i need help to choose dwarf cichlids

[Michael_G]

Anyways im starting a 20g with some cories,small plecos ans possibly a butterfly fish but i really have my heart set on a couple ofdwarf cichlids(Apistogramma)i find the biteaniata type very attractive but if people know of better looking dwarf cichlids please tell me .
(ramirez i dont like)
thanks in advance.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Apistogramma borelli is my personal fav.

 

[Michael_G]

boreelli is pretty cool now ill see if its available
any more suggestions?

 

[Jayhawk]

Is your tank a 20 long or 20 tall? A tall might have some bottom space conflicts with cories and a pair/harem of dwarf cichlids...the 20 long would likely work out OK with both cories and cichlids.

A. borellis, already mentioned, are beautiful fish.

I really like my Bolivian rams (Microgeophagus altisinosa). Slightly larger and hardier than German/Blue/Gold rams.

If you want something chunkier and more acara like, Laetacara curviceps (flag cichlid) or the closely related L. dorsigera are great fish (but very hard to sex).

What's the pH of your water? Unless you want to mess with it, that can always be a factor in choosing fish.

Eric

 

[biogirl361]

are borelli relatively hardy as far as apisto's go? my LFS got some yesterday and i was thinking of going back out and getting some, but my water is moderately hard and my PH is neutral to slightly basic, and i'd hate for them to die because they didn't like my water...

 

[Michael_G]

i dont like rams at all for some reason their ugly to me but i checked it out and my slp has like 20 different apisto...... so its kinda hard to choose
borelli seem nice but like hawk said i dont want conflicts with my cories

 

[Slappy*McFish]

The conflicts are possible with all dwarf cichlids, not borelli specifically. I'm sure that's what jayhawk meant.

Biogirl, Borellis are pretty hardy so don't be afraid to give them a try...just provide them with what they need and you can't go wrong.

 

[mooman]

Cacatuoides have some great looking jazz on thier head, are hardy, will form harems and can be bred in water that is harder and more alkaline than some of the other Apistos. Mine spawned in ph=7.2, and gh=7.

Whether or not they will bother cories is variable. It depends on that specific males temperament. (e.i. my male cacatuoides had no problem with cories, but my male panduro will not tolerate them.)

 

[Michael_G]

yesterday I just got 2 baby albino aeneus cories
right now their the only fish in my tank. I'm hoping to get 6 bleeding heaart tetras which should do fine with the cories but should i get the borelli or cockatoo dwarf before or after the tetras?

 

[mooman]

Apistos last. That way the other fish already have ownership of the tank. This probably won't matter after a couple days, but that is the reason I have heard. They are also the most expensive.