FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hey all...

I was wondering what kind of cichlid would fit in a 20 gallon. I have an empty one and I'm looking for something lively and colourful while it can fit comfortably in the aquarium. it's more of a natural setting with slate rocks, a piece of driftwood, some fake plants (i might look into real ones...never kept them) and natural gravel..bigger version..

any recommendations would be appreciates

blue Rams are colorful and small. A pair would work in a 20. You could also do Bolivian Rams. It is harder to find nicely colored speicmens, though when there is a particualrly well-colored fish it looks very nice. A pair of either of these fish would work, but don't mix them together. That's just asking for trouble.

or a pair of red heads commonly known as purple parrots. they can be aggresive with newly added chichlids so i suggest adding both at same time. These fish have character are pretty hardy and are pretty good looking.

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

id personally go w/ bolivian rams, but you could also get a pair of aspittogrammas or kribs, but youd have to get a few top-dwelling fish because dwarf cichlids like these spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank. a school of hachets might look nice, eh?

or a pair of red heads commonly known as purple parrots.

I'm fairly certain you're either referring to blood parrots or jelly bean parrots. for one thing, if you see one of these that is purple, then it has been artificially dyed and will not be nearly as healhty as a non-dyed fish and there is a really good chance it's life span will be shortened. also the purple will eventually fade and the fish will turn more orangish.

also, blood parrots and jellybean parrots will outgrow a 20 gallon tank eventually. they're not the fastest growers, but eventually they can reach at least 4-6" though in most cases 6-8" is more common.

the best choices for this small of a tank would be rams, appistos or some type of shelldweller.

Last edited by jason_r_s at 14-Jan-2006 02:07

thank you very much!!!