African Cichlids

PatronusBestia · 09-30-2005, 12:36 AM

A friend of mine wants to put african cichlids in a 55 gal tank, but only wants the most colorful ones. One of each, like one blue, one yellow, one red......
I don't know much about african cichlids, since i'm keeping mostly south american fish.
But I have a gut feeling that this might not be a good idea. Mostly only the males are that colorful and how are they supposed to co-exist, being crammed together like that without killing each other?

Do you have any suggestions to what she can put in her tank that is very colorful and don't leave her with a bunch of dead or injured fish?
I will convey your suggestions to her and hope she'll listen.

**Osiris** · 09-30-2005, 06:38 AM

You easily can! just need lots not two or three.

Red-Eureka Red or Eureka Red Albino
Yellow-Aulo. Maleri, Aulo. Baenschi, Aulo. Lemon Jake
Blue-Ngara Flametail, Sci. Fryeri, Aulo. Blue Regal
Mixed Colors-Bi color 500, Aulo. Lwanda Red Top

I would suggest getting 6-8 males for that tank and if you do not get them all at same time, rearrange your tank each time you put new ones in until your fully stocked as then each needs to re-establish dominancy.

**Cichlid Man** · 09-30-2005, 09:33 AM

Yeah, just get a large number of the fish you want and it should all work out.
What's the filter like? Do you know what type and size?
Adding groups is a lot better than adding them one at a time. If you only put 3 fish in say every 2 weeks, then they'll be fighting all the time. It's best to buy about 10 fish at a time so they all know each other and don't feel threatened by newcomers, just like people!

Lisachromis · 09-30-2005, 08:54 PM

If they are around, something like Pseudotropheus saulosi would be good. Males are black and blue, and the females are orange-yellow. VERY pretty little mbuna.

PatronusBestia · 10-21-2005, 02:22 PM

Thank you for your suggestions. I will convey them to her. So far she hasn't bought any fish, because she needed to use her "fish money" to pay the vet when her cat got sick.
The filter on the tank is a whisper hang on.
At the moment she only has a 4inch pleco in the tank. Can he stay in when she gets the other fish?

Thanks again for your help

**Osiris** · 10-21-2005, 03:18 PM

Yea he'll be fine.

09-30-2005, 12:36 AM	#1
PatronusBestia Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 31 User Feedback: (0)	African Cichlids A friend of mine wants to put african cichlids in a 55 gal tank, but only wants the most colorful ones. One of each, like one blue, one yellow, one red...... I don't know much about african cichlids, since i'm keeping mostly south american fish. But I have a gut feeling that this might not be a good idea. Mostly only the males are that colorful and how are they supposed to co-exist, being crammed together like that without killing each other? Do you have any suggestions to what she can put in her tank that is very colorful and don't leave her with a bunch of dead or injured fish? I will convey your suggestions to her and hope she'll listen. __________________ 125gal: 3 angels, 2 parrots, 1 bgk, 1 pleco, 3 cories 55gal: 3 creamsicle mollies, 1 scat 55gal: 2 angels, 1 pakistanie loach, 1 pleco 40gal: 2 koi, 1 shibunkin, 1 pleco 29gal: feeder guppies 29gal: 2 angels, 1 redtail sternella pleco, 1 bumblebee cat,1 butterfly pleco 20gal: 1 blue crawfish, feeder guppies, 1 killie 10gal: ghostshrimp

09-30-2005, 06:38 AM	#2
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,638 User Feedback: (12)	You easily can! just need lots not two or three. Red-Eureka Red or Eureka Red Albino Yellow-Aulo. Maleri, Aulo. Baenschi, Aulo. Lemon Jake Blue-Ngara Flametail, Sci. Fryeri, Aulo. Blue Regal Mixed Colors-Bi color 500, Aulo. Lwanda Red Top I would suggest getting 6-8 males for that tank and if you do not get them all at same time, rearrange your tank each time you put new ones in until your fully stocked as then each needs to re-establish dominancy. __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

09-30-2005, 09:33 AM	#3
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100 User Feedback: (0)	Yeah, just get a large number of the fish you want and it should all work out. What's the filter like? Do you know what type and size? Adding groups is a lot better than adding them one at a time. If you only put 3 fish in say every 2 weeks, then they'll be fighting all the time. It's best to buy about 10 fish at a time so they all know each other and don't feel threatened by newcomers, just like people! __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

09-30-2005, 08:54 PM	#4
Lisachromis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 280 User Feedback: (0)	If they are around, something like Pseudotropheus saulosi would be good. Males are black and blue, and the females are orange-yellow. VERY pretty little mbuna. __________________ Lisa's Lair Cichlid Room Companion

10-21-2005, 02:22 PM	#5
PatronusBestia Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 31 User Feedback: (0)	Thank you for your suggestions. I will convey them to her. So far she hasn't bought any fish, because she needed to use her "fish money" to pay the vet when her cat got sick. The filter on the tank is a whisper hang on. At the moment she only has a 4inch pleco in the tank. Can he stay in when she gets the other fish? Thanks again for your help __________________ 125gal: 3 angels, 2 parrots, 1 bgk, 1 pleco, 3 cories 55gal: 3 creamsicle mollies, 1 scat 55gal: 2 angels, 1 pakistanie loach, 1 pleco 40gal: 2 koi, 1 shibunkin, 1 pleco 29gal: feeder guppies 29gal: 2 angels, 1 redtail sternella pleco, 1 bumblebee cat,1 butterfly pleco 20gal: 1 blue crawfish, feeder guppies, 1 killie 10gal: ghostshrimp

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10-21-2005, 03:18 PM	#6
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,638 User Feedback: (12)	Yea he'll be fine. __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

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