20 Gallon Cichlid tank possible?

M

Mooch28

AC Members
Dec 24, 2004
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Toronto (Brampton)
Hey guys, thinking of turning my 20 gallon into a Cichlid tank. Was thinking saltwater, but im not ready to invest yet in live rock, protien skimmers, etc, and people have told me its too small anyways. SO, im wondering if its possible to turn the 20 into a Cichlid tank. Im thinking of adding rocks with caves, and sand substrate as they like to dig. As for fish, i was thinking.......

1 Yellow Labidochromis (4 inch max size)
1 Metriaclima callainos (5 inch max size)
1 Demasoni Cichlid (3 inch max)

Do you guys think territory would be an issue with these three fish in a 20 gallon tank? And hows compatibility. They are all African Cichlids, so im assuming they would work out well, but im not 100% sure.
 
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If you want to mix and match in a 20, I would go with a yellow lab and maybe 2 rusty cichlids (Iodotropheus sprengerae). The cobalt (Metriaclima callainos) will get too big and possibly mean and the Demasoni is always an unknown - usually mean, but by itself can either be hyper shy or hyper mean. If you want to go with a single species to breed, you can go with most of the shell dwellers from Lake Tanganyika, smaller julies, brichardi or even a breeding trio of a smaller peacock (aulonocara) species. Just filter well and keep up with the water changes. Africans are a lot of fun - what ever you decide, I wish you luck!
 
YoFishboy said:
If you want to mix and match in a 20, I would go with a yellow lab and maybe 2 rusty cichlids (Iodotropheus sprengerae). The cobalt (Metriaclima callainos) will get too big and possibly mean and the Demasoni is always an unknown - usually mean, but by itself can either be hyper shy or hyper mean. If you want to go with a single species to breed, you can go with most of the shell dwellers from Lake Tanganyika, smaller julies, brichardi or even a breeding trio of a smaller peacock (aulonocara) species. Just filter well and keep up with the water changes. Africans are a lot of fun - what ever you decide, I wish you luck!
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Thanks buddy!

Id like more opinion and suggestions though. Anyone else?
 
Julies are an attractive small cichlid species that you might want to look into. I keep a pair of j. transcriptus in a 10g with an upside down catfish. You should introduce several into the tank and allow them to form pairs (they make life bonds if left undisturbed). Sort of expensive, but small and very sharp looking fish! I prefer the transcriptus to the other species. There are several subspecies of transcriptus (gombi, bemba, etc.).
 
No Malawis in a 20 gallon unless you want them to eventually kill off each other. 1 yellow lab if you wanted, but they should get a larger tank (and its would be a lonely existence for a social fish). Its not fair to keep large fish that like to swim in such a small tank. :(

Also you'll definately have aggression issues, no matter what species. Yellow labs and rusties are considered 'peaceful' africans, but are still aggressive fish.

I'd do what fish addict suggested and get some Lake Tangynika fish. You could get a pair of julies or maybe lelupi, or a colony of shelldwellers. :)

-Diana
 
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