What’s the best tank size for Big Cichlids?

Hey guys I currently have a 30 gallon tank being cycled. However, I’m giving it to my brother on account it’s way to small for any cichlids I want. I wanted to know what’s a better option for big cichlids 40 gallon breeder that I currently have or should I buy a 55 gallon. The fish I’m looking at so far are:
• Mbuna only tank
•convicts,Jack demp, Sajica, Redtail shark, angelfish, blue Acura.

 

Hey guys I currently have a 30 gallon tank being cycled. However, I’m giving it to my brother on account it’s way to small for any cichlids I want. I wanted to know what’s a better option for big cichlids 40 gallon breeder that I currently have or should I buy a 55 gallon. The fish I’m looking at so far are:
• Mbuna only tank
•convicts,Jack demp, Sajica, Redtail shark, angelfish, blue Acura.

100 gallons minimum

 

100 gallons minimum

Sorry I misspoke I don’t want all the fish at the same time. I meant what the best options for any of those fish.

 

A thirty is fine for some smaller species, but then it's dwarf cichlids only.
For all others these are my estimates for decent minimum tank sizes, all are minimum numbers. You can (and should) always go bigger than minimum.

For Mbuna: 200l for a species tank or 2-3 smaller species in decent group sizes, but for many standard species it's 400l or bigger.
For other Malawis: 500l
Tanganyika: 250l, volume less important than footprint.
West African: 150l (Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis, Anomalochromis etc.), 200l (Hemichromis), 300l (Congo River rapids)
Central Americans: 150l (convicts) to 800l (the big guys).
South American: from 80l (dwarf cichlids as single or pair) to 250l (angels, discus) to 1000l (peacock bass).

About redtail sharks: If you want them to live a decent life, not be territorial and not aggressive, keep them in a group of 6 or more in a, 400 liter or bigger, dedicated tank. The bigger the footprint the better.

 

A thirty is fine for some smaller species, but then it's dwarf cichlids only.
For all others these are my estimates for decent minimum tank sizes, all are minimum numbers. You can (and should) always go bigger than minimum.

For Mbuna: 200l for a species tank or 2-3 smaller species in decent group sizes, but for many standard species it's 400l or bigger.
For other Malawis: 500l
Tanganyika: 250l, volume less important than footprint.
West African: 150l (Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis, Anomalochromis etc.), 200l (Hemichromis), 300l (Congo River rapids)
Central Americans: 150l (convicts) to 800l (the big guys).
South American: from 80l (dwarf cichlids as single or pair) to 250l (angels, discus) to 1000l (peacock bass).

About redtail sharks: If you want them to live a decent life, not be territorial and not aggressive, keep them in a group of 6 or more in a, 400 liter or bigger, dedicated tank. The bigger the footprint the better.

Okay perfect that helps tremendously have you had any experience with blood parrot fish or kept them with convicts before?

 

No, sorry, I particularly dislike blood parrots.

 

No, sorry, I particularly dislike blood parrots.

Okay just wondering I saw a picture and thought they were cute. I just read about there deformity.

 

Parrots are a man made fish. Not sure if their colors are real or like glo tetras? Also not a fan. A 55 would be a good tank. But don’t mix the Dempsey’s with the angels. But angels and blue acara will work. Add some corys and a bn pleco and it’s a nice tank.

 

Parrots are a man made fish. Not sure if their colors are real or like glo tetras? Also not a fan. A 55 would be a good tank. But don’t mix the Dempsey’s with the angels. But angels and blue acara will work. Add some corys and a bn pleco and it’s a nice tank.

Okay yeah after reading about them I don’t like them either lol nor do I like any of those glofish. Okay good to know that blue Acara and Angels can live together.

 

To help you with sizing the tank, look at the fish length when fully grown and multiply that by 3 for the required depth of the tank. For example, if your longest fish is 6 inches, then you’d want an 18 inches deep tank so the fish has ample room to turn around in the tank.

That’s just a guideline. Bigger is always better. And longer is better than taller. 48 inches and up is a good start point.

 

To help you with sizing the tank, look at the fish length when fully grown and multiply that by 3 for the required depth of the tank. For example, if your longest fish is 6 inches, then you’d want an 18 inches deep tank so the fish has ample room to turn around in the tank.

That’s just a guideline. Bigger is always better. And longer is better than taller. 48 inches and up is a good start point.

okay thanks looks like everything is pointing to buying another tank. Thanks thought my old 40 breeder tank would work for some cichlids other than dwarf but probably not.

 

I love my blood parrots...who cares if they are hybrid,bet at least one of you drives a Prius right?? Same thing. Lol

 

I love my blood parrots...who cares if they are hybrid,bet at least one of you drives a Prius right?? Same thing. LolView attachment 791951View attachment 791953

they look happy and cute definitely cuter then all the glofish I keep seeing. Your tank is beautiful what size is it. Have you found any of your blood parrots to have mouth problems or health issue?

 

they look happy and cute definitely cuter then all the glofish I keep seeing. Your tank is beautiful what size is it. Have you found any of your blood parrots to have mouth problems or health issue?

That was actually my 55 gallon I put up the wrong tank haha, my blood parrots are in my outdoor 135 gallon,I have 3,the big one is beef and the smaller two are tweedle Dee and tweedle dumb lol.
No mouth issues,all three of them have big D shaped mouths good for lip lock wrestling and bullying but no health issues at all.

 

That was actually my 55 gallon I put up the wrong tank haha, my blood parrots are in my outdoor 135 gallon,I have 3,the big one is beef and the smaller two are tweedle Dee and tweedle dumb lol.
No mouth issues,all three of them have big D shaped mouths good for lip lock wrestling and bullying but no health issues at all.

I’m loving the tweedle dee & tweedle dumb names reminds of Alice in wonderland movie lol. I was thinking about getting one but I’m not sure if they would do well in a 55 or 75 gallon tank. Unfortunately right now that’s the only options I have due to limited space.

 

I’m loving the tweedle dee & tweedle dumb names reminds of Alice in wonderland movie lol. I was thinking about getting one but I’m not sure if they would do well in a 55 or 75 gallon tank. Unfortunately right now that’s the only options I have due to limited space.

1 in a 75 gallon would be acceptable I guess but not a 55 gotta have a little width for those guys,they get pretty fast haha.
They are kind of like dogs in a sense though,I can pet all three of them my tiger oscar as well will swim between my fingers he likes it,when you walk by they follow you like a puppy waiting for a treat,they constantly caravan around together while I'm outback pacing around its hilarious

 

1 in a 75 gallon would be acceptable I guess but not a 55 gotta have a little width for those guys,they get pretty fast haha.
They are kind of like dogs in a sense though,I can pet all three of them my tiger oscar as well will swim between my fingers he likes it,when you walk by they follow you like a puppy waiting for a treat,they constantly caravan around together while I'm outback pacing around its hilarious

If I had one in a 75 gallon do you think another fish could live with it? Or is it better to just have 1 in the 75 gallon by itself.