African Cichlid Tank Size

[strapp]

How many assorted African Cichlid's can I put in a 20 gallon tank? I'm looking at 6" max size variety of fish.

 

[ROLLIN]

"Assorted africans" are usually mbunas, so I'll assume you are talking about mbunas. A 20 gallon tank is too small for them IMO. You usually need to have at least 12 or 15 to even out the aggression. Most of the common ones usually get to 5 or 6 inches long, so a standard 75 is really about the minimum to have a good group of them.


Edit: Lemon yellows dont get as big as most of the assorted africans, so you could have a nice group of 12 or 15 of those in a 50 or a 55.


Edit again: Forgot to say, welcome to the board.

 

[JSchmidt]

Agree. The number of mbuna in a 20 you can comfortably house is zero. You can put shelldwellers from Lake Tanganika in a 20, but those are usually sold as shellies, not as assorted africans.

HTH,
Jim

 

[strapp]

I was looking at either a 20 or 29 gallon tank. Any suggestions on what to populate it with. I already have one 75 gallon and was looking for a smaller tank for the dining room. Would Jewel Cichlid's work?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

No...but apistos, rams or even kribs would work.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I reccommend tangynikan shellies.... they would be a little harder to find but would be nice to have a group of them in a 20 'long'.