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Ive got a 46g with a few tropical fish in it and I was thinking about getting rid of the tropicals and having a cichlid tank. I would like to have a colorful tank. Any suggestions are welcome!


Ps: Could i keep my two bushynose plecs with the cichlids?

What are you interested in keeping....

africans?
central/south americans?

Are you looking for aggressive cichlids or less, more peaceful cichlids?

It is going to be a species tank or do you want a mix of cichlids?

Im not sure if I want Africans or South/Central Americans yet

I would like a peaceful tank

I would like to mix fish

where are you located and are you willing to pay for fish to be shipped to you or would you prefer to go by some of the more commonly available species?

one for sure that you may want to check into is [link=Cryptoheros nanoluteus]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/nanoluteus.xml" style="COLOR: #FFFFFF[/link]. This species is related to the convict but stays smaller and is much less aggressive. They can be kept with more docile fish such as larger tetras and barbs easily ime.

if you want color and peacefullness, check out pseudotropheus acei (black or blue) and labidochomis caeruleus (yellow lab). these guys would be good in your tank. i recommend 5 acei and 3 labs. the acei are shoaling fish and will loosly hang out together at the top protion of the tank. they are not territorial and very, very rarely show any aggressiveness. the labs are a very peaceful mbuna and you will love the colors and attitudes of all these fish. i have kept them for a couple years now and love them. all you really have to do to keep them happy is to keep the ph up around 8.0. i use sugar sized coral sand and it keeps the water right at 8.2 all the time. throw in a few rocks to create some hiding spots and feed them new life spectrum pellets daily and a treat of mysis shrimp every once in a while. both of the fish are omnivores and the mysis shrimp will not cause bloat. also, both fish are from lake malawi in africa and both can usually be found in good fish stores. the acei may be a bit harder to find than the labs. these fisha re great beginner fish because they are so easy to keep. just remember to do your water changes to keep the nitrates below 40 ppm and they should be with you for a long time. jsut my 2 cents.

Thanks Acei

Maybe a South American setup & you can keep your two bushynose plecs with them.
Angels & Rams would make a great setup.



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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Currently I have a 55 gallon Mbuna tank. These cichlids are African, and are quite beautiful, and active. Not to mention hilarious to watch. I am attaching a picture of each of the five species I currently have. Enjoy...:88)

Acei


Kenyii


Cobalt Blue


Yellow Lab


Rusty
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EDIT: please excuse the streaks on the tank, it's apparently time to clean the glass again

Last edited by innocent trouble at 06-Mar-2005 16:08[/font]

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Could I have my bushynose in an African tank?

Thanks fish guy I was thinking the same thing, switching my tank to a cichlid tank. I heard some of the colorful cichlid community tanks can be also called a poor man's verson of a salt water tank