Cichlids For A 20 Gallon

[Thomas 2507]

Okay, so I'm fed up of planted tanks and have thought long and hard and would love a cichlid 'community'. I know it's kind of hard ina 20 gallon though.

I'm thinking with like rock structures and such. I don't really want dwarf cichlids because I've already kept them - I'm looking for something new. I don't really want shell-dwellers either because they don't really appeal to me.

Any ideas? I was thinking Convicts maybe? Could I have any tankmates with a pair of convicts? I was thinking maybe just one BN plec or something?

Thanks

 

[MollyFresh]

I got one, Its a African Cichlid, Julidochromis transcriptus. The minimum size tank is a 15 gallon for a pair living alone and Males only get to about 3 inches and females are smaller. You probably couldnt get a community with that size tank, only because the book I'm looking at has tons of cichlids and from the way this looks you probably couldnt get more than a pair.

PS: you couldnt get convicts because the minimum size tank for a pair is 27 gallons or 36 x 16 x 16.
I'm only reading from a book, not from experience but since experts made this book I would think they are right.

 

[Thomas 2507]

hmm they look alright... not really what i'm looking for though. anyone got any other suggestions? it would be great to have an easy-to-breed species.

 

[kribensis12]

I've kept Convicts in a 20g, but no, you cannot have a tank mate with the. They are completely murdurous. But a 20g is quite small, small enough that my convicts would fight eachother constantly. If you looking for something a little more placid, Jewel Cichlids ( they are Africans) are a good choice, so are kribs( there are a million different varaties), and multi's. Sorry, but you cant do much with a tank that size.

 

[Thomas 2507]

yeah, that's what i thought. tell me more about your convicts in the 20 gallon. did they breed? was the fighting constant to the point it was cruel? just a bit more info.

i might just go with another idea... 20 gallons doesn't seem big enough

 

[Ace Of Spades]

If you looking for something a little more placid, Jewel Cichlids

When have they ever been considered placid? when they are breeding they are monsters

 

[kribensis12]

I was comparing them to Convicts! I know there not placid, but to convicts they are, or atleast in my experience.

 

[kj23502]

Have a look here

 

[Thomas 2507]

that was really helpful, thanks.

so is the general opinion that a pair of convicts could be kept alone in a 20g tank?

 

[kj23502]

that was really helpful, thanks.

You're welcome

so is the general opinion that a pair of convicts could be kept alone in a 20g tank?

I'd go ask in New World cichlids for a better overall opinion. I think most of us here in African know some but not as much about New Worlds as that section of the forum

 

[kj23502]

that was really helpful, thanks.

so is the general opinion that a pair of convicts could be kept alone in a 20g tank?

"A spawning Convict pair is only really assured of long-term, adult sized compatibility with each other, when stocked in four foot long aquariums."

Cichlid forum