I was wondering what would be recommended for cichlids to keep in a 40 gallon tank, african cichlids, I would like to have many not just one or two so no large species, easy care, and easy breeding (cause I think thats neat not cause I want to sell them). I have kept oscars and green terrors (with success)but no other cichlids and have been keeping fresh water fish for 5 years now so I can handle some challenge but I don't want to spend a fortune on fish either. Thanks in advance for any advice.
simple question
- Thread starter greenterrorrr
- Start date
SO what type of cichlid do you want to keep? Africans(malawi or tangs)? SA or CA? How many fish do you consider many?
If you are going to want to breed i would stick to just one species as they can be aggressive while spawning and then there won't be the risk of hybrids(which happens quite easily with africans.)
What is your water like?
If you are going to want to breed i would stick to just one species as they can be aggressive while spawning and then there won't be the risk of hybrids(which happens quite easily with africans.)
What is your water like?
I think I would like to keep african cichlids though I am not sure which ones, many would be no less than about 10. Thanks for the help.
You could probably fit 10 of the "less aggresive" mbuna in a 40g. What are the dimensions of the tank? More fish isn't always better. A 40g isn't really that big of a tank when keeping africans and africans are on the aggresive side. You could try adding 10 fish but you may have to remove excess males or overly aggresive ones.
Some of the less aggresive mbuna are
-yellow labs(Labidochromis caeruleus) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_caeruleus.php
-Pseudotropheus saulosi http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_saulosi.php
-Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_acei.php
-Iodotropheus sprengerae http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/i_sprengerae.php
I have personally kept yellow labs and rusties. I have rusties right now in my 90g and they are my favorite.My males have a beautiful purplish sheen to them and they hardly ever fight. They also breed like rabbits. Another plus is that they are on the cheaper side(i payed 6$ each,compared to the 15$+ i have payed for other mbuna)
What every you do research, reseach, research. Dont' buy soemthign you don't know anyhtign about. cichlid-forum.com is where i learned the most when i was researching for my african tank.
Some of the less aggresive mbuna are
-yellow labs(Labidochromis caeruleus) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_caeruleus.php
-Pseudotropheus saulosi http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_saulosi.php
-Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_acei.php
-Iodotropheus sprengerae http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/i_sprengerae.php
I have personally kept yellow labs and rusties. I have rusties right now in my 90g and they are my favorite.My males have a beautiful purplish sheen to them and they hardly ever fight. They also breed like rabbits. Another plus is that they are on the cheaper side(i payed 6$ each,compared to the 15$+ i have payed for other mbuna)
What every you do research, reseach, research. Dont' buy soemthign you don't know anyhtign about. cichlid-forum.com is where i learned the most when i was researching for my african tank.
Personally, I think you'd be asking for trouble putting 10 mbuna in a 40, unless they were the most placid of mbuna (e.g., yellow labs). A 40 isn't big enough to overstock, so 10 of most mbuna will cause problems. I'd consider a quartet (1 M, 3 F) of these fish, but not much more.
HTH,
jim
HTH,
jim
You probably could have a colony of the smaller Julie species, like Julidochromis transcriptus or Julidochromis ornatus. I don't know about the ornatus, but the transcriptus I have is very peaceful (except when the cories go into his cave), I keep him (or her) in my 38g with angels, neons, a paradise fish, and cory cats with 0 problems.
some cichlids that will stay an appropriate size -
any of the archocentrus genus the Sajica are particularly nice. The convict is in this genus if that gives you a general idea of what they look like.
The Thoricthys genus that contains the firemouth is another. The aureus is particularly nice.
the geophagus and gymnogeophagus also have many smaller species in the genus' but some that get larger so be careful when choosing.
also nice in a forty would be a breeding pair of severum.
if you are serious about breeding the africans I suggest you get several females and one male. make the tank with as many caves as you can cram in there and then have something top swimming schoolers to act as dithers and keep the cichlids moving. (though they may have a tough life)
I can give you links etc if you are intrested in any of this stuff.
any of the archocentrus genus the Sajica are particularly nice. The convict is in this genus if that gives you a general idea of what they look like.
The Thoricthys genus that contains the firemouth is another. The aureus is particularly nice.
the geophagus and gymnogeophagus also have many smaller species in the genus' but some that get larger so be careful when choosing.
also nice in a forty would be a breeding pair of severum.
if you are serious about breeding the africans I suggest you get several females and one male. make the tank with as many caves as you can cram in there and then have something top swimming schoolers to act as dithers and keep the cichlids moving. (though they may have a tough life)
I can give you links etc if you are intrested in any of this stuff.