I have 'community' and 'oddball' set ups (see my sig) and now have another 20UKG... I am considering 'Cichlids' but until I research, know little about these species... is a 20UKG large enough/a good size for a 'Cichlid beginner'...
Cichlids...
- Thread starter bogwood
- Start date
Depends what kind of cichlid you're really after. 20G uk is great for dwarf cichlids and apisto species, and also for african shelldwellers if you want something a bit quirky. Try www.apistogramma.com for apisto species (best to get a M/F pair as you'll see fascinating true behaviour), and of course Rams, Kribensis and other similar small species.
If it were me I'd desperately try to get hold of a pair of Apistogramma trifasciata, the sexual dimorphism is very obvious (check the colours!) and Baensch describes them as being "so desperate to parent, the females well often kidnap other females fry, and/or show parental behaviour towards live food". Sounds like a really fun "oddball" fish!
Male
Female
Depends what kind of cichlid you're really after. 20G uk is great for dwarf cichlids and apisto species, and also for african shelldwellers if you want something a bit quirky. Try www.apistogramma.com for apisto species (best to get a M/F pair as you'll see fascinating true behaviour), and of course Rams, Kribensis and other similar small species.
If it were me I'd desperately try to get hold of a pair of Apistogramma trifasciata, the sexual dimorphism is very obvious (check the colours!) and Baensch describes them as being "so desperate to parent, the females well often kidnap other females fry, and/or show parental behaviour towards live food". Sounds like a really fun "oddball" fish!
Male
Female
That's an amazing looking fish... part of the reason I'm considering Cichlids (prob. 'dwarf') is the colours... I love my community tank but apart from 'neons' there doesn't seem to be too much around that show the kind of colours you get with Cichlids...
I've not kept them myself, but they're definitelon the list of fish I'd like to keep.
Recommended PH for dwarf cichlids is usually in the low/acid range. I believe most dwarf cichlids are from south america, from the amazon etc, with obvious exception being kribs which are african.
I can't remember who it is but I believe there is a guy in the UK who does Apisto mail order, might be we worth givng him an email!
Recommended PH for dwarf cichlids is usually in the low/acid range. I believe most dwarf cichlids are from south america, from the amazon etc, with obvious exception being kribs which are african.
I can't remember who it is but I believe there is a guy in the UK who does Apisto mail order, might be we worth givng him an email!
Peter Lovett
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Hi Bogwood,
Your PH is very high for dwarf as most riverine specie Like acidic water and some a pH as low as 4.5 but a pH or 6.5 is more than adequate. However there as some shell dwelling Tanganyika that would suit your water better and Apistogramma cacatuoides will be okay in your water and may even spawn.
But if you would like to keep most other Riverine Dwarf Cichlids you are going to have to collect lots of rain water or get an RO unit. RO units these day are not that expensive.
Your PH is very high for dwarf as most riverine specie Like acidic water and some a pH as low as 4.5 but a pH or 6.5 is more than adequate. However there as some shell dwelling Tanganyika that would suit your water better and Apistogramma cacatuoides will be okay in your water and may even spawn.
But if you would like to keep most other Riverine Dwarf Cichlids you are going to have to collect lots of rain water or get an RO unit. RO units these day are not that expensive.
Looks like my PH is not Dwarf Cichlid friendly then!... btw, what's an RO unit?... thinking about it, My lfs PH is the same as mine and they stock a wide range of 'healthy' Cichlids...
Peter Lovett
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RO stands for reverse osmosis. Osmosis is the process that makes water hard as it dissolves solids as it passes thought the ground. Reverse Osmosis is the opposite to this. Inside an RO unit is a very fine filter which because water molecules are smaller than those that have been dissolved in the water the water molecules pass through leaving the larger molecules on the other side.
Yes there are lots of cichlids that will live very happily in your water and they include all the African Lake cichlids and most of the cichlids from Central America.
Yes there are lots of cichlids that will live very happily in your water and they include all the African Lake cichlids and most of the cichlids from Central America.
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