40 gallon Lake Tanganyikan stocking

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Omrit

Piranha
MFK Member
Nov 13, 2015
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I am setting up a 40 gallon breeder to keep a few Tanganyikans in. I have Frontosa in a different tank and used to keep Julidochromis but aside from that I am not too familiar with the Tanganiyakans. Apparently the internet isn't either as it has been difficult to find good info on some of these.

Set-up: Shells on one end, open space in the middle with rocks lining the back, and then a higher rock structure on the other side intended for the rock dweller to use.

I would like three species if possible, so far this is what I am thinking:

Neolamprologus gracilis- I am told this is one of the more peaceful species from this group. Indented to be the rock dweller.

Dwarf Sumbu- The shell dweller of choice. This is the fish I am least willing to compromise on adding.

The above two seem good together from my research. It is a 3rd species that I am having trouble finding out if will work.

Originally I wanted a pair of goby cichlids for my 3rd species, but I can't find them for sale anywhere.

So instead would Callochromis Macrops work? This fish would occupy the more open section of the tank which is appealing. Some say this fish is peaceful and fine in a 40 gallon while others say they will kill each other even in a large tank. This is my ideal 3rd right now, but the lack of info has me hesitant.

Maybe Xenotilapia flavipinnis instead? Mixed reports on these guys too.

I assume a Calvus won't work because I have the dwarf Sumbu, but that seems to be the common suggestion for this type of tank.

Julidochromis seems to be the other popular suggestion, which I guess I might go with if the Callochromis/Xenotilpia can't work.

Perhaps something else entirely? I think just the sumbu and gracilis would make for a tank that was a bit too empty hence I was hoping something else could work.
 
Alan @ Cichlid Lovers has a decent selection of dwarf & other tangs. Good prices as well. Has been in the business 30+ years. Check out his availability list here;


I got these red bishop trophs last year. First time customer. Great fish. Great experience. Excellent pricing. Professionally packed & shipped. Highly recommend 🤙🏼

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Thank you. He doesn't have the goby cichlids right now unfortunately. I was planning to order from Dave's Rare Fish because I am getting fish for a few different tanks which Dave has. Never had a bad experience with Dave either although I hear CichlidLover's is good too.

Those Trophius look awesome though very cool. I think my tank is too small for them though.
 
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I would never recommend this, typically I would say 75gal minimum, but I saw a video of a group of tropheus in a 40B, and decided to give it a try with the red bishops. 2M13F. It has actually work very well with this group, much to my surprise. Just sayin…

 
I would never recommend this, typically I would say 75gal minimum, but I saw a video of a group of tropheus in a 40B, and decided to give it a try with the red bishops. 2M13F. It has actually work very well with this group, much to my surprise. Just sayin…

That tank is awesome, those loaches contrast nicely with the tropheus. Definitely open to something unorthodox like this

I am pretty locked in on getting the dwarf sumbu(and ideally the gracilis) though so I won't be pivoting to a tropheus colony as cool as that looks.
 
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