Recommendations on Dwarf Cichlids?

K

Kristinann

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Jul 9, 2010
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I have an empty (no fish), cycled, 20 gallon planted tank right now. Lowlight, CO2, red flourite chips. I am becoming more and more interested in dwarf cichlids, and what to know what types would work best for me. I wanted GBRs, but am not sure if I can accomodate all the fry (a 40 gallon grow-put is out of the question, unless someone wants to donate one :thm:). I'm really looking for color and personality, but having room for fry is a pretty big concern.

The water here is a bit hard with a high pH, but I can work with it. My tank stays around 80-82 F without a heter. I only have a 20 gallon tank, and not much money or space for a larger or grow-out tank (though I would enjoy a few fry once in a while, if possible). HOB filter, might add or switch to sponge. I would like to be able to keep at least snails with them, maybe otos, dwarf gouramis, or neon tetras.

What dwarf cichlids do you think might work for me? What kind of special care and extra equiptment would I need to get for them (feeding, grow-put tanks, no tankmates, needs pairs, that kind of thing)?

Thanks.
 
Sounds like a perfect tank for a shellie colony! I have Neolamproluguc multifasciatus. They stay small, and let the fry grow with them. You could start off with a few, and get a great breeding colony in NO time. They love the water warm and hard, so it sounds ideal to me. And since they stay small, you can let the fry grow out with the adults, and just thin the herd every once in a while by selling or trading them. You can definitely have snails with them. You could probably get away with a couple otos, but the gouramis and tetras would likely get nipped. I had an endler on mine for a while, and she was always missing part of her tail fin.
 
The only cichlids I would recommend for your setup would be the Rams or Apistogramma species. If you're concerned about fry why not just keep a single male? I'm guessing culling isn't an option for you? BTW- if you're just growing out many of the storage type bins and boxes work great and are inexpensive.
 
With shellies, would I need to trade out the flourite chips for sand? Shellies can't have plants, can they? I just spend almost $100 on plants and flourite a few weeks ago, then the stocking plan for it fell through.
 
What species of Apistogramma? I'm kinda liking the cacatuoides, currently, but this is my first time doing any research. Also condidering kribs.

Culling in a small amount might be ok, or keeping tankmates that might eat a lot of the fry (preferably not all though). I could try to find a place to sell them or get store credit or something, or ship them to people for the price of shipping + packaging, if they would be strong enough to ship before needing more space.
 
Edit: I misread your original post... shellies would be fine in your setup and do well with plants. Not their natural habitat but they would work together since your water is fairly hard.
 
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cacatuoides would be perfect and are the most commonly available apisto. In a 20 ( long? ), you could cull the majority of the fry and allow a few to grow with the adults. You'd still need a grow out but a 10 gal would be fine for raising to sellable ( 1" ) size providing you only keep 10-15 or so of the fry at a time. Apistos and Rams are always popular so you'd do well in selling or trading them.
 
Kribs are very adaptable and would work in your setup. My only gripe would be that they get a bit large for a planted 20... they look kinda big in relation to everything else. Just a personal preference... I like to keep the appearance of a larger tank. The bigger the fish, the less the illusion.
 
What's the best way to cull? I would prefer feeding them to other fish as it seems most natural, but I doubt I could get the parents to eat them :/

I might be able to squeeze a 20 gallon bare bottom. Would that work, with a sponge filter? What kind of lighting would it need for just that and maybe a bit of java moss? I'm thinking I could make a stand for the main on top and grow-out on bottom, with some basic, maybe not even aquarium, light fixture afixxed to the bottom of the shelf for the top aquarium. Would it need to be covered?

the one I have now is a 20 gallon (high?) 24x12 footprint.
 
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20 gallon with a sponge filter would be perfect. The fish don't need light but if you want java moss you might want to stick a small light bar on there. Rams may never breed in harder water so you may not have to worry about fry, although I've read reports of them breeding in water up to a pH of 7.5. I would cover it, but you don't need an elaborate top. Eggcrate from a hardware store would work fine.
 
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