African Cichlids In 20g Tank

[GoGuppy]

Hi all

I'm thinking of converting my existing 75 x 35 x 30 cm tank into an african cichlid tank, once I get my new larger tank, which I intend to set up as planted rainbow/tropical tank using plants and fish from the old tank.

As I have no experience in african cichlids, my question is would the old 20 g (80 l) tank be large enough to stock a reasonable number of cichlids, as I understand they are very territorial? Or would the tank be much too small to make an interesting display? I have not yet looked into the types of cichlids I would get, I would assume these would necessarily need to be the smaller types.

Any suggestions on the types of cichlids, ie Malawi or Tanganyika (or other?) that would be suitable for the tank would be appreciated.

Cheers

[bert]

Hey,
Dont think there is any africans from lake malawi that will go in a tank that small, But something like shelldwellers or small slender rockdwellers (cant remember names of these) from Tanganyika will be ok. Ive just setup a small tank(100l) with some Neolamprologus multifasciatus (http://www.shelldwellers.com/index.php/topic,804.0.html). they only grow to max size of 2" so i can have a few in there. Check out this forum http://www.shelldwellers.com/ for some photos of these and other shelldwellers, it was a big help in setting up mine. The shelldwellers arent the most colorful fish but they have lots of character for there size! Maybe some one else might have some better ideas:)

[wombat1100]

Hi GG , is there a reason u wanted Africans? I believe the Americans have a lot of smaller space requiring species and are extremely colourful.
Just a thought as i think the space you have wont be big enough for a qty of Africans
Dazz

[GoGuppy]

Hey,
Dont think there is any africans from lake malawi that will go in a tank that small, But something like shelldwellers or small slender rockdwellers (cant remember names of these) from Tanganyika will be ok. Ive just setup a small tank(100l) with some Neolamprologus multifasciatus (http://www.shelldwellers.com/index.php/topic,804.0.html). they only grow to max size of 2" so i can have a few in there. Check out this forum http://www.shelldwellers.com/ for some photos of these and other shelldwellers, it was a big help in setting up mine. The shelldwellers arent the most colorful fish but they have lots of character for there size! Maybe some one else might have some better ideas:)[/b]

Hi Bert
Thanks for the tips, I'll see what I can glean from the forum, looks great. I just went to a LFS in Manly and they suggested it would be possible, provided I stay with the smaller sizes, ie 2 to 3", or alternatively trade them back in as they grow too big. :rolleyes:
I'm in no hurry, thus can afford to think about it a bit more B4 I make up my mind.

Cheers

[GoGuppy]

Hi GG , is there a reason u wanted Africans? I believe the Americans have a lot of smaller space requiring species and are extremely colourful.
Just a thought as i think the space you have wont be big enough for a qty of Africans
Dazz[/b]

Hi Wombat

Thanks for the above suggestion. I guess I just like a challenge :wacko: . I've had sth americans B4 and agree with you they really look nice. As I mentioned to Bert earlier, I still have time to think about it. One of the probs as I see it, is that making a suitable background with adequate rocks and caves is going to displace a lot of water, which is a disadvantage of the small tank. :( .
Anyway, if anyone else has any other ideas, or knows of other website addresses with small cichlid tank suggestions or setups, I'd be v happy to hear about it. :biggrin:
Cheers

[subnormal]

http://www.shelldwellers.com/index.php/topic,804.0.htmlNeolamprologus Multifascaitus look simular to Rams, at least the males anyway.
Please let us know how these go, id be interesting in knowing
http://www.shelldwellers.com/index.php/topic,804.0.html