to keep one male to several females for most species for both aggression and breeding (too few females can result in over-breeding, they just don't stop), and larger groups of less species is most ideal. With some, like electric yellow and acei, you won't be able to tell the difference in gender, but it doesn't really matter with them anyway. Acei, in particular, is almost a schooling fish and look glorious in higher numbers.

Synodontis Multipunctatus or Petricola catfish make excellent companions for Malawi cichlids, and provide a different aspect to the tank.

Answer 4

Rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. Most Malawi Cichlids get 6-8 inches in length so you could get maybe 8 or 9 of them. If you are going to go with the african species you have to stick with it. They are very aggressive and territorial. You could not get a few African and a few South American...
The African species are generally more colorful, but be careful and research them first. Some are only colorful as juveniles and become pretty boring looking as adults. They are also prolific breeders so be careful about mixing males and females. Males have a "bump: on their head, kind of like a big forehead and have several egg shaped dots on their bottom fins. Females have a more gentle slope to their head and are usually smaller. They do dig alot, use fake plants and plan on re-sinking them often.

Answer 5

i have a 75 gal with a wide arrange of cichlids but i did it to start breeding them. but if you want color you want males and the more the marryer but mine all seem to get along well stay away from the real long fined ones cause they will nip them off mine range from 5 to 8 inches long all from lake malawi.

Answer 6

i loved my red devil and green terror