Tanganyikan Cichlid tank

xvickyx

xvickyx

Away with the fishes
Dec 8, 2008
7
0
0
39
Hampshire, UK
Hi

My name is Vicky, I am from Hampshire in the UK :dance:

My boyfriend has just brought me a 125L (27 gallon) Fluval Roma, which I am setting up as a Tanganyikan Cichlid tank :):)

Im planning on having

LAMPROLOGUS MULTIFASCIATUS



JULIDOCHROMIS MARLIERI



LAMPROLOGUS LELEUPI

 
Hi Vicky,
In a tank that size I would stick with the Shell-dwellers ( multies ), and possibly a Julidichromis Transcriptus. The Transcriptus will stay a bit smaller than the Marlieri and would make a better fit. I don't think I would include any Leleupi in a system so small.
 
What about a couple of Brichardi Cichlid ?

Sorry I am new to this, I am trying to have a nice balence of shell dwellers,middle,and top, so there is no empty space. :o) any colourful fish would be great.

How many shellies would I be able to comfortably have?

Thanks
 
I'm not personally experienced enough with shellies to give you an accurate number for a 27 gallon ( BTW- bowfront? ), I'm certain someone else will be able to help you there. I've read recommendations for 10 in a 40 gallon breeder.
As for Brichardi, they are on my list of fish for a dedicated species tank, they are so prolific that your tank will quickly become overrun with them. Mine have been moved out of the community 55 into their own breeding tank, which is now chock full of the horny little fish.
For tank mates, in your tank I would look into Rainbows.They are topwater fish , and would give you the balance you're looking for... they're not Tanganyikan, but honestly, at 27 gallons there aren't any I could recommend as tankmates for a shelldweller colony. Most grow too large for a 27, outside of keeping a single pair. I do think you could possibly get away with 1 Julidichromis Transcriptus, though, but I would think that would be fully stocked with the Multis.
 
I've read that someone had successfully breed Multis in a 10G & kept 6 of them happily?.. Everywhere I read there is conflicting information, getting so confused! :o(
 
If you're keeping a species only tank, you could go with higher numbers of fish. A 10 gallon tank could house 6 multis I suppose, but after spawning you have different story, unless the youngsters are removed at some point. It just wouldn't work long term because the colony will outgrow the tank on the first spawn. In a 20 long or larger, there is at least some room to allow for extra bio-load once the colony starts breeding. As you add extra fish into that mix you have to account for this.
In your tank I think that I would start with 6 or so, with some hard water surface fish ( Rainbows ), a large field of shells, and a rock structure to one side of the tank. I should think this could accommodate the multis and perhaps a Transcriptus. You would have some room for growth, although I don't think I would attempt to grow more than a few (2-3 )to adulthood in this tank. This would give you the satisfaction of having bred and raised fry into full fledged colony-members, while not overloading your tank in just a few months.
You're going to get conflicting advice and viewpoints everywhere you look. You're doing the right thing in researching and asking opinions. I'm in no way an expert. I do have experience in several Tanganyikan species, though, and am offering what I would do if I had that tank and a hankering for some Tanganyikans.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/n_multifasciatus.php
 
Last edited:
I agree completely.

Brichardi will eventually breed and wreak havoc on the tank. And I also wouldn't do leleupi in that small of tank...stick to only one rock dwelling species.

I would start with a trio or so of the multi's and a pair of transcriptus. Both breed very easily so you will have to keep up with them by removing fry, which is a good way to earn store credit if your LFS take fish in.

That might leave you some room for praecox rainbows but IMO that's pushing it.
 
^ good advice as always - just going to flick this over to the rift lake section for you.
 
Great advice :o) I am totally new to cichlids, so this is great!!
Thank-you so much.
 
jpappy789 said:
I agree completely.

Brichardi will eventually breed and wreak havoc on the tank. And I also wouldn't do leleupi in that small of tank...stick to only one rock dwelling species.

I would start with a trio or so of the multi's and a pair of transcriptus. Both breed very easily so you will have to keep up with them by removing fry, which is a good way to earn store credit if your LFS take fish in.

That might leave you some room for praecox rainbows but IMO that's pushing it.
Click to expand...
I think you're right on with a trio. 1 male and 2 females. That would give a good starting point and allow you to grow out some fry and keep a few more females and possibly another male ( I don't know what their territory range is... 6 inches or so? ). From what I've read the fry can reach maturity at a few months of age... makes it possible to raise them until selling/ trading age.
Vicky- I hope you love the multi's. I'd love to clear out my Brichardi colony and go with Multis instead, but my wife is pretty attached to the Brichardi. You should post some pictures as you get your tank going. Have you cycled it yet? You're going with sand right? You wouldn't want to miss their digging behaviors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom