cool cichlids

[mjcole12]

i am wanting to get some cichlids for my 56 gal tank

can sombody recomend some fairly peaceful ones that arnt to large

any info on them aswell

and would be great if any 1 had some pics of them to

i would write a longer post but the board keeps crashing on me

thanks mj

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi mjcole12.
I think that most of the Dwarf Cichlids are relatively peaceful, but fish like people have their own unique personalities. For example we have 2 Bolivian Ram Cichlids, Rambo had to go into the Cichlid tank because he was too aggressive with all the other fish, while Ramses lives in the community tank and gets bullied by the little Platties (he's such a whimp)
Kiebensis are peaceful, except when spawning where the will successfully chase away fish 3 times their size.
We also have 2 Gold Veil Rams that are very peaceful, as well as a male flag Cichlid that wouldn't hurt a fly.

Those are the only Dwarfs that we have any personal experience with, but I'm sure others will be able to give you more info on other species.


HTH.

Don.

 

[mjcole12]

i would just like to say thanks for all the replys

 

[cichlidmaster]

i would just like to say thanks for all the replys

Me thinks I detect a note of sarcasim hereto!!!!

Sorry....long night last night....

OK.....here's the scoop.........

Cichlids kinda being a specialized group here on FishForum, sometimes requests of this nature do not get many responses....and here is why.......

I for one think part of the enjoyment is doing the research and coming up with a list of ones that I think I would like to have rather than asking others for their opinions or point blank what good ones are.

Just a suggestion, but why not do an extensive search of cichlids, jot down the ones you like and THEN ask for advice here on them!!

I am sure from that point you will get many responses from memebers who may have kept them at one point or who may know about them or who many even take the time to research them further not only for you, but for themselvesn as well!!

I for one hesitate to answer a general question such as "what kind of cichlids should I keep" simply because I feel it should be a personal choice.

I don't however mind advising people on compatibility issues of housing different cichlid species.

Hope this made some sense and as soon as you have done a little searching on your own and post a list here, I and many others will be happy to advise further.

CM

 

[mjcole12]

ok thanks for the reply cichlidmaster (not being sarcy)

 

[FeelingFishy]

Do you like any of the peacocks??? Those fish seem to be pretty non- aggresive. Malawi Mbuna, seem to be more aggresive cichilds But most only get to be about 5 inches, Mabey some Labidochromis caeruleus aka yellow labs or some Pseudotropheus socolofi aka powder blue . hey go with what ya like thats the best thing to do!!!

 

[-=DG=-]

I don't however mind advising people on compatibility issues of housing different cichlid species.

I'd also say this is one of the major issues

 

[nikkidee2003]

kribensis or rams (dont think you can keep them together though) i'll post pics of mine in the pic section

 

[playfulalliecat]

I love my gymnogeophagus bahia reds. They are sand sifters and it is so cool to watch them eating food by picking up sand and sifting it out. Sand comes out of their gills and then they spit out the rest. I was right in front of the tank the other day and one of them came right up in front of my face and spit a big poof of sand like he was telling me to go on and let him eat in peace. They are just beginning to color up and I can't wait until they achieve full adult color as they are beautiful with reds and a bit of lavender. They aren't really aggressive and did spend one night in my community tank as it was so late when I got them home, I didn't feel up to getting everything going for them. They did just fine with the other fish. Then again, I think I have strange fish anyway..........the new clown loaches are schooling with the tiger barbs! lol

 

[Jamnog]

heh ive got two firemouths in together at the moment its not turning out to be the horrendus mistake i thaught it would. they arent picking on the neons and they arent going to start on the shark. everyone else is just too small for them to bother with if you see what i mean. its not the cichlid its the other fish im pretty shure its something to do with the colours of the other fish (dont quote me on that)

edit : on the firemouth i remeber they used to fight with a lemon gourami when i kept them before but it didnt last long.

edit edit: well woke up this morning to a bunch of missing neons and what was left of a victim. im blameing the shark for now but it might just have been the fire mouths. so im going to hold jugement till i find the culpret.

 

[mjcole12]

i have been doing a search on the web
and these are the fish i trying to decide between

firemouth 6'' ph neutral
blue flash 5.5'' neutral
cockatoo dwaf 3.5'' neutral
jewel 6'' neutral
keyhole 4'' neutral
lifalili jewel 5'' neutral
pasionis 6'' neutral
rainbow 6'' neutral
carpinte 6.5'' slightly alk
nichols mouthbrooder 3.5'' slightly alk

i dont know if these fish are compatable with each other so i will have to do some searches on them


mj

 

[tdnp]

Just a suggestion, but why not do an extensive search of cichlids, jot down the ones you like and THEN ask for advice here on them!!

I am sure from that point you will get many responses from memebers who may have kept them at one point or who may know about them or who many even take the time to research them further not only for you, but for themselvesn as well!!

If thats the case how come only one person and that wasn't you replyed to my question on Green Terrors I've just added another reply to bring it back to the top of the page

 

[cichlidmaster]

tdnp,

First, you received an answer to the age part of your question....

Next, perhaps noone had/has any first hand experiance with green terrors!! If you go to the green terror thread I did just now post a reply.

Note to ALL members.............If you should have a question pertaining to cichlids (or any other fish) and it does not get a response or the response your looking for, then feel free to send me a PM or email via this board.

I do apologize, but there are times I read a post and have every intention of coming back to it and simply forget to!!

Now on to mj's compatibility issues...............

Let's start with the fish with partial names/ID's.....

Blue flash There are many fish with this scientific/trade name. Please give a scientific name. Coud it be Cyprichromis leptosoma blue flash you are referring to?? If so this is a Tanganyikan cichlid that can be rather delicate. It is peaceful by nature and would not do well with any of the fish you have listed. Best kept in a species only tank or with smaller synodontis type catfish. Cyps inhabit the upper water column so they would need peaceful species that live in the middle or lower water column. This species should not be mixed with the others on your list as they are from different parts of the world. SA/CA species are best kept seperate.

cockatoo dwarf or Apistogramma cacautoides. Inhabits the lower water column. Does well with smaller to mid size peaceful to moderately aggressive cichlids. Can also be kept with tropical species. I have never kept them and have limited knowledge of them so perhaps we could get someone else in here who has kept them.

Jewel and lafalili jewel..... Hemichromis species. Moderately to highly aggressive species. May do well with the firemouths if kept in the proper size tank (at least 4 ft) can be aggressive during spawning. Does well in 7-7.8 ph. I currently have 50 H.lafalili for sale. They are territorial to say the least, but then they are in cramped quarters to boot, but no losses as of yet.

Keyholes....Can be mildly aggressive, but not to bad. Could be kept with the firemouth in proper size tank.

Rainbows??? Australian rainbows or what!! There is a cichlid that has the trade name of "rainbow cichlid". Please clarify if you can.

If Australian rainbows which ones?? There are MANY species. Most of which would go well with all on your list except the blue flash and carpintis.

Herichthys carpintis......Can get larger than 6.5" in the aquarium. Can be HIGHLY aggressive!! I have not seen one that is not!! Not really compatible with any fish on your list.

pasionis.....Great little fish!! I have kept these years ago and they were one of my favorites. Can be kept with the firemouths, rainbows, keyholes without to much problem.

Pseudocrennilabris nicholsi...Another great little fish, but best kept in a species only tank. For their size can be mean.

Well hopefully I answered all your questions, but if not feel free to post and I will do my best to answer.

CM

 

[mjcole12]

i will have to find the web site that i found these fish on and will get back to you but i know that the blue flash is a close relative to the firemouth and the pasionis

but i think ive changed my mind

i would like some electric yellow labido's any thoughts on these and what would be compatable ive read that they are usually fairly peaceful


thanks cm

mj

 

[sgtbirch]

Maybe a red Empress although as stated before I cant keep yellow labs very well. they like to fight too much. Most of the time losing in the effort.