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I'm thinking of re-stocking my 29g tank with dwarf cichlids. How many could I fit in there? How many different species and how many of each species? Was thinking bolivian and blue rams, keyholes, apistgrammas, etc. Are all dwarf cichlids middle/bottom dwellers? I currently have lava rock, driftwood and a few plants. Would this be ok for what I'm planning? Any and all info and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

edit: Also, would kribs be ok in this set-up?

[span class="edited"][Edited by jack999 2004-08-13 06:55][/span]

Most dwarf cichlids as far as I know are middle/bottom dwellers. My apistos pretty much hang out a few 2-3" above the bottom. You could have a group of 4-6 (1-2males w/ 3-4 females)with same dither fish. I'd stick with 4 and have some corys in there. As far as the others, I have no experience with them so I'm sure others will come along to help.

Doesn't anyone have any experience, info, suggestions to share?

I've got a 20-high (so I have somewhat less bottom space than a 29) and two male blue rams. They don't fight much, but they do fight when they get too close for comfort. They ignore my cories, except when the cories get too rambunctious and run by at high speed. They occasionally seem curious about my school of tetras, but the tetras don't stick around long enough to find out if the ram is a threat. The rams are definite mid-bottom dwellers and very very rarely come to the surface. Most of the food they eat is either floating three inches off the bottom, or is on the bottom itself.

If you are planning on getting pairs of cichlids, just be sure you get the really peaceful kinds, such as keyholes, bolivian rams, and the like. Otherwise you may have a few squabbles come breeding time.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I've kept 20 longs and now 29 gallon for about the past 5 years as my main tanks. Your tank set-up sounds fine for dwarf cichlids, especially if you have that lava rock piled up which will lead to many dwarfs swimming higher up in the tank around the rock (it's like a safe base or something ).

A pair of kribs would work in your tank, but I've found kribs to be one of the more aggressive dwarfs at breeding time (and I've also had problems with the pairs sticking together and beating the crud out of each other). Don't get me wrong, kribs are really pretty, and nice fish and all, but my experiences haven't been great.

Bolivian rams on the other hand are much more peaceful, and I've found them to be more outgoing and swim more in the open than many dwarfs. Supposedly blue/gold/german rams are similar in being outgoing, but they are reportedly less hardy (I've not kept them since my water isn't the softest).

Keyholes should do well in your tank, as would any apisto (borellis and cockatoos are often recommended as starter apistos).

One thing to keep in mind - not all dwarfs do well in a harem. I'm about ready to return two of my bolivian rams to the LFS since the now formed pair isn't being too kind to them - no major damage, but they spend most of their time running and I think they're keeping the pair from spawning because they're a perceived threat. Of the fish we've I've listed above, ONLY cockatoo apistos are harem fish - the others are pair breeders. That said, getting 4-6 juveniles will likely get you a pair, but you just have to keep in mind you'll likely have to return the non-paired fish.

Other tankmates - if you go with kribs, apart from a bulldog, clown or bristlenose pleco - I'd advise against any other bottom dwelling fish - they'll wipe them out if they spawn. The other dwarfs are fine with corys, etc.

Upper water fish are great to bring out the dwarfs so tetras, platys, peaceful barbs, danios all work well for this.

Here's my tank:

29 gallon, sand substrate, lava rock and fake/real plants (java fern galore, an unknown cryptocorne, water sprite, ludwigea - the last two floating).

4 bolivian rams, 4 black phantom tetras, 1 angelfish, 2 otos, one clown pleco.

Like I said, two of those rams are going back soon, but otherwise all is well.

Eric