Newbe Needs Help

[Rhpeltz]

I am setting up a 50 gal cichlid aquarium and have some questions; I am thinking of dwarf cichlids as this is a rather small aquarium. How many dwarf's will it hold safely? Other than size, what is the difference in careing for dwarf's and normal size cichlids? I like the German Red Peacock's and Cobalts. What can I put in with these? What kind of food should I use? What other dwarf's can be mixed in with these? I need the names of dwarf breeders in the Los Algeles area, Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,

Bob
Upland, California

 

[peterK]

I am setting up a 50 gal cichlid aquarium and have some questions; I am thinking of dwarf cichlids as this is a rather small aquarium. How many dwarf's will it hold safely? Other than size, what is the difference in careing for dwarf's and normal size cichlids? I like the German Red Peacock's and Cobalts. What can I put in with these? What kind of food should I use? What other dwarf's can be mixed in with these? I need the names of dwarf breeders in the Los Algeles area, Any help will be appreciated.

Hello, Bob

I'm not very experinced aquarist, but I think I'm able to give you some info.

Yes it isn't very big tank, but if you put there a lot of plants and another hideouts, you can keep nice group of dwarfs.
For example Cacatuoides, Aggies, Borellis, Threestripes, etc. etc.

I don't know what is it (my english isn't very good ): German Red Peacock's and Cobalts, give me latin names of these fish, please. Than, I will tell you what I think about these tankmates.

Dwarfs need more stable water parametres than big cichlids.

Peter >>>

 

[Rhpeltz]

Thanks Peter for your reply. The German Red is Aulonocara suartgranti.

 

[Lisachromis]

I am setting up a 50 gal cichlid aquarium and have some questions; I am thinking of dwarf cichlids as this is a rather small aquarium. How many dwarf's will it hold safely? Other than size, what is the difference in careing for dwarf's and normal size cichlids? I like the German Red Peacock's and Cobalts. What can I put in with these? What kind of food should I use? What other dwarf's can be mixed in with these? I need the names of dwarf breeders in the Los Algeles area, Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,

Bob
Upland, California

Bob,

I would not consider these fish to be dwarfs. You're talking about Malawian cichlids. The cobalts may be too aggressive for the peacocks when they grow up. You may want to go with a smaller Pseudotropheus type (e.g. saulosi) to go in with the peacocks. Those should be fine in a well aquascaped 50g. You'll need a basic flake as well as a lot of vegetable based type foods for the mbuna (Pseudos). They can have treats of meatier stuff, but do not give it to them all the time as that will cause health problems.

 

[peterK]

I agree with Lisa, absolutely

Greetings,
Peter