Advice Needed

[kaj41354]

Hi folks,

I started the new year with some new used tanks. I got 2 - 50Gal (36x18x18), 1 that I thought I would turn into a display tank in the living room (already got Susie's approval). Since I am new to the African Cichlid world, I wanted to see if I could get some ideas from everyone here at CCA. I did check the Cichlid-Forum and found this one that I thought would be nice. It is for a 55 which actually has less surface area than mine. had a ? though and those are in red.

• Cyprichromis leptosoma - 12 (non-jumbos)
• Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps <---How many??
• Neolamprologus buescheri - 12
• Shell dweller pair of choice - <<--Would it be ok to have more than 1 pair?
'Lamprologus' (Shellies) brevis,
multifasciatus (group), melegaris,
ornatipinnis, ocellatus, speciosus,
similis (group), Neolamprologus signatus

I probably wont due this until late spring since I have to build a cabinet but I would like to plan ahead.

Thanks all

 

[Charlutz]

The altos you can keep in a small group, although large males can be rough on other males. It takes them a few years to grow to that size, so 4-6 would be ok for a bit until they grew. You have a typo or a mistake with the buescheri. A group of 6 juveniles that you would thin down to a pair once they became sexually mature is IMO a better way to try. You may run out of real estate to do more than one pair of shellies once the altos and buescheri claim a territory.

Hi folks,

I started the new year with some new used tanks. I got 2 - 50Gal (36x18x18), 1 that I thought I would turn into a display tank in the living room (already got Susie's approval). Since I am new to the African Cichlid world, I wanted to see if I could get some ideas from everyone here at CCA. I did check the Cichlid-Forum and found this one that I thought would be nice. It is for a 55 which actually has less surface area than mine. had a ? though and those are in red.

• Cyprichromis leptosoma - 12 (non-jumbos)
• Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps <---How many??
• Neolamprologus buescheri - 12
• Shell dweller pair of choice - <<--Would it be ok to have more than 1 pair?
'Lamprologus' (Shellies) brevis,
multifasciatus (group), melegaris,
ornatipinnis, ocellatus, speciosus,
similis (group), Neolamprologus signatus

I probably wont due this until late spring since I have to build a cabinet but I would like to plan ahead.

Thanks all[/b]

 

[kaj41354]

I thought this was a lot of fish for a tank tha size. If it is a typo, than it is wrong on the website. Would it be better to go with just Cyprichromis leptosoma and some shellies or is there another that could be added?

 

[longstocking]

Kurt...

Since I'm a mod over there :lol: ... there are a lot of mistakes in the cookie cutters !


I've kept most of these fish...

I would skip the cyprichromis.... better option would be Paracyprichromis. They can be kept in a 3 foot tank... but best in 4 foot tanks. Since you haven't kept them before, I'd stick with the Paracyprihromis.

If you want more than a pair of shell dwellers.... go with something that likes to breed/live in harems. Ocellatus is a good option.... and pretty available from quite a few people locally.

Buescheri.... if you are set on these... are mean little you know what's ! Start with 6 not 12. YOu could end up with a pair or a trio.

 

[kaj41354]

I am really not set on any fish. This is for a display tank and I wanted to get a varitety of fish that wouls cohabitate fairly well, have some good colors, and be fairly active. Aplus would be if they bred in the tank but really not a necessity. I just know that you more experienced cichlidiots could make recommendations as to what fish.

 

[longstocking]

If you want a tank you don't have to mess with much... and just enjoy ...

This is what I would do as a display tank that is 3 foot long....

8 Paracyprichromis
5 Calvus ( might have to be thinned down)
6 Ocellatus


That's it. The Paracyprichromis and calvus are very mild in terms of aggression and movement. The Ocellatus are spunky and will give you more movement in the tank.

 

[kaj41354]

Thanks Sarah,

That sounds like a good plan. What i liked about this tank was that it is 18" deep and will give me a lot of room to make rockworks. Those darn 12" deep tanks just make it difficult. Now to get it all ready...Fun times ahead.

Thanks everybody