Dwarf Cichlids For New Community Tank

[loubega]

hi all,


had my new juwel rio 125 up and running for a week with mature media from my other tank. Its well planted and has 2 bits of bogwood and nurmerous amounts of slate, also a a slate cave is in there too.

currently have 4 danios in there to supply ammonia for the mature media and the bacteria. Im planning on leaving the tank for another 2 weeks to thoroughly make sure the media is matured to its new surroundings. I have decied to go with a community tank with one or two large shoals of tetras, either cardinals/glowlights/black phantoms/ or harliquins...then as my centre piece i would really like a pair of trio of dwarf cichlids.

This is where you guys come in, as i know very little about dwarf cichlids and their compatability within community tanks....these are the species i thought may be appropriate and i also like:

Apistogramma agassizii
Apistogramma borellii
Apistogramma panduro
Apistogramma gephyra
Bolivian Ram/ german ram/ blue ram

any advice on others will be greatly recieved

cheers in advance

 

[loubega]

Bump please.....

 

[Pleccy]

I would go with the Rams, the Apistos need fairly acidic water. Also make sure the tank is mature.

 

[loubega]

I would go with the Rams, the Apistos need fairly acidic water. Also make sure the tank is mature.

what rams in particular? can u have all males or a hareem of ladies to one guy?

 

[Davo86]

any of those you have mentioned will be ok, (although german rams and blue rams are the same speices, i.e. german blue rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi))
along with kribs, curviceps, keyholes or checkerboard cichlids,

Also most of the species listed here will be fine in a pair, although apistos and checkerboards can be kept in a trio.

I would go with the Rams, the Apistos need fairly acidic water. Also make sure the tank is mature.

Blue Rams also benefit from acidic water and IMO are more sensitive than that of apistos.

 

[Pleccy]

Bolivian rams are also hardier than blue rams.

 

[minxfishy]

The apistos and the rams require pretty much the same water ph and quality, so dont let that be your deciding factor, most you find your LFS are tank bred anyway and are fully acclimatised to harder ph water. That being said, they will all require pristine water quality, no ammonia, nitrIte and as low as possible nitrAtes, 20ppm or lower.

If you get one male and two female or either the blue rams or bolivian and you get a pair then you may need to rehome the single female, not always but sometimes the pair will harrass the remaining female once they pair up and decide to spawn.

On the other hand, apistos are more hareem fish and 1m to 3 females would be good in that size tank.

 

[loubega]

The apistos and the rams require pretty much the same water ph and quality, so dont let that be your deciding factor, most you find your LFS are tank bred anyway and are fully acclimatised to harder ph water. That being said, they will all require pristine water quality, no ammonia, nitrIte and as low as possible nitrAtes, 20ppm or lower.

If you get one male and two female or either the blue rams or bolivian and you get a pair then you may need to rehome the single female, not always but sometimes the pair will harrass the remaining female once they pair up and decide to spawn.

On the other hand, apistos are more hareem fish and 1m to 3 females would be good in that size tank.

ok was thinking of a pair of bolivians rams

but really like kribs and cockatoo's as well.....can they be quite agressive?

 

[Ryan_R]

We have 4 redbreast acara's (Laetacara dorsigera) in one of our 75g's. They're very mellow and cute. Another species that we recently got and absolutely *love* iis the Rainbow Cichlid - Herotilapia. These guys are amazing. Looks like we have a male-female paired. Absolutely stunning to look at, and their personalities are fantastic! Very active, smart, and funny!

-Ryan

 

[loubega]

We have 4 redbreast acara's (Laetacara dorsigera) in one of our 75g's. They're very mellow and cute. Another species that we recently got and absolutely *love* iis the Rainbow Cichlid - Herotilapia. These guys are amazing. Looks like we have a male-female paired. Absolutely stunning to look at, and their personalities are fantastic! Very active, smart, and funny!

-Ryan

ok cool cheers, i only have a 125l tank---thats about 27 uk gallons, would they still be suitable?

 

[Davo86]

a pair of Laetacara dorsigera would be ok, but not the rainbows

 

[ChilliPepper]

I highly recommend a pair of Bolivian rams, my two are beautiful and a very active part of my community. They are peaceful so would get along with most other peaceful fish. Some people say their colours are dull but mine are lovely and I've only had them a couple of weeks. I prefer their bodyshape over the German rams and they are also a bit less sensitive.
A couple of Keyhole cichlids would also work well, very cute little fish. Again, people say they are dull but I think they have interesting colours and can camoflague into their surroundings.

 

[loubega]

I highly recommend a pair of Bolivian rams, my two are beautiful and a very active part of my community. They are peaceful so would get along with most other peaceful fish. Some people say their colours are dull but mine are lovely and I've only had them a couple of weeks. I prefer their bodyshape over the German rams and they are also a bit less sensitive.
A couple of Keyhole cichlids would also work well, very cute little fish. Again, people say they are dull but I think they have interesting colours and can camoflague into their surroundings.

thanks for your opinion....i love bolivians too!

could i have 1 male and 2 female bolivian rams? or could i have 2 males? i dont know what combinations are best?

could you also mix rams with keyholes?

a pair of Laetacara dorsigera would be ok, but not the rainbows

why not rainbows?

 

[Pleccy]

I think Davo means the Rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa), I think these would grow a little big.

Many people I know keep Keyholes with Apistogramma species so I don't see why you can't keep them with Rams, just make sure there are plenty of retreats for the fish.

 

[loubega]

I think Dave means the Rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa), I think these would grow a little big.

Many people I know keep Keyholes with Apistogramma species so I don't see why you can't keep them with Rams, just make sure there are plenty of retreats for the fish.

oh ok cheers for clearing that up


instead of dwark cichlids, iwas thinking of rainbow fish? but i know a few species get quite large? are there any that dont get so big and can perhaps be kept in 3 or 4's?

like the dwark neon rainbow fish or the threadfin?