Species Compatible With African Cichlids

[wilson004]

I was wondering what are some interesting species compatible of living with african cichlids. I want something for the bottom of my tank that will also eat any uneaten food and i was wondering about a crayfish. I read somewhere that they are compatible with africans and eat almost anything on the bottom and are also very interesing. Also maybe a pleco might be nice but that wont get to big for a 55gal.

Any replies appreciated.

 

[coolguy]

What type of Africans?

What type of Africans do you want to put in the tank?

 

[Dan the Moose]

there are a whole bunch of fish, most larger sharks, and armoured cats will do well. also, mono's arent that bad (they are not really bottom dwellers, and as they age, are suseptible to fungus when they are kept in freshwater) any thing that can stand up to the abuse of the chiclids, or is fast enough to get away form them.

 

[vanimate]

I used to use Synodontis cats for clean up crews for my african cichlids.

 

[KO Lo]

Senegal Birchir would be interesting.

 

[tankfan]

Synodontis petricola cats are naturally from the same lake as some cichlids. Lake Tanganyika. This same lake has certain species of cichlids that are in the "goby" or "sandsifter" class. These like to sift thru the sand looking for any vittles that may have been missed and from what i hear are fun to watch as they scoot around the tank.

Also depends on what kind of cichlids you are interested in. As the more aggressive species you may get go...you will probably have a harder time finding a compatible species match. The more peaceful like peacocks and most of the Labidochromis species are good community fare. I've even had some luck with my Cynotilapia afra cobues not being very aggressive to other fish.

 

[saganco]

Would the botias work? If you're using the dwarf or more peaceful cichlids, I would think (hope?) that the yoyo loach or some burmese botias... they are so coold and really good little scavenvers from what I've seen.

 

[tanapseudes]

I never see my bristle nose cat that I put in with my Africans. The rift lake catfish as above work great. I have had one since 1995.

 

[saganco]

Ok, so I have a breeding (actually have eggs right now) pair of Honduran Red Points in a 65g with a footprint of 36x18 with lots of caves and tunnels and such. What would be a good choice for a second pair or dither fish? The guy who sold them to me told me not to have any bottom feeders cuz they would eat the eggs - but that's not the feeling I get from others on this forum. Most folks have egg layers and bottom feeders without problems, so what (non-pleco) cleaner will mind their own business and leave the eggs alone? I love loaches, but think they might really like the eggs or fry...