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	brand new 20-gallon cichlid tank
zoeandmaia Hobbyist Posts: 125 Kudos: 121 Votes: 78 Registered: 01-Jan-2005	My tropical community has outgrown my 20-gallon tank so I'm moving them into a spacious new 55-gallon tank. I'm excitedly making plans for the soon-to-be empty 20-gallon tank. I've never owned cichlids but I know my options are rather limited due to the size of the tank. After a lot of research I was thinking of the following combo: 1 masked julie [julidochromis transcriptus] 2 big-eyed multis [neolamprologus similus] 1 bumblebee goby [brachygobius xanthozona] 1 dwarf puffer [carinotetraodon trauancoricus] 6 serpae tetras [hyphessobryeon eques] Do you think these fish would be happy housemates? I'd love to hear the opinion of experienced fish-lovers. Also, I'm open advice about the tank decor. Thanks
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
Hooktor Fish Addict Posts: 646 Kudos: 651 Votes: 67 Registered: 22-Mar-2004	The bumblebee goby is a brackish fish, so that would not do well. Also, it would probably be better to stick with one kind of cichlid. Have you thought of rams or kribensis?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
Cichlid Keeper Big Fish Posts: 368 Kudos: 466 Votes: 304 Registered: 17-Aug-2003	Yeah, I agree with Hooktor I think Rams would probably be a better choice for you.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
zoeandmaia Hobbyist Posts: 125 Kudos: 121 Votes: 78 Registered: 01-Jan-2005	I can say goodbye to the bumblebee without too much regret but I'm afraid I've developed a little crush on the masked julie and the big-eyed multi I actually misspoke earlier when I said that I'd never owned a cichlid. I do currently have one german blue ram in my tropical community tank. I'd rather find something new and more exciting. Are you advising against the two types of cichlids because of compatability issues? or because they are difficult to maintain? Thanks again for your guidance.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
Janna Mega Fish Posts: 1386 Registered: 24-Aug-2003	The julidochromis and the multis both come from lake tanganyika in Africa. Those lakes have hard water a a high pH. The bumblebee goby is a brackish water fish. The dwarf puffer is a nipper and would be best suited to a species only tank. The serpae tetras come from South America, where the water is soft and has a low pH. Really, the fish you chose don't go together all that well. >.< You need to decide whether you want to do a Lake Tang tank with sand, rocks, and a high pH, or a South American tank with plants, driftwood, and a neutral-lower pH. They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes, They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver, So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	It's also quite possible to do a Lake Tang tank with plants (like mine), of course - for example, if you leave out the similis so the gravel vs. sand is less of an issue (much as I adore the species) you could certainly have a colony of julies in the tank - just add some rock piles and let the plants grow in around the rocks. However, the Serpaes, puffer, and bumblebee goby, as previously mentioned, don't belong in with the Tangs. As Janna said - do you want Tangs or do you want a community? In a 20, those are more or less mutually exclusive. Last edited by LittleMousling at 05-Jan-2005 23:51 -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57


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