New Cichlid Tank

[MB]

Do cichlids usually stay near the bottom? I just got a new 30 gal.
tank and I decided to go with cichlids. I have just a few plant
decorations in there and they are pretty low. I plan to do a lot more
decorations. I know cichlids need some cover, but I wasn't sure if
they would move up and down more with higher decorations or if they
stay at the bottom no matter what.

What other fish go well with cichlids? Maybe something that swims
higher?

Thanks.

[battlelance]

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 08:51:41 -0700, MB > wrote:

>What other fish go well with cichlids? Maybe something that swims
>higher?

CIchlids go good with Cichlids, and even then you'll want to take into
account where they are from (ie, mixing mbuna and convicts would just
suck) and their water chemistry requirements.

My cichlids prefer chewing on the sand at the bottom, but they'll swim
all over the place.

My rockwork reaches about 1/4 foot from the top of the tank, and
they'll sometimes hang out up there.

[NetMax]

"MB" > wrote in message
...
> Do cichlids usually stay near the bottom? I just got a new 30 gal.
> tank and I decided to go with cichlids. I have just a few plant
> decorations in there and they are pretty low. I plan to do a lot more
> decorations. I know cichlids need some cover, but I wasn't sure if
> they would move up and down more with higher decorations or if they
> stay at the bottom no matter what.
>
> What other fish go well with cichlids? Maybe something that swims
> higher?
>
> Thanks.

The diversity of cichlids around the world requires that you specify what
type of cichlids you have. Discus, Oscars, Rams and Angelfish are all
cichlids, each with unique behaviours, and not sharing much with the
African cichlids. Some cichlids will tear your plants apart, others will
eat them, and some will ignore them. Some cichlids will hide under cover
until they see dither fish in the tank. Dither fish are what cichlids
look out and see swimming back & forth without harm. The presence of
dither allows many types of young cichlids to roam around the tank. If
there are no dither, the cichlids are in no hurry to reveal themselves to
predators (aquatic or airborne). Depending on the cichlids and the size
of the tank, some dither will be better than others. Typical ditherfish
are fast and/or cylindrical. Fish which fall into this category belong
to the families of rainbowfish, tetras, danios, barbs and monos.

Once comfortable with their surrounding, most mbuna, riverine and dwarfs
will be happy keeping in the lower half of a tank. Angelfish and Discus
will spend a bit more time in the mid-tank. Utaka will roam the mid to
upper reaches, until they start spawning. Medium-sized Central & South
Americans often operate out of a base camp, and then roam the tank.
Large cichlids try to own the entire tank ;~). These are all
generalities. Research the particular fish you've purchased, or will be
purchasing.

NetMax

[MB]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to try to find out what particular
fish I bought. All I know is two of them came out of the 'assorted
cichlid' tank. Other than that I bought a yellow, an orange, and a
blue fish. If I can find out the types I'll post back.

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 21:48:22 -0500, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>
>"MB" > wrote in message
...
>> Do cichlids usually stay near the bottom? I just got a new 30 gal.
>> tank and I decided to go with cichlids. I have just a few plant
>> decorations in there and they are pretty low. I plan to do a lot more
>> decorations. I know cichlids need some cover, but I wasn't sure if
>> they would move up and down more with higher decorations or if they
>> stay at the bottom no matter what.
>>
>> What other fish go well with cichlids? Maybe something that swims
>> higher?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>The diversity of cichlids around the world requires that you specify what
>type of cichlids you have. Discus, Oscars, Rams and Angelfish are all
>cichlids, each with unique behaviours, and not sharing much with the
>African cichlids. Some cichlids will tear your plants apart, others will
>eat them, and some will ignore them. Some cichlids will hide under cover
>until they see dither fish in the tank. Dither fish are what cichlids
>look out and see swimming back & forth without harm. The presence of
>dither allows many types of young cichlids to roam around the tank. If
>there are no dither, the cichlids are in no hurry to reveal themselves to
>predators (aquatic or airborne). Depending on the cichlids and the size
>of the tank, some dither will be better than others. Typical ditherfish
>are fast and/or cylindrical. Fish which fall into this category belong
>to the families of rainbowfish, tetras, danios, barbs and monos.
>
>Once comfortable with their surrounding, most mbuna, riverine and dwarfs
>will be happy keeping in the lower half of a tank. Angelfish and Discus
>will spend a bit more time in the mid-tank. Utaka will roam the mid to
>upper reaches, until they start spawning. Medium-sized Central & South
>Americans often operate out of a base camp, and then roam the tank.
>Large cichlids try to own the entire tank ;~). These are all
>generalities. Research the particular fish you've purchased, or will be
>purchasing.
>
>NetMax
>

[MB]

I do know they weren't discus, oscars, rams, or angels. I also
decided against the blood parrots. They all got a bit too big for my
tank I thought.

[RedForeman ©®]

> I do know they weren't discus, oscars, rams, or angels. I also
> decided against the blood parrots. They all got a bit too big for my
> tank I thought.

I think you could appreciate this statement....

A friend went to a LFS and bought a $3.99 from the asst. cichlids tank...
put it in her 29g tank. 2years later, had to buy a 55g because the fish had
outgrown, meaning couldn't hardly turn around in a 12" deep tank.... he was
now 11" long. a year later, she bought a 65g 3'x2'x2' tank, and gave it to
me because she couldn't keep up with it... 2 years later, he's now 14"
long, 4.5" wide, and 11" tall....

Look at it this way... buying from an asst. cichlid tank, will guarantee
you'll get more than you paid for, but will cost you more in the
end....especially if your spouse isnt' as understanding as mine....

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!!

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[MB]

Aaahhh...don't tell me that. I have the perfect place for a 125gal.
tank, but ask me if I think the space will be filled anytime soon.

[Rick]

"MB" > wrote in message
...
> Aaahhh...don't tell me that. I have the perfect place for a 125gal.
> tank, but ask me if I think the space will be filled anytime soon.


they sound like Africans which are commonly sold as Mixed Africans. Problem
is many or all can by Hybrids and you never quite know what you have. The
most common type of dither fish for these are large Rainbows, Silver
Dollars, large Barbs, Giant Danio's. Fish that are fast and can get away
from the Cichlids. I just added some Silver Dollars to a tank where I have 8
Caquetaia myersi and it makes a big difference in reducing species
aggression.

Rick