Can I put some Cichlids in my Community Tank?

[lyndatu]

I just saw some Cichlids at the pet shop and they were very beautiful. They're like saltwater fishes because of their colors like blue, yellow, pink, and many others, unlike some common freshwater fish that are often black and white, maybe with a small touch of color. I asked the owner if I can keep some small Cichlids in my 20-gallon (I think a little more than 20-gallons) freshwater community tank, but he says that they can be aggressive and territorial. I researched about cichlids in the web and says that they can be sometimes aggressive and territorial, but there are also mild and peaceful cichlids, like the Discus, and won't be aggressive if they have a place (cave, rock, overturned pot or other hiding place) of their own. I'm confused;

Can you give me more information about keeping cichlids in my community tank? I really want some of these awesome fish. Can you also give me a list of some not-so-aggressive Cichlids? Thanks in advance!

[Barbrella]

It sounds like you're describing African cichlids, and hooray! for a petstore owner who knows what he's talking about! These fish are better kept with their own kind in general, and the bigger the tank the better.

For a 20 gal. community tank, you might want to look at
Dwarf Apistogrammas

They are very beautiful and a pair can usually be kept in a community tank.

Just be aware that even the few peaceful cichlids out there do become aggressive and territorial during spawning.

[Allie]

Kribensis are a dwarf African cichlid, they do well in a community tank. They do breed like crazy tho. I have a pair who just bred a month ago, they look like they are ready to go at it again.
http://www.justbajan.com/pets/fish/species/krebensis/

[sirdarksol]

One warning on the kribs. From what I heard, they can get aggressive during breeding, so you should keep hiding places for your other fish.

I'm not positive about this, but aren't the African Cichlids the ones that have pretty specific requirements regarding high pH? If so, and if you don't already have a high pH, you'd have to make some slow adjustments to your tank before introducing the Cichlids if you did get some. You don't want to cause a sudden spike for your other fish.

[Allie]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

One warning on the kribs. From what I heard, they can get aggressive during breeding, so you should keep hiding places for your other fish.

I'm not positive about this, but aren't the African Cichlids the ones that have pretty specific requirements regarding high pH? If so, and if you don't already have a high pH, you'd have to make some slow adjustments to your tank before introducing the Cichlids if you did get some. You don't want to cause a sudden spike for your other fish.

It think the ones from Lake Malawi & Tanganyika need the higher ph...alot of people keep kribs in community tank and they do well.
Kribs are West African, from a river or something, a 6.5-7.5ph.
They get as aggressive as angels do so depending on your individual fish...they usually do fine.

[sirdarksol]

That's why I said it would be a good idea to keep hiding places for the other fish. Moderately aggressive fish are usually ok in a community, as long as the community has the ability to hide somewhere.

[sophie10]

I have kribs in my 55 gal 7 kribs (3 pair and a lonely male!), 3 pleco, 2 gourami's of unknown lineage and 4 very large silver dollars. The kribs are great tank mates, but they do get territorial over there nest and brood. They don't really attack, but they chase the other fish away, as far as they can! It's actually quite the scene to watch them take on the school of silver dollars, that are ten times their size!