Future Plan Tanganyika Tank: Can I do 3 species in 4' tank?

[Leeman75]

My fishkeeping has been under a drastic renovation for about a year now and is continuing. At one point, I had 14 tanks running. Now, I'm whittling down my last 5. The plan is to only have 2 tanks: My 75 gallon main tank in my living room, and a 40 gallon long in my basement. I will be replacing two 29 gallons, a 20 hex, and a 10 gallon with the 40 Long.

When I do that, my dream is to have a Lake Tanganyika tank that will incorporate my Brichardi that I already have. I'd ideally love to have 2 more species of a Shell Dweller and perhaps a Julidochromus or two.

I know it's always a gamble putting multiple cichlid species in a tank and with 2 rock dwellers in 1 tank. But I'm wondering if I could separate 2 rock/cave areas with the Shellies in between. I'm not concerned with breeding because for some reason, Tanganyika cichlids do not breed in my tank/water. If by some miracle they do, I will have an option ready to deal with it.

Back to the 3 species in the 4 foot tank...Has anyone ever done this before?

Secondary question, I know that there are several Julidochromis types...any recommendations?

 

[DaniosForever]

I do not know but put them in and if they get aggressive remove them

 

[SinisterKisses]

Mmm probably not. There's a good chance the brichardi will just take over the whole tank. 4ft isn't really all that long so I doubt you'd get away with two different shellies in there. Best you can do is try it if you are dead set and be prepared to separate as needed.

 

[FishDin]

I've done 3 Tanganykan species in a 55. The key is to have fish that share different areas. For example, sand dwellers, rock dwellers, open water dwellers.

I have not kept brichardi, but most of what I'v read is to keep them in a species only tank due to aggression. Others with more experience will have to weigh in.

I would not put 2 shellies together. I would not stock another rock dweller, like Julis.

FWIW, I have stocked Julis, Altos and Cyprochromis together in a 55. My opinion is that the 4' tank is not long enough for Cyprochromis. They seemd fine and bred like crazy, (I still have one that's 11 years old) but the tank seemed too small for such a fast open water swimmer. The Altos have done well and have helped keep the population down, especially of the cyps, as they breed in open water and are easily hunted. I assume they have nibbled at the Juli fry, but I haven't witnessed it.

Next month, I am going to transition this 55 into a 60B. It will have a colony of 30 or so Julis, a couple Altos and the lone Cyp (the current 55 stocking). I'm going to set it up for a group of Multis as well. It may be OK. It may not. I'm eager to try and I will have a 29g tank ready if there are problems. I may end up with a 29g shellie tank.

As for breeding. Everthing that I put in this tank breeds. I keep it at pH 8, KH and GH at 12, 77F.

 

[Leeman75]

I appreciate the responses! What I will likely do is keep one of my 29s as an alternative just in case, at least for the first several months.

I totally forgot that through some goofy situation, I actually have a lone neolamprologus caudopunctatus temporarily in the tank with the Brichardi and you'd think they were all the same species because they all swim around and through the caves together. Not to say that that would ensure safety for more added, but I don't think the Brichardi are quite as aggressive in this tank....so my thought is that eith more room, they'd work with another species.

And maybe that's where I land. Rule out the Julidochromus and just keep a Shelly group in one 3rd and the Brichardi in the other 2/3, with decor in between.

Again, for whatever reason, I haven't been able to breed any Tanganyikan cichlids, so doubt I'll have to deal with breeding aggression. And if I do, then I'll be more than happy to move the Shellies to the 29.

 

[veggieshark]

I currently have lemon cichlid, marlieri, compressiceps and cyprichromis in a 55. They get along just fine, but they are not at their max size yet (though they are mature). Cyprichromis was pushing it, but I have the entire bottom covered with rocks, pots and holes to get in and out, so the bottom dwellers are pretty busy. I see Brichardi listed in Tanganykan community suggestions all the time. I think it works but not if others are introduced after Brichardi establish their colony. I had a tank full of Brichardi once, and they killed everything else I tried to introduce later on.