Mixed dwarf cichlids in a 130L

[Tdawwg$$]

Hey guys,

I have a 130l heavily planted tank, which has been running since march and has pretty good filtration (fluval U4 internal + medium sponge filter + small sponge filter)

These are the fish I currently have:
- 2 kribensis (1m1f) and they’ve paired up using both the coconut caves I have them
- 12 neon tetras

I really want to have a mixed dwarf cichlid tank but have read kribs can be really difficult with other dwarfs… but I really want to try because they are too cool of a fish to rehome

Any suggestions

My favourites are
-Apisto agazzissi
- Bolivian ram
- laetacaras

(I have never posted or used this site before so Mind me if I’m not using it right)

 

[anewbie]

Just say no - the aquarium is way too small even if the species were more laid back; but it gets worse here the kribs speak african and the south american cicihld speak south americanish and so they can't understand themselves. In a 40b (slightly larger) i did mix cockatoo and kribs and basically the kribs would double team the cockatoo until they left them alone and stayed out of their areas (did i mention that the kribs work really well as a pair). Of the species you mentioned one of the latacara would have the best chance (l. dorsigera seem to be the most laid back and least likely to have conflict); i found the araguaiae far more assertive and sometime looking for a bit of 'fun'.

Either way while it might work it will be a bit stress.

 

[Tdawwg$$]

Just say no - the aquarium is way too small even if the species were more laid back; but it gets worse here the kribs speak african and the south american cicihld speak south americanish and so they can't understand themselves. In a 40b (slightly larger) i did mix cockatoo and kribs and basically the kribs would double team the cockatoo until they left them alone and stayed out of their areas (did i mention that the kribs work really well as a pair). Of the species you mentioned one of the latacara would have the best chance (l. dorsigera seem to be the most laid back and least likely to have conflict); i found the araguaiae far more assertive and sometime looking for a bit of 'fun'.

Either way while it might work it will be a bit stress.

You’re totally right even though I think we all wish it wasn’t true! If they could all just speak cichlidish and be peaceful it would be so nice because there really nothing that compares to dwarf cichlids for me, the activity and bodies of them is so interesting and cool.

I probably won’t end up doing this but do you think if I did rehab one or move my kribs to another tank that I could have a neotropical tank with 2-3 varieties.

or Are there any dwarf cichlids that prefer to swim in the upper region that wouldn’t disturb my kribs and get stressed out?

But you’re definitely right the stress on the fish is not worth it.

 

[Mike Wise]

You’re totally right even though I think we all wish it wasn’t true! If they could all just speak cichlidish and be peaceful ...

Yes, and I wish that all humans could communicate peacefully with each other.