amaux2

I have a tank approx 40 gal (180 litres) that is fully cycled and after rehoming the fish that are currently residing there, am looking forward to some new fish!

After visiting several LFS, reading and reading and reading about cichlids, I'm finding that the more I think I know, the more there is to know! And I'm very confused about what fish to stock.

My daughter has fallen in love with blue orchids (Aulonocara kandeense) so that's one species we'd like to keep. However, I have no idea on what to put with them. And being a beginner to fish keeping, I'd like fish that are easy for beginners. I wouldn't mind if they spawn, but that can happen down the road, when I'm a bit more experienced.

Of course, I want my tank to be harmonious and interesting. I really like the rusties, but realise that the tank is too small for those - the one I saw at the LFS was moving the sand around and redecorating the tank. Are there cichlids that behave similarly that I could house in this tank?

I have sand as a substrate, pH of 7.6, lots of rocks and caves, no plants as of yet.

Any advice and ideas would be much appreciated!

MissMTS

Those are some beautiful fish that your daughter has fallen in love with What are the dimensions of your tank? I would stock a Male and three Females of the peacocks (Aulonocara kandeense). You could also probably fit 4 yellow labs in there (1 male, 3 females), along with a couple of Synodontis multipunctatus catfish. Sounds like a wonderful tank BTW, if I haven't said it before, welcome to Fishlore

amaux2

Thanks for the quick response MissMTS! Dimensions of the tank are: 3ft long, ahh not sure of the inch conversion, but it's 40cm wide and 45cms high.

I'll definitely check out the fish you mentioned. I've also been reading about shell-dwellers and they seem fascinating. Is it possible for them to work with the peacocks? I found a cookie cutter on cichlidrecipe.com that says for a 30gal tank:

6-8 Dwarf Julidochromis, Fairy Neolamprologus, Dwarf Neolamprologus, or Altolamprologus
2 trios of Copadichromis or Aulonocara
6 small/medium schooling fish (Danios, Rasboras, Rainbowfish, etc...)
1 or 2 Dwarf Plecostomus

Now if I've researched correctly the Neolamprologus are shellies aren't they? Or am I just more confused?

navyscuba

Well there is a problem with all this that is the tank size. Most of this fish have the need of at least a 55 gal tank. The Yellow labs are relatively peaceful.

peacemaker92

Welcome to Fishlore!

I don't know much about the fish you mentioned, but maybe a few Guppies? People say they are the easiest to keep especially when they're all male so that they won't give you a hassle of keeping an eye out of unlimited times of breeding. Well, good luck!

gmen4life

yay for cichlids have you though maybe convicts? they dont need a big tank

amaux2

Would convicts go okay with the blue orchid Peacocks?