Cichlid for 25 gallon

[chaibill]

I would like a pair or one cichlid for a 25gallon tank. What can i put in there? Convicts?
I saw a beat up purple rose queen. Part of it's back was bitten . It's missing the middle of dorsal fin and the back is missing some flesh. Looks kind of funny like a ninja sport bike or like it is wearing a saddle. It's real small maybe the size of a half dollar coin. Hybrid form of flower horn right?
should I get it see how it does by its self?

[fishy714]

No never buy a sick or injured fish thats just asking for trouble. Is this tank going to have any tank mates? Theres a lot of cichlids you can put in a 25 gallon need more info on what you want or like.

[abarilot]

I'd do a pair of apistos or rams. With either of these you'd be able to have community of fish as well!

[chaibill]

No i don't think there will be tank mates thats why i was thinking just put the Purple rose queen in there.
Want some thing colorful. Maybe Kribs? I like the shape of the baby Uaru is there any thing like that? Maybe 3-5 inches long. This one is good are they easy to find?
http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/photos/A_cac_DR_M_01.JPG

and thishttp://www.dwarfcichlid.com/photos/D_fil_M_2_A.jpg

[toddnbecka]

Apisto's need soft water; fine if you have suitable tap water or an R/O unit, otherwise a real pain in the butt to maintain the proper conditions. The second pic is a chessboard cichlid, they're ultra-sensitive to water quality.
If you have hard, alkaline water I have some chanchito fry available. Adults are about the same size as convicts but considerably easier to get along with. You could easily keep an established pair in a 30" tank. Here's a couple pics of my breeders:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/P1020798.jpg
Better shot of the female:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/P1020799.jpg

[chaibill]

Those are cute. Its a 24" tank. How fast do they grow?

[toddnbecka]

The largest juvies are under 2" now, and they're probably 5-6 months old. They show the same pattern as the adults, but not the colors yet. They would also mix well with the fish in your 55, assuming it's a current stock list. I started w/7 in a 30 long, and moved 3 out after a pair formed. They spawned several times while the other non-breeding pair stayed on the far end of the tank, under cover mostly. I finally moved the second pair out to make space for fry growout. The breeding pair only claimed about half the 30 long for their spawning territory, and the BN pleco's weren't bothered at all. They did a fantastic job of keeping the ramshorn snails under control, along with the BN fry. After I moved the breeding pair to another tank to grow out some BN fry the snail population went ballistic. When the breeders were in the tank I hardle ever saw one.

[GuppyMan]

A pair of Jewels or Rainbows could do well too. :)

[Vicious_Fish]

A pair of Honduran Red Points would work too.

[chaibill]

Ok I will look into the dwarfs.
Is there anything that looks like an Electric Blue Dempsey but 4-5 inches.
Also might do dwarf puffers instead of cichlids.

[toddnbecka]

There are the new electric blue rams, but you'll pay quite a chunk of change for a pair of those.

[chaibill]

I like the Rainbow cichlid. I will see if i can get a pair.

[chaibill]

Going to look into the Cupid Cichlid ( biotodoma cupido ) Book says they are sand sifters i like the sound of that.

[jpappy789]

I believe they are classified with other earth eaters...?

[chaibill]

Maybe but I like geophagus but get too big. The cupids have a similar head shape. the LFS guy said he can get any thing so going to ask.

[GuppyMan]

go for 'em!

[heavyhammer]

If i had a extra 25g i would do a pair of neetroplus nematopus, or a pair of archocentrus sajica.