easy cichlid?

[noop]

are there any cichlids with personality that a newbie could look after? my tank is likely to be between 40 and 55 u.s.gallons

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Check out Labidochromis Caeruleus

These guys are nice, hardy, and easy to keep. They are not specific about their diet, they are not overly aggressive, and they are very tolerent to mistakes a newbie may make. They also don't grow too large, only to about 4 or 5 inches tops, which means you can get a bunch in your tank.

Then, once you get the hang of them, you can look at some tankmates for them - Pseudotropheus Acei, Pseudotropheus Saulosi, and Iodotropheus Sprengerae all make good companions for them.

They are also African though.


For new world fish Convicts are very hardy. You can also check out Gold Severums and Jack Dempsys.

 

[ukjay]

good choice

 

[noop]

They are also African though.

thanks

'though' implies a drawback. do african cichlids require a different pH/hardness or something?

 

[BadLarry]

i think convicts would be cool, maybe a pair. they're tuff as nails and have alot of personality. africans require high ph and extra salt so i dont think you should start of with those right away.

 

[joshua]

thanks

'though' implies a drawback. do african cichlids require a different pH/hardness or something?

i would say; you can't keep them with numerous other fish as these guys would naturally like hard and alkaline water. most other fish prefer soft n acidic

 

[thecichlidaddict]

though' implies a drawback. do african cichlids require a different pH/hardness or something?

I meant though as in, you asked in the south american forum, and I figured that was more what you were looking for.

First, yes, africans do like more alkaline water. Hardness doesn't matter much. I don't see that as a drawback, especially since my tap water is ph 7.8, perfect for them.

Yellow labs are from a group of fish from lake Malawi called Mbuna, an african native word for Rock Dweller, because they live in the rocks. They are very resilient fish, they will do fine in any water over ph 7. I don't know if I'd call it a drawback, but you pretty much need to keep these guys with there own kind, community fish don't stand a chance, and most New World cichlids would tear them apart.

africans require high ph and extra salt

I use water straight from the tap, no salt, no store bought additives. With some of my tanganyikan fish I add baking soda to boost the KH, but that's it. These fish are very easy to keep - aggression is the only real concern, you need to know what fish will work with which. I keep my Jags in exactly the same water. Most of the fish we get were born and raised in plain tap water, at the breeder, then at the fish store... unless they're wild caught, or your water is at one extreme end or the other, they're used to it

 

[david27]

Another plus point for yellow labs is that they are quite easy to breed and are one of brightest coloured freshwater fish, one of my favourites

David