10g Cichlid Tank

[ajbettle]

in one of the articles i was reading about 10gallon tanks, it said u dont have to have a community tank! and u can keep a couple of shell dweling cichlids? can anyone give any advice? i really like them and think it wud b better to keep cichlids than a common community tank! cheers

 

[sukie]

I have shellies! And they're in a 10gal tank - I think I have 6 (as they could be small fries ).

What's the rule on shells? 3 shells per shellie - I think you'd be okay to keep 4-5 w/o problems.

What kind were you thinking of getting??

I have Multifasciatus - too cute!

 

[ajbettle]

there the ones!!!! the multifastais...baluuaaggh there beautiful! and yeh i read it was 3 shells per fish! u say about 4/5, wud they b ok in one of those VIA AQUA 10gallon tanks? heres the link please look : http/www.seapets.co.uk/product-details/s...tegory/844.html cheers!

 

[freddyk]

Multifasciatus are great little fish, and their small size means you can have a few in a 10 gallon tank. They're colony fish and do great in groups, though in this size tank you need to be careful of aggression once they start breeding. Sand substrate is great because it's easy for these little guys to dig, rather then having to grab one boulder at a time. Multifasciatus come from areas of lake Tanganyikans thick with shells, and that means you can't have too many - 3 shells per fish is a reasonable absolute minimum, and more is better.

Different shellies do have different habits. Brevis, for example, come from areas where shells are very sparse, and one per fish is fine - in most cases a pair would even end up sharing a single shell.

 

[sukie]

I think a longer 10gal tank would be better. . .cause they like to stick to the bottom near their homes

Yeh 3/4 shells per fishies. . . I have like one shell per fish right now but my multis are in a temp tank so it's all good.

Show us pics when you get them!!

 

[cometcattle]

I think a longer 10gal tank would be better. . .cause they like to stick to the bottom near their homes

I agree, go for the standard 20"x10"x12" 10g tank. The bigger foot-print, the better.

 

[freddyk]

If the tank isn't purchased yet then just go for the 24"x12"x12" 15 gallon, the cost difference is negligible.

 

[ajbettle]

thanks guys, im only looking for a small tank 4 my bedroom tho, as wev got a juwel rekord 70 downstairs...

 

[BigFrog07]

could someone give me some links, info, and pics of shell dwelling cichlids? I dont think i ve ever saw one before, i now have an open 20 though