View Full Version : Stocking a 40gal
greenterrorrr
11-19-2003, 1:36 PM
I am looking at stocking a forty gallon tank and would like some opinions on fish choices. Only one species is fine since I know this is a small tank, I was thinking of a group of 3-6 cichlids. Some of the species I am considering are firemouths or bumble bee cichlids (that's what they are called at the pet store). I would like to be able to see some of the interesting cichlid breeding behavior. Any ideas or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
valerie
11-21-2003, 6:42 PM
I would not put bumble bee cichlids in a tank that small,even in larger tanks they are hard to keep. Bumble bee cichlids are usually refering to Maylandia crabro http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/m_crabro.php They can get up to 8" and are VERY aggresive. Not a good choice.
Stick with a pair of firemouths
dirtysanchez582
11-22-2003, 3:33 PM
how about a group of festivums or mabey some blue acaras even sajicas there all some of my favourite smaller fishes, i had a group of 8 sajica in a 36x18x12 tank with lots of caves and a few plant soon i got a pair up to a good size and kept them with the rest of the females (i found the males get tired of one female quickley) so kept 4 females with one male the tank ws big enough to keep the 3 remaining cichlids happy and i had great fun watching the pair spawn and raise several batches of fry before he turned to another females, nice fish,
DarthV
11-24-2003, 10:44 AM
I'm not sure how well more than a breeding pair of firemouths would work in that size tank... is it a 40gal breeder ? Maybe with lots of cover, it could. You could go with some of the smaller african mbuna cichlids for that tank...yellow labs would work. All depends on what kind of fish you want.
dirtysanchez582,
8 sajica in a 33gal? Cool... my LFS just brought in a gaggle of sajica for me...and as luck would have it, I have a 33gal tank for them... I'll give it a try and see if a breeding pair doesn't wreck the ones that aren't breeding. How large were they when they paired up? The fish at the LFS are just over an inch long or so... and any hints on sexing them?
6-8 keyholes would look nice. they are pretty, peacefull little cichlids