20 Gallon Tank How many dwarf african cichlids

wahat the title says

 

what size tank?
your biggest tank listed in your info, is a 20 gallon and no africans can go in that small of a tank
55g or larger for africans as they are super territorial

 

what about dwarf africans

 

what about dwarf africans

unless you get some shell dwellers, there's no cichlid that will do well in a 20 gallon IMO

 

what about dwarf africans

I assume you're referring to dwarf Mbuna? IMO a group of Pseudotropheus saulosI could be kept in a minimum of a 30 long, but only as a species colony and only in the right ratio of males to females. Shawnie nailed it for most Mbuna though; they really should be kept in a 55 or larger.

Since you can rule out MalawI cichlids, have you looked into Tanganyikan cichlids? Smaller shell dwellers like Neolamprologus ocellatus, multifasciatus, etc. would do fine in a 20 as a species-only tank.

 

thanks

my pet store said I could have 3-5 5 inch fish don't say there wrong theyve had 25 years of experience(how come you guys always say my pet store is wrong(not mine the one I go to))

 

my pet store said I could have 3-5 5 inch fish don't say there wrong theyve had 25 years of experience(how come you guys always say my pet store is wrong(not mine the one I go to))

remember , we give our advice for free...you can take our advice or listen to your pet store who want ALL your hard earned money..choice is ultimately yours

 

Years of experience doesn't matter much when you spend those years giving bad advice.

 

they don't give bad advice

 

my pet store said I could have 3-5 5 inch fish don't say there wrong theyve had 25 years of experience(how come you guys always say my pet store is wrong(not mine the one I go to))

We mainly say they are wrong well because they are. I hate to break it to you but five 5" fish are not going to fair to well in a 20gal tank. They may for a bit but eventually it just isn't going to work out. You could possibly do 5 of the bigger tetras or barbs or something along those lines (like Barbus Conchonius). But these fish are fast and active and won't fair well in a 20gal.

Now lets see you don't want me to say they are wrong so what can I say. If they have 25yrs experience and they are telling you their newly found friend (I say friend because they are hoping to keep this relationship going that way you continue to give up your money to support them..... friend) that you can keep five 5" African cichlids in a 20 gallon tank well they are just idiots..... however smart idiots because if you listen to them you will become a repeat costomer because you will be back buying replacement fish for those that are dead. You could get away with it if you were into breeding maybe. You could more than likely spawn KenyI as an example in a 20 while they are still small but I would move the male after both females are holding or you will more than likely be left with only the male. There are lots of fish that can go in a 20 gallon tank, however for someone to suggest you put 3-5 5" African cichlids in a 20 especially for someone just starting out in the hobby, which is what your profile info says, is down right irresponsible.


Now let me ask you a question. If you don't want us to say they are wrong, because in your eyes their 25 years experience will be better than ours, they why come here and second guess them? Go with what they say. But the pupose of a forum is to get ideas/suggestions from many people, if you start your post and say don't tell me they are wrong, there is no point in asking a question. Because a large number of people will never agree on anything.


Brian

they don't give bad advice

They did to you, and I would bet a large amount of money you are not the first time.....

 

oh if any of you think I'm putting them in with my sarpaes and danios; I'm not stupid they will kill (except the yellow labs maby there oonly semI agrresive) all my fish

even if you say they they give bad advice I'm getting dwarfs (maybe???)

 

No, yellow labs are semI aggressive by Mbuna standards, but are quite aggressive compared to community fish.

Mbuna do not belong in a 20 gallon. Sorry that's not what you want to hear, but we are trying to help you avoid the inevitable bloodbath that is going to happen once the cichlids hit sexual maturity. Your LFS will gladly sell you more fish when that happens, though.

 

even if you say they they give bad advice I'm getting dwarfs (maybe???)

Then why ask for our opinion.
Spent your money dude, go get them have fun.
We will wait for you to come back and ask why you have one "mean" fish left that killed everything else.

But then again you probably won't do that, I would hate to see you admit the 25yr experienced store could be wrong.


Brian


And if you are going only on numbers, me, Harpua, and Shawnie have 30+ years of experience combined so our advise must be better than the 25 years your LFS has, no?

 

even if you say they they give bad advice I'm getting dwarfs (maybe???)

Keeping fish is like having any other pet. Once they are yours, you are promising them that you will provide them with what they need for their ultimate happiness, well-being and good emotional and physical health.

If you get cichlids in a small tank, you are breaking that promise. It's that easy to understand.

It's not "us" against "them". If you read through the forum, you'll see countless cases of fish stores giving really bad advice, all in their quest to gain a profit.

There are nothing but good people here, who have only your best interests at heart. That's is something that you might want to consider and respect.

 

okay I will research more

 

okay I will research more

GREAT idea...again, its your tank to do as you wish...and its your money to do with also....but please take the time to adhere to the advice as its a sad life for a fish in a tank where it will be killed or stunted...no animal should have to live like that because of humans wants.....its cruel

 

even if you say they they give bad advice I'm getting dwarfs (maybe???)

well why did you even come ask us for help if you are just going to reject it??

 

As Shawnie said, it's up to the OP to take advice or not.
We cannot force someone to listen.

Since the original question has been addressed by some of our experienced members, this thread will be closed.

 

Please keep this respectful, as Shawnie said. This doesn't just go for lil, it also goes for everyone else. Many of the posts on both sides have read as pretty disrespectful. For those suggesting not to do the cichlids in the 20 gallon tank, we do need to remember that this is, in the end, lil's decision, and we need to not be disrespectful simply because of that.
Lil, realize that the forum members are not contradicting your LFS just to be contradictory. They're doing it because they disagree with the LFS. They've offered evidence to support their claims. Has the LFS done so? Or are you going with the advice that you want to be right?
Whatever the case is, it's your choice to make, and I stand by your right to make it. However, if you are going to choose to ignore the advice here, please be gracious about it.

I'm glad that you're choosing to do research. Whether or not you go with the information you find, at least you will know precisely what you are getting yourself into. Good luck and keep us posted.

Edit: Ninja'd by Lucy.