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OK, this isnt realy setting up a new tank, but rather re-stocking an old one.
I had two african cichlides (one P. socolofi and an unidentified, but similar shaped orange/peach colored cichlid (I THINK that she is a Red Zebra, but i am not sure. i do not have a camera to take a picture)) They were kept seperate by a barrier in the tank. II have the P. Socolofi (Blue) for three years (average lifespan is 10) and the peach one (Rose) for about 1.5 years. Everything had been going well untill the other day, when Blue became ill, rather suddenly, and died before morning. After research, I found that he probably suffered from Malwi Bloat, and on the advice of the website where I found the information, I have been treating Rose with Clout. Her treatments are over, and all that is left is a couple more days of daily water changes to get the medicine out of the tank.
Now she will be one approximatly 3 or 4 inch (hard to get her to sit still longways along the glass so I can measure her properly, and I stink at estimating) in a 20 gallon tank.

I do realize that 20 gallons is rather small for a cichlid, but my water parameters always test perfectly, even when there were two fish in there. I do hope to move to a bigger tank when I graduate, and move (graduating in May, moveing might be another year, depending on where I get a job).

At any rate, Are there any tankmates I could consider getting for Rose? She seems awfully small and alone in that tank all by herself.


Also, one of the causes that was listed for the disease that killed Blue is the wrong type of food. The website actualy said to stay away from food labled for american cichilds. Now, I KNEW that, but the food I was useing did not specify weather it was fro african or american fish. I had thought that it was good to use, but am not re-thinking my decision. It is not a new food, I have been useing it since at least the summer)
So if anyway has suggestions for the type of food I SHOULD get rose, let me know please.

How large is it? Have you tried live foods? how large do you think it is? Maybe try a new brand? Also the food may be old and stale. If you find the species of the fish maybe that may help... Contact soon Ok? -goby

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Since Rose is an African cichlid (most likely a Mbuna), you should get a vegetable based food. Something that lists Spirulina in the ingredients would be good. If you can find them, Ocean Nutrition Vegi flakes would be a good food. Look for some type of "veggie" or "spirulina" food.

If you are pretty certain that the fish is a Red Zebra, I think you could add 2 more to the tank, but get small ones. Then you'd have to be sure to upgrade when you can to around a 50g or so, as these cichlids are aggessive, as you've found. I think having 3 small ones in the tank would be fine for awhile, but not for long term.

*Kristin*

On a second thought, I don't think that I want to try any new fish as tank mates for Rose.
Do you all have any experience with Invertebrates living with cichlids. Do you think she would leave shrimp alone? I idid have snails, and she sort of picked at him, but didn't actualy do any damage. (I have since moved the snails to the ten gallon, because the medicine would have hurt them).

In other news, I swear that blasted fish is HAPPY that Blue is gone. She has become much more aggressive and active. She attacked my hand yesterday when I was re-arranging stones in the tank, and i swear I could feel her teeth!

One thing that i know is cichlids love to make dinner out of inverts. i put five ghost shrimp in my cichlid tank and they never hit the bottom. Of course they were intended for food, so it wasn't a big deal. Cichlids and inverts with the exceptions of lobsters and crabs, don't mix. Blue lobsters are very cool, bery interesting to watch, but can be a hazard to curious and brave fish. if a lobster gets a hold of your fish there is a good chance that the only inhabitant will be the lobster. The only thing i can really recommend would be some more cichlids. As girliegirl said, you can add some more and it might even be good for rose, just provide some hiding places, and as long as it isn't long term you will be okay.

Renegade545,
king of the frontosa