Minimum tank size

[Tom K]

I have a new 44 gallon tank and am considering stocking it with cichlids,
however I see here http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hawki/beginners_guide.htm
that they state that the minimum size for a cichlid tank is 55 gallons.

Is this true? I thought I had heard of smaller cichlid tanks than this
working fine.

Thanks in advance/

[Mephistopheles]

"Tom K" > wrote in
:

> I have a new 44 gallon tank and am considering stocking it with
> cichlids, however I see here
> http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hawki/beginners_guide.htm that
> they state that the minimum size for a cichlid tank is 55
> gallons.
>
> Is this true? I thought I had heard of smaller cichlid tanks
> than this working fine.
>
> Thanks in advance/
>

Cichlids come in many shapes and sizes and a 44 gallon tank would
certainly be large enough for some species. The particular link
you reference gives instructions for setting up an "African
cichlid" tank. If you read closely, this terminology is actually
improper because what the web site author is actually talking about
is a very specific type of African cichlids, namely, Malawi mbuna.
These are active fish and some can get fairly large, so a fairly
large tank would be preferable if it is to be dedicated to a
variety of such fish. A 55 gallon would actually be somewhat
small, in my opinion, because it is a very narrow tank (the number
of gallons is not always the most important thing to consider when
judging tank size). A 75 gallon would be better. But, if you are
interested in mbuna, you should be able to successfully keep some
of the smaller species (e.g., yellow labs and some of the other
Labidochromis species) in a 44 or 55 gallon tank.

Meph

[Louise]

I have a 33 gal with 15 african cichlids in it and they're very happy...


"Tom K" > wrote in message
...
> I have a new 44 gallon tank and am considering stocking it with cichlids,
> however I see here
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hawki/beginners_guide.htm
> that they state that the minimum size for a cichlid tank is 55 gallons.
>
> Is this true? I thought I had heard of smaller cichlid tanks than this
> working fine.
>
> Thanks in advance/
>
>

[James Thompson]

I built my own 55 gal, 49 x 16 x 16. I like the 16 wide better then the
store bought 55 as it has more room to have rock, and leave room for free
swimming fish. Right now it houses a 7.5 inch red devil and 2 1.5 inch
jewel's.
I learned a lot on tank building doing this myself. If your inclined to
try, go for it. Much more rewarding then just buying one you wont be
satisfied with.


> > I have a new 44 gallon tank and am considering stocking it with
> > cichlids, however I see here
> > http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hawki/beginners_guide.htm that
> > they state that the minimum size for a cichlid tank is 55
> > gallons.
> >
> > Is this true? I thought I had heard of smaller cichlid tanks
> > than this working fine.
> >
> > Thanks in advance/
> >
>
> Cichlids come in many shapes and sizes and a 44 gallon tank would
> certainly be large enough for some species. The particular link
> you reference gives instructions for setting up an "African
> cichlid" tank. If you read closely, this terminology is actually
> improper because what the web site author is actually talking about
> is a very specific type of African cichlids, namely, Malawi mbuna.
> These are active fish and some can get fairly large, so a fairly
> large tank would be preferable if it is to be dedicated to a
> variety of such fish. A 55 gallon would actually be somewhat
> small, in my opinion, because it is a very narrow tank (the number
> of gallons is not always the most important thing to consider when
> judging tank size). A 75 gallon would be better. But, if you are
> interested in mbuna, you should be able to successfully keep some
> of the smaller species (e.g., yellow labs and some of the other
> Labidochromis species) in a 44 or 55 gallon tank.
>
> Meph
>

[The Madd Hatter]

I've kept them in even smaller tanks for months at a time, some even over a
year. I think Meph is talking about the long term, since these fish will
eventually out grow a tank that small.
"Louise" > wrote in message
...
> I have a 33 gal with 15 african cichlids in it and they're very happy...
>
>
> "Tom K" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have a new 44 gallon tank and am considering stocking it with
cichlids,
> > however I see here
> http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hawki/beginners_guide.htm
> > that they state that the minimum size for a cichlid tank is 55 gallons.
> >
> > Is this true? I thought I had heard of smaller cichlid tanks than this
> > working fine.
> >
> > Thanks in advance/
> >
> >
>
>