Dwarf Cichlid tank size and Questions

[Buggieboy]

hold on there. that site did NOT recommend Labidochromis caeruleus or nkali for a twenty gallon tank. read it again. they recommended Tanganyikan species NOT Malawi species. the latter are NOT pair formers and need to be maintained in groups of 1 male and 3-4 females. these cichlids are rock dwellers and need a lot of rocks and caves in their tank. a twenty gallon tank is not nearly large enough for a group of ANY Lake Malawi cichlids ... you'll kill them in short order.

I agree totally :look: again the malaiw cichlids are just way to big for a 20g long. the smllest tank I would even consider for them would be 40g . The Apistogramma spices would be nice for that tank along with a few german blue rams and or kribs. a few of the shell dwellers also would work in a 20g long. But I'd look again as to going with any of the african malaiw spices.

 

[DeRo316]

Yep, no labs in a 20 gallon. I would go with apistos or Tanganyikan shell dwellers.

 

[ljse]

I would not put more than 1 pair of apistos in a 20 gallon.

 

[jiffy]

Your tank is to small for them, but I have Ps. Saulosi in a 30 gal. They are dwarf cichlids and will get to be ~4 inches big. The nice thing is, the dominant males will turn deep blue, the sub dom. a lighter blue, and the females stay yellow/orange.

 

[con-man-dan]

In a 20L, personally I'd be looking to the cryptohero genus from Cetral America. I have raised and spawned a few species in 20L's without a problem. As for the more colorful species, I'd look at Honduran Red Points, Myrnae, Sajica, Septemfasciatus or Nanoluteus. Herotilapia Multispinosa "rainbow cichlids" could work as well. I used to keep apisto's in 20L's but have since moved them to 30 breeder and 50L (36x18 and 48x18) they have exibited much better coloration, and more intresting behaivoir plus more spawning. Just cause some cichlids are small doesnt mean they can live in small quarters. Some apisto's can work well, others need more territory, especially if they are harem spawners. The crypto's I suggested, get a bit larger (4" average, 6" exceptional) but even in large tanks, stake out very small territory. Check aquabid, most of those are usually readily available. I left out convicts as they're not quite as brightly colored, and you'll have more fry then you know what to do with in a matter of months lol