As some of you may know, I recently got a free 55 gallon tank and stand, and while I was thinking of stocking choices, I wondered about African Cichlids. I researched about them for about a full day on this website and I know the basics. Such as they like alkaline hard water, they need caves or hiding places so they each have their own territory, they can't be kept with plants or else they will shred them up because they are vegetarians.
But I hardly know anything about the names of cichlids, I only know about yellow labs. Can the african cichlids in Petsmart that say Assorted Africans live together when they are adults? and if so, how many of them can live in a 55 gallon tank? If not, tell me the latin names of the types I can keep together peacefully. I would like to have an assortment of colorful cichlids, if possible.
Keep in mind that I have never kept any cichlid before so that is why I ask here before running out and buying them willy-nilly, I am willing to learn about them. This is also my first post in the Cichlid forum.
But I hardly know anything about the names of cichlids, I only know about yellow labs. Can the african cichlids in Petsmart that say Assorted Africans live together when they are adults? and if so, how many of them can live in a 55 gallon tank? If not, tell me the latin names of the types I can keep together peacefully. I would like to have an assortment of colorful cichlids, if possible.
Keep in mind that I have never kept any cichlid before so that is why I ask here before running out and buying them willy-nilly, I am willing to learn about them. This is also my first post in the Cichlid forum.