Dwarf cichlid in 20 Hex OK?

[Blue Gourami]

I have a 20 gallon hexagonal tank (about 19" across and 18" deep) in
which I have ember tetras, pygmy corys and oto cats. All these fish
reach about 1" in size. I was wondering if it would be OK to add a
dwarf South American cichlid. One of the LFS around here has some
Apistogramma nijsenni and they really look beautiful.

Is the tank big enough for one of them? I do not want a pair, in case
they get agressive when breeding.

Would a female be safer (less agressive) than a male?

Is there any risk of the Apisto bullying the corys?

I have never had any cichlids, so I do not know what to expect when it
comes to behaviour.

Blue Gourami

[RedForeman ©®]

You could do that, the dwarf apistos are great 'little' big fish.... small
in size, large in personality...

You could get away with 1 or a m/f pair...


"Blue Gourami" > wrote in message
m...
> I have a 20 gallon hexagonal tank (about 19" across and 18" deep) in
> which I have ember tetras, pygmy corys and oto cats. All these fish
> reach about 1" in size. I was wondering if it would be OK to add a
> dwarf South American cichlid. One of the LFS around here has some
> Apistogramma nijsenni and they really look beautiful.
>
> Is the tank big enough for one of them? I do not want a pair, in case
> they get agressive when breeding.
>
> Would a female be safer (less agressive) than a male?
>
> Is there any risk of the Apisto bullying the corys?
>
> I have never had any cichlids, so I do not know what to expect when it
> comes to behaviour.
>
> Blue Gourami

[Jody]

Without another male in the tank you should be fine. Now if you were to get
a breeding pair, it may actually be the female who gets testy if they spawn.

Jody


"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
> You could do that, the dwarf apistos are great 'little' big fish.... small
> in size, large in personality...
>
> You could get away with 1 or a m/f pair...
>
>
> "Blue Gourami" > wrote in message
> m...
> > I have a 20 gallon hexagonal tank (about 19" across and 18" deep) in
> > which I have ember tetras, pygmy corys and oto cats. All these fish
> > reach about 1" in size. I was wondering if it would be OK to add a
> > dwarf South American cichlid. One of the LFS around here has some
> > Apistogramma nijsenni and they really look beautiful.
> >
> > Is the tank big enough for one of them? I do not want a pair, in case
> > they get agressive when breeding.
> >
> > Would a female be safer (less agressive) than a male?
> >
> > Is there any risk of the Apisto bullying the corys?
> >
> > I have never had any cichlids, so I do not know what to expect when it
> > comes to behaviour.
> >
> > Blue Gourami
>
>

[Blue Gourami]

"Jody" > wrote in message >...
> Without another male in the tank you should be fine. Now if you were to get
> a breeding pair, it may actually be the female who gets testy if they spawn.
>
> Jody

Well, I did it! I bought a female and, when I put her in the tank and
she looked straight at me, wagging her little fins, I was won over. A
few days later, I bought a male. He is a little agressive at meal
times, chasing the female away from the blood worms, but I sneak her
some behind his back!

Blue Gourami