Dwarf Cichlid tank size and Questions

M

m0rl0ck

AC Members
Oct 3, 2004
23
0
0
My wife and I were at a LFS today and the guy had a tank of dwarf cichlids, none bigger than about 6 inches that were absolutely beautiflul. The fish were so colorful that I first just dismissed them as saltwater fish. The most striking of them were brillant blue and yellow.
My wife loved them too and wants a tank of dwarf cichlids now. We've decided on a 20 gallon for the bedroom. The LFS guy said that we could probably get 6 - 8 in a twenty gallon tank. So my questions are:

1. What are the most colorful dwarf cichlids (my wife wants the blue and yellow ones we saw today, what are they likely to have been?)

2. Is 6-8 dwarf cichlids in a twenty long okay?

3. How hard are they to keep? PH, feeding etc.

4. What kind of lighting should I plan for?

Thanks
 
I'm gonna say that they are africain cichlids so you can search and find out what type of water they will need. The yellow ones are Yellow Lab's (common name) The water will need a slightly higher ph for africain cichlids so coral/sea shells can be used. I'm not sure on 6-8 fish in a 20 L but with africians I've heard that you slightly over stock to spreed agression. As for them being dwarfs 6" is not dwarf. If they are like any other cichlid then they won't be to hard to keep. Get a lot of filtration do weekly (7-10 days) water changes. The light that comes with the 20L or one you can buy for it will work, no need to get a lot of watts, if no plants.
 
I agree with nate... I'm not aware of any dwarf cichlids that are brilliantly colored in the fashion that you described.

A 20L is not big enough for 6-8 (Lake Malawi) african cichlids.

All I can say is research, research, research. Here's a good place to start
http://www.fishaholics.org/profiles.php?sid=df1003fccbf9926c947b48254c343021

Look under the Labidochromis species and the Aulonocara species for starts.

HTH
 
Last edited:
Could it have been a golden ram? They have some blue iridescence...seen these little buggers in the LFS, very nice, but much smaller than 6".
 
I'm with nate and puma, sound like mbuna and definitely not dwarfs. I think kribs are the largest cichlids considered "dwarfs" and they only get around 4". I also agree a 20 gallon of any layout is too small for any mbuna but a growout tank for fry. Kyle
 
have never actually purchased malawi's although I've been close :) I'm suprised they recommend that many in a 20 but I'm sure there was a little thought and experience went into the cookie-cutters over there. As far as coloration, it more than likely depends on the exact species but I've seen tons of mbuna full colored at around 1/2". I know some species will totally change their colors when they reach adult size though. I know the yellow labs will be full colored at a very very small size. It's kind of cute seeing a tankfull of 1/2" mbuna full colored, almost like a miniature malawi tank hehe. Kyle
 
I think you are probably talking about german blue rams, which are pretty striking and are blue and yellow.

Your LFS is wrong. 6-8 in a 20 long is going to make for fights, as even though they are small, they are also very territorial once mating pairs are made.

I would do some research on them, google german blue ram. They are very delicate in terms of water quality, and disease prone (from what I can find out, supposedly due to highly medicated waters in the tank breedings in Asia - when they hit normal waters, suppressed diseases blossom, is the theory.)
 
we've decided to go with Labidochromis species cereulis and nkali maybe two pairs or trios as recommended at http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articl..._cutter_20g.php
Click to expand...

hold on there. that site did NOT recommend Labidochromis caeruleus or nkali for a twenty gallon tank. read it again. they recommended Tanganyikan species NOT Malawi species. the latter are NOT pair formers and need to be maintained in groups of 1 male and 3-4 females. these cichlids are rock dwellers and need a lot of rocks and caves in their tank. a twenty gallon tank is not nearly large enough for a group of ANY Lake Malawi cichlids ... you'll kill them in short order.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom