Best Dwarf Cichlid For My Tank?

[benjoey]

Hi I've been looking for a centrepiece for my 110L tank, which contains: 8 x Harlequin rasboras and 5 x copper harlequins and a couple of cherry shrimp, I've recently come across some pictures of dwarf cichlids and they look amazzing lol, very nice colours. The tank is fairly well planted with half live andd half fake plants and contains a couple of pieces of mopani wood. So can anyone help me with some suggestions of dwarf cichlids I could keep, and a little information on them thanks in advance

 

[Assaye]

What sort of water do you have? Soft, hard? What is the pH?

I'd say a kribensis, apisto or a pair of dwarf flag cichlids. Male kribs are bigger and have nicer fins, but females have more colour. Could get a pair if you fancy. Male apistos tend to be more colourful. I would only get one fish/pair and I wouldn't mix species.

Personally, I love my dwarf flag cichlids. Very friendly, peaceful little cichlids and I think they are quite pretty.

 

[benjoey]

I have fairly hard water and the ph was 6 the last time I checked, just had alook at a few pictures of the flag cichlids they look great, do you know how available they are in the UK? I also like the look of some apisto's, any suggestions on them? I would prefer smaller species

 

[Assaye]

Flags are pretty teeny. I got mine from Pets At Home (boo, hiss, etc) and I've seen them at places like Maidenhead Aquatics. They do prefer fairly soft water, though, as do most dwarf cichlids.

However, my water is hard and they do fine. Time will tell how hardy they are long-term.

Not really kept apistos but I'm sure someone on here can advise.

 

[BethK]

pH isn't much of an issue tbh, if the breeder had bred and raised them in a higher pH. Mine are in a pH of 8, no issues. Water quality has to be kept on top of, apistos are rather sensitive to that.

I would say Apistogramma caucatouides or agrazzis, 2 females and a male. Deck the floor of the tank out with diff level plants, a breeding cave/slate cave etc and you should be ok.

Full of personality, apistos and I want more, one day!

 

[elisew]

The Cockatoo Apistos are lovely and you can get some really nice colours i,e double or triple red.

You don`t say what substrate you currently have in your tank? Beth has given you the basics regarding planting and caves/hiding places which the Apistos seem to love.

I currently have a pair of Apistos and my ph is 7.6, I have no bother with mine so far. I`ve had 2 males and both have been confident little chaps, very inquisitve about the floating plants in my tank

 

[benjoey]

I have a sand substrate, is this best for apistos? I have no caves as such but I would invest in some if thats whats appropriate for this type of fish. I think I havee seen Apistogramma caucatouides in my LFS sometime, I hope they have these in stock again sometome, I think I'll have to try and get them, there cclours look amazing! I forgot to ask aswell if dwarf cichlids will eat adult shrimp?

 

[Gvilleguy]

With hard water I guess German Blue Rams would not do well, but Bolivian Rams are supposed to be more hardy. I just got 4 Bolivians and love their personalities. They get a bit bigger, though, at around 3.5 inches.

 

[BethK]

You can use simple gray roof slating or slating you get from garden centers, break it up into bits and build a cave.

 

[Ryan_W]

My German Blues are in pH 7.2 - 7.4 and are doing fine, growing well and full of life.
I've got a pair of Cockatoo Triple Reds (Apistogramma Caucatouides) coming Friday too. These shall be in the same 100L tank. It's faily well planted, lots of caves, coconut huts, plant pot, rock... The Rams have made the coconut hut their home. The flower pot shelter is at the opposite end of the tank, where I hope the Cockatoos' will make a happy home.

Ryan

EDIT: 110L tank even...

 

[elisew]

The German Blue Rams could be an option for you to consider, depending on whether or not you`re looking at keeping a pair? The females are generally quite difficult to obtain though as a lot of the breeders tend to keep them for themselves

I have 2 pairs of GBR`s, my ph is 7.6 and they`re doing well. I think it all depends on where you get the fish from, sometimes the fish are already used to parameters that would normally be advised against.


There are 2 sellers on eBay who sell the Apistos and the GBR`s, kesgrave tropicals and ste12000. If you do an advanced search by 'seller' on eBay you`ll be able to see what they have stockwise at the moment. Both sellers are happy to answer any queries if you`re looking for something in particular too

 

[Carlovel1]

IMO Kribensis are the best Dwarf Cichlids, mine have so much personality

 

[Gvilleguy]

I was more concerned with the hardness of the water - I thought GBRs really liked soft.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

sorry to piggy-back this thread, but i have been thinking about getting a pair of dwarf cichlids for my tank. My issue is that its got barbs (inc agressibve type like Tiger) which im guessing will fin nip. Anyone know any kind that would stand up to the barbs?

As for pH / KH - not sure what mine is so will have to check

 

[Assaye]

I'd imagine kribs would be fine. I have a trio of kribs in with some barbs at the moment and they are all very tolerant of each other.

My barbs grew up with the kribs so they're not as naughty as they're reputed to be.