a few questions about cichlids

[DantezGirl]

these are the types of cichlids i like just looking and getting info for now thanks in advance sorry if they are the same fish but i only understand common names and not scientific just browsing pictures

1: Pseudotropheus Demasoni

2: blue dolphin

3: electric yellow

4:convict

5: frontosa

6: Apistogramma hongsloi

1: what ones can be kept together and what ones need there own tank?

2: can any be kept with other fish?

3: any special foods, decorations, precautions?

[Simian]

I am just getting into cichlids myself, here's what I'd suggest if starting to plan a tank.

1st step choose American or African, its just too hard to try and mix em the PH's are too different.

IMO Africans are prettier but more aggressive.

Americans are not so vibrant but have a bit more character and as a very general rule are not too aggressive unless breeding

be aware of the adult sizes of the fish you get.

Convicts are common as dirt, females are prettier and (some) have orange patches on their stomachs. they breed like crazy so unless you really want to breed em I'd just stick with 1 sex.

I know nothing about specific Africans so I wont comment

[DantezGirl]

thanks for that

[David R]

I1st step choose American or African, its just too hard to try and mix em the PH's are too different.

IMO Africans are prettier but more aggressive.

Americans are not so vibrant but have a bit more character and as a very general rule are not too aggressive unless breeding

I'd have to disagree with that.

Plenty of people mix them, tank-raised fish generally tolerate a wider range of pH. People seem to have a thing about mixing cichlids from different continents, but will happily chuck a south american or asian bottom feeder in with their african cichlids.

I've never seen an african cichlid trying to attack anything through the glass like a large guapote will. Most large central american cichlids (jags, convicts, jack dempseys, texas, midas/rd etc) will defend a territory once mature, even when not breeding.

Dantezgirl, its well worth it to learn the proper/scientific names for fish, its not that hard and the more you do it the easier it gets. The fish you have listed come from pretty varied habitats, and it woudn't be a good idea to mix all of them. Have a think about the kind of tank you want to set up, ie planted community, rift lake biotope, mixed cichlid community etc.

Also, "americans" and "africans" are stupid terms to use. There are plenty of african cichlids that come from habitats outside of the rift lakes, and they vary considerably. "American" cichlids vary from tiny dwarf species that like soft acidic water to the largest cichlids on the planet that come from harder alkaline waters.

[Johannes Visser]

Pseudotropheus Demasoni & Electric yellow are a good combo Blue dolphin Get Big 20cm so a big tank is needed.

The above are from lake Malawi PH 8

Frontosa are from lake Tanganyika they too get very big almost to 30cm PH 8- up 9.2

Convict are very aggressive when breeding, personally would not keep them in with the Rift lake cichlids :-?

I Keep Africans From Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria all in the same tank, with out problems :roll: But then again, they grow up together. :lol:

Apistogramma hongsloi Not to sure think they have a lower PH ?

Just my opinion

[Simian]

I agree with you David as far as the American/African compatability.

David is an experienced cichlid keeper, and has a good feel for what species can be mixed and matched.

As a novice IMO it is better to keep it simple, select fish that are from the same general area/conditions, get those guys stable, learn their quirks before experimenting.

I have Africans living with Americans happily in my tank, but have had to cull out others due to aggression, I am also concerned that my Jeweled keeps trying to mate with a Nicaraguan :roll: but its interesting to watch.

[DantezGirl]

i really like the convicts and electric yellows and both are easy to source so for the now will stick to these two until i get the hang of cichlds thanks again for all the advise

[David R]

As a novice IMO it is better to keep it simple, select fish that are from the same general area/conditions, get those guys stable, learn their quirks before experimenting.

I agree, although its funny how sometimes things just work for newbie's who haven't got a clue what they're going. I had sevrums, firemouths, kribs, electric yellows and angels in a 4' "community" tank many years ago, along with congo tetras, fire eel, clown loaches and a massive redspot plec. I should try find a photo, but then I'd also need to find a scanner...

The best thing to do is read. Books, the internet, anything. Look at what other people are keeping together, find out what generally works, and what doesn't, and take everything with a grain of salt. All fish [especially cichlids] have different personalities, what will work for one person won't for another.

[firenzenz]

I'd be looking at any dwarf cichlid as a community or bio-type tank fish, mixing with larger cichlids or in a species tank is going to end in tears.

Demasoni, and yellows together are 'a classic' combo. Peacocks won't get as big as the haps like dolphins etc. look at "Aulononcara" species. There are always plenty going on TM.