Yworry Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Hey Never had African cichlids before but have a spare 60L - 2ft tank and was wondering if there's anything I could put in there? Pet shop said they work well in overcrowded tank (to a point) as it stops alot of aggression. I would've thought the opposite and reduces there own territory but any advice would be cool. Would like some peacocks and E. Yellows & blues maybe? But thought I'd check from the people that have experimented with situations as every fish profile I read says much bigger tanks are needed. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Smaller tanks seem to be good when you have smaller fish, but as they get bigger their tank will need to be bigger as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 i have used 2 footers for growing out mixed fry but it doesn't take long to outgrow the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I have a 2 ft tank in my office I have it moderately planted with stem plants and crypts. It has a few guppies as dithers and a pair of dwarfs. I have at home a few 2 fters set up in a simular fashion If you didnt want to keep dwarfs you could look at a rocky biotype with Jullies or brichardi or luelupi but 2 ft would be pushing it a bit unless creatively aquascaped. especially if you didnt get the gender ratio right. But I have done all these things in the past so know it works. I would steer clear or the big cichlids anything like Mumba, haps , peacocks etc and look more at Kribs, Nannos, Apistos, and the above. These are also more easily replaced if something should go wrong HTH Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I would have to agree with all the above comments.. At most I would keep a single pair of jullies or brichardi in a 2ft tank but they would have to be very compatible and you would have to remove fry as they got larger. Definately not suitable for anything but an initial grow out for mbuna/haps/peacocks. If you cannot have a bigger tank at this stage then definately go down the dwarf route as Nav has suggested. Overcrowding does work well with the africans especially mbuna it helps to spread aggression, and most malawis do well in colonies with groups of females and 1-2males. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_r Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 would a 2 footer be ok for say a pair of convicts? just thinking what i should do with my spare 2 footer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 convicts would be ok as young'uns but will soon outgrow that tank too. Either stick to the small fish or get a bigger tank suitable for the bigger fish that you are keen on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 As Deno said, they'd be fine when smaller, but when they start having babies you'll end up with 100's and mum & dad WILL start getting stroppy with each other in a tank that small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_r Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 i was just thinking of useing the babies as feeders already have my 4 foot african setup and my old 2 footer is sitting doing nothing. cannot really justify having 2 display tanks so a feeder breeding tank seems like a better option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 You could always just have it setup ready to go if you ever need a fry tank, hospital tank or isolation tank - when you need it, its simply a case of turning the heater on, syphoning a load of water from your 4ft, and some filter media, and away you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_r Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 i have thought about that, however all my tanks are in my bedroom, id prefer they are full of fish/water etc. and personally am not really into a small community tank/plants etc i was hoping a pair of convicts in my 2 footer would be fine and feed the babies to my other fish....but i guess not back to the drawing board i guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 You could give the convicts ago. The smallest I've had breeding pairs in was 3 foot. Really depends on the fish, usually the females tend to get very stroppy and pick on the male - but in saying that I have had pairs that have been awesome and not aggro at all Trial & error :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Paul if you are going to do that then try jewels as they are better looking fish spawn more regularly and harder to get rid of...lol Or guppies but they would do better with substrate. Work either way So might as well make it an enjoyable tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_r Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Jewels were the previous occupants of the 2 footer, loved them to bits however the male decided to keep killing his females. even put the male and 2 females in their own 4 footer and the male still killed more females so decided to give up on the jewels. were really amazing fish, just a pity my male was so agressive, maybe if i could find a pair that got along well id have a go at jewels again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 a pair of leleupi would be nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 lol sure would be Have you got a spare pair Mark? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 i have 3 in a 2 1/2 footer, 1 male 2 female? waiting for them to make their minds up :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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