Minimum Tank Size For Jewel Cichlid Pair?

[Colin_BC]

I've been quite interested in getting some Jewel Cichlid's for a while now, but am unsure of what sort of a minimum tank size a single pair would require? I know they have quite the personality on them and willing to take on most any fish, so I plan on having the pair in a tank with no other fish. i don't dare put them in my planted 30G with my other fish, as I figure the Jewel's would be the only ones left in short time. I already have an established 10G (with 50G filtration) whose current occupants can go back to the 30G, but from what I've read a 10G is too small. Mind you all the inquiries I read regarding Jewel's in a 10G would of had them in it with other fish as well.

Any help is appreciated. Obviously I haven't purchased them yet, but wanted to set a few things straight before I did.

Colin

 

[gixer]

i would say a minimum of 30gallons..

also be aware that they breed like rabbits and it is near to impossible to sell the fry (well in the uk anyway) So unless you have the means to rehome the fry i would have a careful think about it.

beautiful fish though

 

[Colin_BC]

Another pair I have really been considering are some double red cockatoo cichlids. I've been told they would be ok on their own in a 10G. Problem is, no one here has any. One guy can get ahold of a pair if I want, but it will be costly. On the brightside, if they breed I can very easily sell the babies once mature enough.

In the meantime, I've put my 2 Blue Rams in the 10G. I believe it to be a Male and female, however the male is constantly chasing the suspected female. Both have the pronounced dorsal fin, but on is much smaller and has a pink belly.

I guess I'll have to keep dreaming about the Jewel's until I have a large enough tank for them.

Colin

 

[JeremyD]

A 20 long should suffice for a pair.

 

[Dwarfs]

I had jewels. They bred, and overrun us with their offspring. Mine were happy in a 20g long (30") tank when they bred, and killed the other fish within a couple days. They make great parents though, and their breeding colors are amazing I would reccomend them for a species tank when you have room

 

[Colin_BC]

As much as I love the look of the Jewel's, I've checked around and I would have a very tough time unloading the offspring. I'm leaning towards a pair of cacatuoides (cockatoo cichlids). These are impossible to find in stores around here, but my good LFS said he can get me a pair any time, but his supplier charges a fair bit for them. Bright side is that if I have healthy fry I would have absolutely no problems selling them back to the LFS. I know the cockatoo's would also be better suited to the 10G.

Colin

 

[cometcattle]

As much as I love the look of the Jewel's, I've checked around and I would have a very tough time unloading the offspring. I'm leaning towards a pair of cacatuoides (cockatoo cichlids). These are impossible to find in stores around here, but my good LFS said he can get me a pair any time, but his supplier charges a fair bit for them. Bright side is that if I have healthy fry I would have absolutely no problems selling them back to the LFS. I know the cockatoo's would also be better suited to the 10G.

Colin

I agree, the Apistos are a much better choice.

Here's a good Apisto site:

http/www.apistogramma.com/cms/

 

[Colin_BC]

Thanks for the link. I've added it to My Favourites.

Colin

 

[JeremyD]

I agree, the Apistos are a much better choice.

Here's a good Apisto site:

http/www.apistogramma.com/cms/

Not necessarily a better choice for everyone

If you have hard alkaline water, you will have a very difficult time eith any species of apistogramma. The jewels have a much broader range of acceptable water parameters.

 

[Colin_BC]

Fortunately the water here is soft with a neutral pH. Otherwise, I would have (still may) invested in an RO unit. I've just asked my LFS owner to check with his supplier for a top knotch pair (or good breeding stock) of triple red cacatuoides. The cac's have been my fave since I first saw pic's of them, so they have always been a goal for me.

Colin