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Hey everyone,

I have an empty 20 gallon tank, cycled, 2 filters, 2 heaters, 2 inches of gravel, 4 caves, and a few live plants, PH 7, and a temp of 78.

At my LFS there is a tank labeled AFRICAN CHICLIDS. There are no specific names but they are all jouvaniles. Iam wondering if it is ok to buy 5-6 of these guys and put them in my tank. Do I need anything special for them?


Peter

20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

Most likely they are malawi cichlids that get way to big for that tank, plus they need a proper Harem for each type. If you want cichlids in that tank then you want to get a type of tanganyiki shell dweller.

-Vincent

Bud is right, most of the common mbunas and malawi cichlids found in LFS get to be 4-6 inches at least, and are too large and too aggressive for a 20 gallon.

for smaller tanks, the 2-3 inch tanganyikans are the way to go! I have a 20 gallon full of neolamprologus caudopunctatus that have been breeding, and they are facinating to watch. For something more colorful, maybe a group of neolamp. lelupis. or you could go really tiny and have a large colony of constantly breeding multis.

One thing to point out with african cichlids is that it's very difficult to have a community of various species unless you have a large tank. They are simply too territorial and aggressive to crowd into a small space, unlike the small tropical fish you're probably used to. So in a 20 gallon, a single-species tank is your best option. The fish will be happier and more comfortable, and therefore they will show you more natural and more interesting behaviors.

If you are seriously interested in African cichlids, Aquabid.com has specific categories for these fish, and lots and lots of sellers offering a wide variety of species.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...