dwarf cichlids/kribs?

Question

have kept malawi cichlids but had to get rid of due to house move,,,onlt got rom for a small tank was wondering what size tank is ok for dwarf cichlids/ kribs ,,,or what other fish are good in a small tank,,,have had community tanks before but they dont do nothin for me

Answer 1

Kribs are cool, and other Dwarf Cichlids like Rams, Apistos, and Shell Dwellers make great fish for smaller tanks... For Rams, Kribs, or Apistos, you should really have a 20 gallon, but 10 gallons is acceptable for a single pair assuming you keep up with your maintenance... Those three Dwarf Cichlids are indigenous to soft, acidic water, so do your best to prevent hard, alkaline conditions (driftwood and plants with CO2 injection naturally lower the pH). Shell Dwellers are from Lake Tanganyika, which is warm, with hard, alkaline water, so you may need to get some Rift Lake salt to keep those parameters in check [this salt is not true salt (NaCl), but a combination of elements that will harden the water and make it more alkaline (mainly calcium and magnesium). You could easily keep a pair or two of the smaller Shell Dwellers (the smallest are Mulites which only reach 1.5 inches). Be sure to provide Shell Dwellers with sand and many shells with openings about 2 inches wide. They will make their homes in these shells, and likely breed in them if you keep them happy. Contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 2

A 10g tank is adequate for most dwarf cichlids. The ones I have listed below all do well in 10g tanks. Granted a 15 or 20 would be better, but if you are cramped for space a 10 will be fine.

In addition, I don't know why people keep telling new fish keepers to change their water parameters as far as pH and hardness. I have successfully spawned dwarf cichlids [kribs, shell dwellers, lelupi, daffodil and julidochromis species in water right out of the tap. Mine is 7.4 pH and the plants that are in my tanks naturally lower it to under 7.0. As far as hardness, it is soft due to the plants and driftwood in the tanks.

As long as you acclimate your new fish properly to your water, they will not have a problem living in it and spawning.

Obviously the water in the lakes and rivers where these fish are found can be much different than the water in your area. However, unless you are buying fish that have been imported directly from their native waters [usually very expensive and called F-0], they have been spawned in this country and raised in water very similar to your local water.

Just check the pH in the bag you bring them home in and check the pH in your tank to determine how long to do the acclimation process. If the difference in pH's is more than .5, you should take at least an hour and a half to acclimate. That is done by adding a cup of tank water to the bag every 15 minutes to slowly get them used to your pH.

pH shock is the biggest killer of new fish other than an improperly cycled tank with high ammonia spikes.

Feel free to email me if you have any further questions.
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Answer 3

A pair of Kribs can be kept in a tank of 10G (US) so you can get away with quite a small tank. The problem is that you need to get a pair in there, personally I put in 4 females with a male and waited for him to pair off. I suppose as long as your local fish store agrees to take back the 'rejected' females and you keep a strict water change regime while you are over stocked (for a short while!) you should be OK. I find the kribs a great fish to keep and easy to breed as well.

Dwarf Cichlids can be slightly different as they are slightly different sizes and they also differ in their mating behaviour as in some will pair off and others like to keep a harem, so a larger tank is required for some. I'm sure a more experienced Apitogramma keeper will be able to give you more advice or check out the following link:

http://forum.apistogramma.com/

As for other suggestions, how small is the tank that is available? You could have a Betta, school of tetra, rasboras, danio etc etc. Depends what you like.

Answer 4

I really like rams,you could keep a pair in a ten gallon tank but if you can manage a 15 or 20 it would be better,I would say kribenis need a twenty for sure.I also love bettas but it really depends on your personal preferences what you will like.
Ram-http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=421
Bolivian ram-http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=420

Here is a list of some other nice dwarf cichlids that should be alright in a tank that isn't to big but I am not really familiar with them myself so you will have to do some research on their needs or get someone else to help you if you like any of them.http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=30

Answer 5

they will be fine in a 10 gallon but they prefer 30
i kept mine with a pair of apistogama cichlids,golden ram and a pair of cockatoo cihclids in a 20 gallons and they were great