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Hey everyone,

I just set up a 29 gallon tank that I plan on keeping a cichlid or two in. I was thinking maybe 1 Jack dempsey, but do you have any other suggestions? Could you name some slow growing cichlids, and maybe tell me of any cichlids that can be kept together without bothering each other too much. Also, can I keep live plants with cichlids or will they uproot them?

Thanks

I'm not a fan of keeping big fish like Jack Dempseys in tanks that small; the Jacks hit about ten inches and twenty-nine gallon tanks are only thirty inches long. Preferably a fish like that would get at least fifty-five gallons to call its own.

I do like the South American dwarf cichlids as a group; these include fish from genera such as Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus, Laetacara, and Crenicara. They are small fish, tend to be peaceful and agreeable with other fish, and don't affect water quality quite as much as the larger cichlids do. It is possible to keep groups of some of these species in a twenty-nine gallon tank, with possibly a school of tetras as well. These South American dwarfs are quite compatible with plants.

Other small cichlids include the Lake Tanganyikan shelldwellers. These fish are small enough that they actually live in unused shells, and set up territories around whole beds of them. These critters have great personalities, and are best when kept one species per tank.

If you are interested in either type of fish, do make sure to do some reading on them and ask more questions. Each group listed above prefers different water parameters and can be quite different in temperament and care requirements.

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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."

In a 29 gal. tank, i would keep 5 Yellow Labs. or a pair of Kribensis or Rams.


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Thanks, Im going to do some research on all the species you guys mentioned. I already have some Kribs in my 55, so I'll probably go with either the Yellow Labs, or some South American or small African Cichlids that don't get too big, my lfs gets some nice ones from Tanganyika and Malawi.

Thanks

You can get a pair of Neolamprologus Brichardi & they are from Lake Tanganiyka. Very easy to keep & quite nice.



http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

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