Cichlids for a 12 gallon?

[Cal]

thinking of converting my 12 gallon back to tropical from coldwater after my disaster this hot summer we had.

which cichlids would you sergest for a small tank like this. i was thinking a small group 3 or 4, if poss, with a slate/driftwood setup


it's a 2x1x1

thanks

 

[demon_surfer]

in a 12 gallon you could try tanganikan shelldwellers.
Rams, apistogramma. a single Keyhole cichlid *might* work. A coule of Krib's.

The shelldwellers are the only ones where you can get about 3 or 4 in that tank though that would still be pushing it.

 

[Cal]

maybe just two then, if you think it's going to be pushing it, i don't want a crowed tank. they wouldn't interfear with a small bottom feader would they?


i'll read up on those fish and see what i can find out.

does anybody have any other sergestions?

 

[demon_surfer]

the cichlids are all really bottom dwellers however they shouldnt mess with a couple of cories.

a better idea may be to get some of these fellas and then a couple of tetras to take the top of the tank like rummynose or something.

cichlids in general are a large family there are very few that can live for life in a 12 gallon and not be cramped.

 

[Cal]

well, i don't want to cramp them, so i might have to think of something else other than cichlids

Rams only grow to 2''s don't they? so it might be possible to just have 3 of those

 

[Sum-X]

Ya but I wouldn't put more than 2 Rams in anything smaller than a 20 gallon.

 

[valerie]

I had a pair of rams in a 15g and the male chased the females constantly, even with the tank fully planted. I now only have the male and everythign has settled down. I have 6 cardinals in with my ram and they do fine together.

I also have a pair of L.ocellatus(shelldwellers) in a 10g. They are very cool and interesting to watch.THey also produce babies like you wouldnt' believe, I have new batches every 2 weeks.

What is your water like? If it is soft i would go for a ram or male apisto but only get 1 for the tank. Or if your water is hard get a pair of shellies(or trio depending on species)

 

[Cal]

thanks, thats interesting. the water here is quite hard i'd say

 

[benedick]

that size is more than enough for a colony of a tanganyikan shelldweller.

 

[Cal]

can't find much info one the tanganyikan shelldweller. does anybody have a decent link?

thanks