African cichlid tank

[Evangeline]

So I am starting a 55 gallon cichlid tank that has two pictus catfish. I talked to the guy at the fish store he said I would want 20 cichlids. He said over stock to reduce aggression. I go on Sunday to pick the fish. He said he could also help me sex the fish but he is not always right. Heres the list of what he has in: Obi zibras, demisonis, yellow labs,brichardis, aroris, peakock,mandas. Sorry if I spelled wrong he gave me the names over the phone. My question is can you give me a list of which species to buy and how many and what sex. Then when I go to the store I know exactlly what to ask for. Thanks.

[RachelsaurusRexU]

I don't know a lot about cichlids in particular, so what I'm about to say may very well be incorrect... But he told you that overstocking will reduce aggression?? That really doesn't sound right to me. If you haven't already, I'd do some serious research to back that before you buy your fish. There must be cichild forums that you could consult, and there are plenty of cichlid keepers on general aquarium forums. Please post some pics when the tank is stocked! My 55 currently houses two goldies, a bushynose pleco, three bamboo shrimp and some nerite snails, but someday I hope to keep discus! They're so beautiful.

[swolek]

Ok, please don't take this the wrong way...

But I think you should take a step back for now and research the fish you're interested in. Google the species in that list (since obviously you can't have all of them and I bet there are some that appeal more to you?) and take your time to read up on them, look up info on wetwebmedia.com (I gave you this link a while ago and still strongly recommend searching on there), and talk to people who own the fish on forums :). Not only will you have some time to decide which fish you truly want and are interested in but you'll also have more success in the long run. Almost anyone can keep fish temporarily, especially if they're hardy, but not many people manage to keep them for their true lifespans (often 10 or more years).

Also, stop listening to pet store employees. Never take fish advice from someone who wants to sell something. Suggesting you go out and buy 20+ cichlids and stick them in a newly set up tank is horrible advice and would crash your tank quickly. Then again, I guess that means you'd need replacements...see where I'm going with this?

Besides some general care information, I'm not the best person to ask about cichlids. They never interested me much so the only cichlids species I have experience with are German Rams, Bolivian Rams, and Chromides. But even if I was a cichlid expert, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving you a simple list (get x number of these, x number of those, etc.). I don't know which species YOU want to keep and your post tells me you haven't looked them up yet (since you weren't even sure on some of the names...).

Again, I say this not to sound elitist but because I want you to be successful long term. Most people aren't. Otherwise we'd hear of more 10-15 year old fish.

[Evangeline]

The first thing I did after talking to the guy on the phone was google each species to find ize and temperment. I really dont have time to join fish aquarium websites. I weeded out some of the fish off the list that get over 6 inches in size however I still want a accurate stocking suggestion of which species goes with which the best and how many. I research all the time however theres alot of difference answers for how many fish I can have in a 55 gallon.

[Evangeline]

I have been doing more research. This is my stocking list:
1 male yellow lab
3 female yellow labs
1 male demisoni
1 male ob zebra
1 male arora cichlid
3 female auror cichlids

Any suggestions or advice on stocking list.

[brandypup]

Is this a repituble fish specialty store? It still sounds like weird advice. Why sex the fish unless your breeding? I know when I was breeding betta fish I joined the Betta Congress and went to shows and the meetings. I did find this for you
American Cichlid Association

there are also cichlid message boards. SOmetimes you do not have to join to just find some information.

Good luck. I dont know much about these fish.

[twoisplenty]

It is very important to sex fish prior to purchasing them. The reason is if you buy 4 yellow labs and 3 are male and 1 is female then that female will be harrassed usually until death occurs because the males all want to breed with her.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to research what fish are compatible with one another. Your list has Africans from both lake systems (Malawi and Tanganyika), this is a no no. You need to keep fish together from one particular lake system not mix the 2. Also never mix African cichlids with American cichlids, they have different needs. If you are keeping your pimcats then set up a South American tank with Rainbow fish and a pair of Rams.

If you want an African tank then 20 fish is way to many. Pet store employees act as if they know what they are talking about but the majority know jack crap and are just doing their job by selling you a ton of fish. Didnt you just get this tank recently? Then it isnt cycled and that should be your main goal. Cycling a tank of that size can take up to 8 weeks to do properly. Purchase yourself a water test kit like the API mater test kit and properly cycle your tank first. Africans are sensitive and require excellent water conditions.

Here is a link to 55G cookie cutter set ups that groups fish together by location that are compatible with one another. It also tells you how many of each you can have.

Cookie Cutter - 55-gallons

[brandypup]

Thanks! I didn't relize that with other fish. with betta you have to keep seperated until breeding time then seperate again so I didn't know it mattered with other kinds fish.

[Huginn]

If you don't have five minutes to join a fish forum and make a post how do you have time to do water changes, research and all proper maintenance??? Take the five minutes you are using to post on here and get advice from around five people to make a post on a fish appropriate forum and get much more answers. . .

Listen to twoisplenty, that is really good advice. Do a fishless cycle (Freshwater cycling) it will save you money, fish and headaches. It takes about 8 to 10 weeks depending on how diligent you are. Get a good freshwater test kit and test as you are cycling RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!! One thing I can say is start with your least aggressive and then add the the most aggressive very least. Only add a few fish at a time, DO NOT ADD THEM ALL AT ONCE. If you are new to fish, start with some more peaceful South Americans, things like severums, firemouths, blood parrots or apistos. 99.9% of customers that I have will start with African's and within 5 months hate fish keeping because they are so hard. . . RESEARCH is your FRIEND. Good Luck.

APISTOGRAMMA AND OTHER NEW WORLD DWARF CICHLIDS
Educating MFK on Africans!!

[swolek]

The first thing I did after talking to the guy on the phone was google each species to find ize and temperment. I really dont have time to join fish aquarium websites. I weeded out some of the fish off the list that get over 6 inches in size however I still want a accurate stocking suggestion of which species goes with which the best and how many. I research all the time however theres alot of difference answers for how many fish I can have in a 55 gallon.

If you don't have a couple of minutes to join a forum to research fish, is this really the right hobby? Getting answers on forums from people who actually keep the fish is very, very helpful (and forums tend to have useful articles and stickies). Pet store employees want to sell you fish, many websites with care info want to sell you fish...hobbyists have nothing to gain by giving out false info.

I also gave you a website that requires no registration. It would have answered all of the questions you asked with a little searching.

The cichlids you listed are not compatible and are from different areas. Which species are you most interested in? Maybe we can help design a set-up around them.