Good Compliments for ciclids?

[belmont0182]

Ok so i got a fish tank a week or two ago and i had a ton of problems. to make a long story short all i have left is a molly. i know a guy who is really in to aquariums and he is going to give me some african ciclids. i have a ten gallon tank and i was wondering how many ciclids i could put into the tank, and what are some other fish that go well with cicllids?

 

[OrionGirl]

I'm moving this to the cichlid forum. OG

I'm not 100%, but I don't think africans are a great choice for a 10 gallon tank. They are mostly very aggressive, and will beat the heck out of each other and any tankmates.

Cycling the tank completely before adding any more fish is paramount to long term success. Without understanding and taking care of this, you will continue to have problems and deaths.

 

[SnakeIce]

ya it really depends on the genus of africans he would be providing... there are some that would work in the tank you have but most are to large/agressive to work

do you know what he has?

 

[andruboz]

these are cool.
http://www.ohiexchange.com/armke/images/neo_multifasciatus_chaitika.JPG
shell dwellers. about an inch long. i had one. but lost him when a snail population explosion lowered the water quality.

 

[valerie]

Africans aren't a good choice for a 10g, none will really fit in there unless you are getting a pair of shell dwellers.


For a 10g stick with peaceful community fish. But first make sure your tank is cycled. Since your friend has a tank ask him for some gravel or used media to help you along.

 

[belmont0182]

yeah i think i will stick with community fish...those free cichlids are tempting, but i dont want a buch of fights.

i am definately waiting for my tank to cycle before i get any new fish though.

 

[demon_surfer]

shell dwellers will work well in a 10 gallon. you only want maybe 3 and plenty of hiding places. but make sure you get 2 females and a male and you should have no problems at all.

 

[valerie]

But he has a molly left in his 10g which wouldn't work with shell dwellers.

If you get rid of the molly you coudl possibly have shellies. They need sand though so if you have gravel its best to change it to sand.

A pair of L.ocellatus or N. brevis would work or a trio of N.multies. I have a pair of ocellatus "blue" in my 10g and they are great.Very fiesty and breed like rabbits. I used to have 4(1m/3f) but a 10g turned out to be too small for all of them and 2 of the females got contantly picked on after the male chose his female so i moved them out.

So if your happy with a tank with only a couple of fish then shellies are great, lots of personality. Its fun to watch them move and bury their shells all day. But i'm a little scared at times to put my hand in the tank as they do attack.