Africans for a 25

[mindgame]

Hey, so I just set up my 25 gallon at my new place and I think that I want to try my hand at African Cichlids (I have previously kept piranha, convicts, a red devil, and some other smaller community fish). I know that certain types of africans require specfic water hardness and ph, so I was hoping to get some suggestions for some good beginner africans for a 25 gallon. The bigger the better but something that can be housed properly in a 25 gallon tank. I am running a ac50 and a tetra HOB filter on this tank.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[aclockworkorange]

Shell dwellers AKA "shellies" should work.

Here's a basic article on them:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/cichlid/shelldwellers.php

 

[boldtogether]

10 or so Labidochromis caeruleus, Neolaprologus tretocephalus. Both beautiful species, provide alot of rockwork and good filtration, fish only get about 3-4".

 

[Lab_Rat]

The only african rift lake cichlids I'd put in there are small Tanganyikans. Yellow labidochromis and other mbuna get too big for a 25g tank. I've seen labs larger than 5". Kribs would be a good african cichlid to build a community tank around.

 

[1974Pantera]

Shell dwellers AKA "shellies" should work.

Here's a basic article on them:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/cichlid/shelldwellers.php

I concur, they are great fish!

 

[mindgame]

I know its a been a while since I made this thread but I finally got around to taking pictures of the fish I got. I ended up just going to Petsmart and getting two fish from their assorted African tank (my room mate got impatient with an empty tank sitting in the living room.) so if anyone knows what they are I would love to know.

Pics are kinda crappy. I only had a point and shoot kodak and the little fellas are quick.

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

1st one looks to be a metriaclima greshakei "Red Top Albino"

2nd one looks to be a metriaclima sp. “Daktari”

I like them, nice pickups...just don't add too many more semi-big african cichlids

 

[mindgame]

I planning on keeping it with just the two and if anything throw in some small schooling fish like some kind of tetras or danios.

 

[Ash]

Yes do not add anything else. In technicality a 55gal is the minimum recommendation for mbuna.. I kept some in a 30gal once at a smaller size and it does not work so nice I ended up upgrading to a 55gal. Also I would not throw anything else in that tank with them other then other mbuna as they are somewhat aggressive (in saying that I would not get anymore - not enough territory room).