Nick G

No, that'd be way to crowded. Cichlids aren't like other fish. If you get 4 Convicts and 2 pair up, they won't give a toss that the other fish are also Convicts, they'll just fight them to keep them out of 'their' territory. It might work in a 75gal say, where the others would have enough space for their own territory.

Fishlover423

Ok, ill get only 2. But which one, firemouth or convict?

Amanda

I'd vote Firemouth. They're less aggressive & smaller.

Fishlover423

Ok, is there any other chichlid ok in a 30 gallon?

Amanda

Maybe a few Rams. Or some other dwarf cichlid.

Fishlover423

can you plz give me a list of dwarf chichlids?

Lucy

Here's a link to some 30g options:
29g cookie cutter set up

Instead of asking the members for an entire list if cichlids, please do some research, narrow it down and the members can help you from there.
Here's a link to help you along:
For cichlid newbies:How to set up cichlid tanks

Amanda

Shawnie

is all I have to say!!!!!!!!!!

Fishlover423

WAIT!!!!! what about this:

2 firemouth chichlids
6 tiger barbs?

Fishlover423

Anyone there?

Wait, what about this:
2 firemouths
6 tiger barbs
2 angel fish?

Amanda

I'll say it once more - that's too many fish for a 30 gal. tank.
Angels are cichlids too, therefore have the same attitude & aggression.

Fishlover423

than what about
2 firemouths
6 tiger barbs

Nick G

That would overcrowd the tank. If you want to keep Cichlids then you have to accept that you can't stock the tank like you would if it was a community tank.

Amanda

2 Firemouths would really be the limit to a 30 gal. I think.

Angela_96

Shell dwellers are small cichilds from Lake Tanganika in Africa, they are awesome fish:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ory.php?cat=12

There are also some western african cichilds that would be at home in a 30g tank the Congo Cichilds come to mind with that:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...es.php?id=1440
Also look for this one: Neolamprologus Brevis under the profiles.



Both groups of cichilds need hard water, with 7.8-8.2ph, sand or gravel (pref. crushed coral) for substrate, and are easy to care for.

FL CommunityFans

a 30gallon really isn't the tank for any cichlid to really thrive in. Shell dwellers would eb the exception, or a colony of demasoni... and even then the tank would have to be a long tank, not tall. if the tank was 36" long you could do a small colony of demasoni of about 13-16 fish. You would definitely have to have 2 filters to keep the waste cleared and do water changes every 5 days instead of very week... 6 times a month as opposed to 4 basically.


if you want a cichlid tank, scrap your plans for the 55gallon make it a cichlid tank. The 30gallon is far far FAR more suitable to a community setup.

The folks here have been incredibly patient and helpful with ya. If you want in depth cichlid info, visit the cichlid-forum, as was linked in the 29g cookie cutter above and browse all the articles and fish profiles there. There is a wealth of knowledge there that is best read on your own so you can make quicker and easier comparisons.

Angela_96

I disagree with putting that many demasoni in a 30g tank, mbuna have to have at least a 4 foot long tank.

There are a ton of smaller cichilds that will go in a 30g tank, just researching about cichilds is where finding them comes in.

Fishlover423

OH, thats just like goldfish, 1 per 10g, oh, lol

Amanda

Yeah, it is a lot like goldfish actually.

Nick G

If you want Cichlids AND more fish then why not get Rams or Kribs. Both of these will live ok with other community fish. You just have to realise that a 30gal isn't big enough for a Cichlid community.

Fishlover423

thanks!

FL CommunityFans

A lot of folks I've talked to have no issues with them who do keep this stocking and most folks generally do balk at the idea. As long as it's a long tank(36") with ample rock-work the setup works, and the fish will thrive. One of the fellows who keeps them locally has a pretty gorgeous setup with them and they've been breeding prolifically going on 4 years now. He used to keep them in a 110 gallon tank and when they were setup there, they hardly ever went 5-6" past their claimed rock spots. This was when he decided to rehome them in a 30gallon after selling a good number off and recreate the 110 in to a SA tank. There are 2 variations of demasoni I know of with 1 variant getting to 4" max and the other maxing out at just shy of 3".

I agree mbuna need a large footprint, generally speaking. In a demasoni only tank, however, they can do very well on their own. I've been thinking about making a custom 33gallon long for a colony of demasoni for my fathers office actually... soon as he decides to make some space in that place

If it was me, I'd certainly make the 55galon the cichlid tank, like I originally said. If Fishlover is sticking to the guns though and wants to use the 30gallon for cichlids, as long as it's a 36" long tank I think the demasoni would be a good option for it, otherwise making it a shellie tank would be the next best idea, to me at least. (I want to do a 200gallon shellie tank with a bunch of levels built in to the tank giving more 'retail' space for the shellies Great article on a large shell dweller tank to give the OP an idea of what shell dwellers are like. They'd work great in a 30gallon too Smaller colony of course!

Definitely another good option. I wouldn't have thought of it as I'm not attracted to those types of fish and seldom remember they exist unless someone mentions them, ;p Folks that do like them though tend to REALLY like them. They excel in a planted environment so that'd be another thing to do with the tank aside from just the fish aspect