FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Is there such thing as a starter cichlid? I am looking for a cichlid that is semi easy to take care of and common/easy to find. I plan on putting it in a 20 gallon tank, maybe even by itself... Not sure if Im going to get one yet. I am jsut researching them. Thanks!

Fish CAN fly!

sure,

kribensis are a african cichlid that doesn't require special water conditions. u can get away with putting a pair in a 20.

kribensis are generally very common, and u shouldn't have any problems hunting one down.

Look into the South American dwarfs they are really great fish. I think apistogrammas or rams would work in a 20 apistos are great and very colorful though they are on the pricey side.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

African cichlids, Lake Tang preferb for myslef, brichardi are fairly easily and a 20G would be good for them as well they stay under 3 inches or around there, multifasciatus shell dwellers would be another hardy species and a 20 would be a good size for a colony , orange scriblle are hardy fairly easy to care for. Then there are the yellow labs and electric blue, peacock. For cichlids most are very hardy and easy to care for just have to provide the right necessities for them.

Some of the South American dwarf cichlids(apistos) can actually be a bit picky when it comes to water. Same for the ram (if you are talking about Blue Rams that is).

I suggest Bolivian Rams. They were my first cichlid (besides a Severum...needs bigger tank though) and they were not too picky at all. Easy to acclimate and easy to care for. Also, they don't get too big.

Firemouths or Convicts?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yeah i was meaning bolivian sorry, ohhh i forgot about firemouths, i love them never had them but they look very amazing under the proper care.

I would say you should get convicts for your tank they are the best starter fish those we're my first fish, I LOVED THEM!!!
They are really easy to take care of, but they are very aggresive almost like any cichilds

Yup I would have to agree on convicts, virtually indestructible, will breed like crazy and they have a lot of spunk (the nice way of saying they’re aggressive!).

If you get a pair of convicts you can’t put any other fish in the tank because they are too aggressive, but I guess that goes for almost all cichlids in a 20gal! They will also just uproot plants so don’t bother with them. If you do want plants in your tank i'd go bolivian rams.

If you want a colony of fish I would definitely go for neolamprologus multifasciatus. The only problem with africans is that you many need to alter the water conditions as they prefer hard, alkaline water.

Convict Pictuers!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Bolivian rams definitely. Either that or Kribs. Many apistogramas are to keep due to water conditions, and even those that are easy aclimate porly.
Right now, I'm making a semi-agressive tank with bolivian rams and serpae tetras. They're a very good pair if you like tough fish.

EDIT: convicts are probably too big for a 20 gallon. Blue acaras and firemouths are two smaller options, but they could be pushing it too.

Last edited by djtj at 10-Jan-2006 19:17

Blue Acaras, Firemouths, Convicts...they ALL get too big to live in a 20 gallon comfortably. (Acaras 6-8 inches, Firemouths 5-7 inches, and convicts 6-8 as well)

I stand at Bolivian Rams or Kribs. A pair of either would work perfectly with a school of 8 Tetras, small barbs, or rasboras

Thank you for all your input!!!!!!

Fish CAN fly!