Lake Tanganika (sp?) Cichlids

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Heady

Cardinal Rule
Feb 22, 2003
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Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

I have a 20 gallon tank with black sand, rocks, live java moss, plastic red ludwiga and other plastic plants. Filtration: a Biowheel 170. Beautiful!

I have 3 ocellated shelldwellers and 2 guppies in there. I really love those shelldwellers - they're so cute and fun too! - but would like another mid- or top- water fish to round out my tank. I would prefer another Lake Tanganyika cichlid, but it has to be small enough as an adult to be happy in this tank, and has to be able to tolerate the Lake Tanganyika salts & high pH (8.2).

Does anyone have suggestions?
 
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cant think of any mid water or topwater dwelling tanganyikan cichlids but maybe a lamprologus of some kind. That is a shell dweller to though so that might not work out to well.
 
Your 20 gallon tank is a bit small, but Cyprichromis leptosoma is a schooling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika that lives near the top of the water column. I had some in a 50 gallon with some shelldwellers years ago, and the problem was that the shelldwellers kept eating the C. leptosoma fry (but the adults got along just fine). You might be able to get away with 3 or so in your tank.

Another possibility from Lake Tanganyika is Lampricthys tanganicanus, a killifish with the same habits as C. leptosoma.

Or you could try some Celebes rainbows, which will also do well in that water.

Since you are from Seattle and I am familiar with that area, you might try heading down to Renton, to where the 167 and the 405 meet, to visit Fish Gallery and Pets. They have a wide selection of fish, and Kevin, one of the managers, is very helpful and knowledgeable. Good luck.
 
That is **REALLY** weird. Kevin is actually the guy who sold me my ocellati in the first place! :eek:

Yeah he really seems to know his stuff, however I was wondering what other people had to say about it.
 
neolamprologus caudopuncatus might work for you. They are sometimes categorized as shelldwellers but they really aren't true shelldwellers in that they don't live in them. They will take advantage of the mid and top of your tank more so than the lower area. They need rockwork for shelter and for possible breeding...although they will use shells. Their max size is around 3.5 inches I think with the males larger than the females. Beautiful fish with white body, and yellow/orange on the fins. when stressed or displaying develop dark vertical stripes. Fairly peaceful as well and would be ok with your ocellatus.

here is a link to some info: http://www.duboisi.com/articles/KBneocaud.htm
 
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