I need a dwarf african

[Scooter]

Anyone have any suggestions for a nice colorful dwarf African that prefers a sand substrate? I already know about the Xenotilapias, so I'm looking for other suggestions. Thanks.

 

[tjudy]

Are you looking for a rift lake cichlid or a West African? If you are looking for Tang. cichlids, I really like the 'gold' L. ocellatus shell dweller.

 

[Scooter]

Hey Ted. At this point, I'm open to suggestions on any Africans. Thanks for the vote on the Lamprologus. I like shellies.

 

[tjudy]

If you are looking for sugggestions on ANY awarf africans... I always suggest any member of the Pelvicachromis genus. I cannot help it... and am KooKoo for Kribs! :mrgreen:

 

[Fogelhund]

What size tank? What are you going to be keeping with these fish, and which Xeno's are you thinking of? Xeno's as a genus aren't really considered dwarfs, as some will get to 7" +.

 

[Scooter]

Well, I was mainly referring to the smaller species. Neither spiloptera nor ochrogenys supposedly exceed 10-12 cm. The tank will likely be a 40 breeder. I'm planning an African community tank, but I'm not sure which Africans. I haven't gotten that far yet :wink:

 

[Fogelhund]

I wouldn't keep ochregenys in anything less then a 6 foot tank. At 12 cm they are a pretty aggressive fish to their own kind.

A 40 gallon tank would be suitable for something like a flavipinnis though. You could also keep a shelldweller species pair, or small group of multifastciatus, and a Cyprichromis leptosoma species in the tank, though not the jumbo varieties. Something like a blue flash leptosoma would work.

 

[Sam]

Try Tanganicodus

How about those "surf gobies" (cichlids in the genus Tanganicodus). They are cute little mouthbrooders and will get along well with Xenos and shellies. Or you could maybe try some Cyprichromis for some movement higher up, or those Neolamprologus leleupi for a jolt of color.

 

[Fogelhund]

A 40 is generally too small for gobies. Although Tanginicodus are the most passive of the gobies, they are not very tolerant of each other, and need space to hide from each other, that I'm afraid a 40 may not offer.

All gobies are extremely sensitive to water conditions and are algae grazers. Mixing them with fish that need shrimps in the diet is likely going to cause problems, unless you can obtain fry that have been raised on shrimps.

Additionally, lelupi have a habit of harrassing multifasciatus and most other shell dwellers quite a bit.

 

[2la]

Don't know what your water's like, but have you considered Nanochromis transvestitis?

 

[Scooter]

Thanks folks. I haven't considered the transvestitus and I am pondering some shellies. The gobies are pretty neat. Keep those suggestions coming. I'm open to pretty much anything, small, colorful, and with personality.