FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a 10gallon and i have about 2 convicts 1 oscar 3 levender mbuna 2 auratus. I read from some website that you need to overstock your ciclid tank. since that mine are all small thats what I did but now one of my auratus and lavender mbuna has outgrown most of the others because they are males but I do have 1 male and 2 females for my lavender and he's still pretty aggresive. please help me fix this=P<img src='/images/forums/frown.gif' border=0>

first I've moved this to the cichlid central forum for you since your problem is exclusively cichlid-related.

now for fixing your tank...it is really very simple. you really need to return all of the fish to your lfs and get some different ones or get a couple larger tanks. the oscar alone will need a 75 gallon tank. all of the fish you have will outgrow a l0 gallon tank, but there are a few other cichlids out there that would be ok in a 10 gallon. perhaps you could trade in what you ahve for some shelldwellers. i've never kept shellies before but I do know they are much more suitable for a 10 gallon than the ones you have.

as far as overstocking...overstocking is generally recommended for Lake Malawi (african) mbuna setups to help curb aggression, but in most other cichlid tanks you will have much better success with accurate stocking as opposed to overstocking.

will a 60 gallon do?
because i'm getting one in 2 weeks or so. my ciclids are still very small.

Most defenitely get those back to your LFS or get 3 larger tanks. Not only will those fish outgrow a 10 gallon tank, you are also mixing african and american cichlids which is another bad mistake.I'd say at least a 55 gallon for the oscar,by himself, a 75 gallon for the mbunas,the auratus and levenders, and at least a 20 gallon for the convicts.
You are really severly overstocked and need to get rid of those fish and get some that will do much better in a tank your size.

A 60 gallon would do for the oscar, but nothing else in with it. Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 23-Jun-2005 18:13

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 23-Jun-2005 18:19

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 23-Jun-2005 18:19

good advises=)
wut about having just southamerican ciclids? with central american? would that be problem?

in a 10g yes, as said the convicts will need atleast a 20g, and oscars.........can grow to about(anyone correct me if i get this wrong) 10 inches
i also hear the convicts can b quite aggressive when breeding.......depending on if you have a male and female.......can't remember if you stated

Oscars, more like 12", and as much as 16" for many males. A single oscar needs at least a 55 gallon tank, and a 75 is better.

There are cichlids that do well in a 10 gal, but they're a small and specific group, and none of the fish you have are on it. Upgrade the cons and the oscar to a 75 and cross your fingers they'll continue to coexist (or upgrade the oscar and return the cons or vice versa), then get the lavenders (P. sp. acei?) into a 30+ gallon. I'd return the auratus- they're xtremely aggressive and stand little chance of coexisting with the lavenders even in a huge tank (which they'd need). You're better off without them. Then, if you have the room, you can add some yellow labs in with the lavenders.

I guess with the 60 gal, I'd say return the oscar and auratus, upgrade the cons, put the lavenders in the 60 and add some electric yellows in with them - IMO, that'd be the most enjoyable of the possibilities.

Last edited by LittleMousling at 24-Jun-2005 15:27

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

convicts are aggressive when breeding...... they would need a 20 to themselves and maybe a 30 with some other fish..... the 20 will be quickly filled with fry so dont worry about a barren tank

i keep oscars and i will be honest...

send all your fish back to the LFS

reasons

1. it will be very expensive to upgrade if you havent already got the equipment you need so think if it is worth while

2. your fish will start killing each other indefinatly!


sorry

I think i'll leave my auratus in the 10gallon. they are just way to aggresive. but for some reason I don't see any of them nipping each others fins now. exept for the the auratus of course. i'll get all the stuff when i get my 1st paycheck. i already know what stuff to get so i think it should work out. hope for the best=P

just make sure you know what you are getting youself into! keep us posted and good luck!

i haven't kept any ciclids since gradeschool so yeah. i'm learning everything all over again about them. I pretty much didn't expect the auratus to be as aggresive as I thought it would be. but my lavender has outgrown it=p