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Im hopefully getting a desktop tank before my big one. And i was wondering what cichlids i could throw into this sized tank. I want colourful and as much as i can fit in there. It will be purely for display no breeding.

Thanks

African community.

you could get some of thses so here is a link for you
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php
that sould be an okey link.
good luck

rams just make sure you have all males or all females! otherwise mabe a angel! i like this one fish it is like purple or something! and also like a jewel cichlid!

You can go for a planted tank with 2 pairs of Angels and 3 pairs of Rams. You can also think of Apistogrammas. Both Apistos and Rams are highly colourful!

"You can go for a planted tank with 2 pairs of Angels and 3 pairs of Rams. You can also think of Apistogrammas. Both Apistos and Rams are highly colourful!"

The tank is a thirty gallon... that wouldnt work for sure.

Anyways, if your looking for colorful and no breeding, cichlids may not be the best choice. The only sure way to prevent breeding is all females, or all males. All males will mean alot of territory disputes and fights. All females mean shy females.

A thirty gallon would be good for a pair of discus *since your going for show and display*. Theres alot of other fish, but the odds are you'll end up with at least one male or one female. Rams are a great choice, but again, hard to get all of one sex without problems.

Africans usually would be a good choice, but in a small tank that would lead to some issues.

The neolamprologous family are usually a good choice for smaller tanks like yours though, but you might end up with breeding.

All males will mean alot of territory disputes and fights.

I haven't found that to be the case with German rams. I have 4 males in my 29g, once in a while they'll do this stare-down thing, one chases the other away but that's as bad as it gets.

Interesting find at the lfs today, long-finned German rams.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

If it's dwarfs you want, then Kribs, Rams, Flag and Agassiz's cichlids work well, they are all generally tolerant provided they are in a well planted tank. (Note, however, the kribs are easily bred and you could have more than you require.

Or if you want to go for the 'bigger (but not monsterous) stuff', then a pair of convicts or firemouths (NOT TOGETHER!!!!) in a 2ft tank do look tremendous! Convicts are also prolific breeders though.

I don't think I'd risk an African community though. Aggressive fish in something that small (especially when you have to 'overstock' to stop fighting to begin with. But then each set-up is different and its just an opinion. Good luck whichever.