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[excuzzzeme]

Not sure where to post this so here it is.

I have a 20L opening up soon and I would like to stock some cichlids in it. Dwarf's are fine just as long as they have the same basic parenting/behavior traits that most seem to have. I want to stock something (cichlid) but don't know what would be a good choice for a 20L. I don't want to have just 1 or 2. I would prefer to have several if that is possible. I would also like something that is colorful.

Any suggestions? It will be a cycled, FW, empty tank.

Thanks!

[Dragonkeeper]

Any of the dwarf CA/SA will work also any of the shell dwellers from Tang will work. As far as numbers I really don't know as I haven't kept either group yet. There are quite a few people here that hopefully will chime in and clear up the rest of the questions for ya.

Keeper

[rm-slover]

if you want to see good parenting you cant get much better than a pair of convicts. I kept a pair in a 15 long and they spawned twice for me.

you can also get a pair of apistogramma. depending on how much work you want to put into it. Apistrogramma cacatoides is a cichlid that has been aquarium bred for some time and will spawn under most standard chicago water conditions although i have not had success with them.

many other apistogramma species will live peacefully in a 20 Long under normal condition but require soft acidic water to spawn. which requires adding RO water mixed with Chicago water to your tank at water changes and the PH and hardness should be monitored. with soft acidic water you could also keep some of the more delicate tetras such as Neons and cardinals. the apistogramma wont bother the tetras.

[shepp]

if you didnt wanan go with the normal convict a few of there cosins would go great in there i have bred sajicas and honduran red points in my 30L and a pair would do fine in a 20L i actully think i had a pair of sajicas in a 10 at one time too before they were full grown, i had sajicas coming out my *** before nuth found out that i had them. they are are great lil fish with some sass and have great coloring and their breeding dress is hot too........if you think you wanna go with HRP's i would suggest getting them from jeff rapp's his are amazing!!!!!!

that was another fish i wished i had a grow out tank for i saw at the sawp someone had HRP's

[excuzzzeme]

Well, I ordered some Labidochromis Caeruleus to breed. I know they are aggressive but I think I can market them. I thank you for the warning about Chicago water but I don't think I have too much to worry about. I am on well water and I don't think it likely that a water main will be laid all the way from Chicago to Connecticut Shoreline area any time soon! LOL

Lonnie Goldman (one of your web masters I think) wrote of your site on our forum Nassau County Aquarium Society  http://www.ncasweb.org/
and I checked it out and asked to join your forum so I could learn more about cichlids as I am very taken in by them. Our local fish groups are not very active and it is difficult to find answers. NCAS is not limited to cichlids but is very active and a good group of people. They have been immeasurably helpful as have the members here. To me, it doesn't matter where any group is located as I would not be able to attend meetings because I can no longer drive, so I rely on the internet.

Hope you don't mind.

[Dragonkeeper]

Labidochromis caeruleus are generally the more mild mannered of the Malawi cichlids. Don't underestimate them though. I have seen them in some tanks with some real brutes. You should have no problem selling off the fry. Even though almost everyone breeds them people can't get enough of these little guys.

Good luck with the breeding and definitely keep us posted. If you have any more ?'s feel free to hit us up.

Keeper

[excuzzzeme]

Thank you!

I often think I would like to breed the fish that are hard to come by, yet have a high demand. I don't want to do a limited niche market where I wouldn't be able to get rid of the fish like I currently have with the pink cons.