Africans or Americans?

[HydroGrrl]

I've always kept American cichlids, but recently lost all of my fish to disease. I now have to start over and am considering trying Africans....I love the color and the fact that I can have more, and more variety without worrying about them outgrowing my 55 gallon. But I have heard that Africans tend to be quiet boring. I have also heard conflicting arguements about mixing them...Any suggestions?

 

[R0B]

I tried an african tank a few years back, and it was cool at first, but I did tend to get bored after a while and I ultimately decided to change the tank back to SA. Just wasn't for me.. To each their own.

 

[Blankmanrl]

I tried an african tank a few years back, and it was cool at first, but I did tend to get bored after a while and I ultimately decided to change the tank back to SA. Just wasn't for me.. To each their own.

+1
I also had Africans but they got old after awhile stay with SA

 

[Sarah88]

yeah like said, to each their own, some prefer more smaller cichlids while others prefer only a few larger ones, i kept africans for a little while as well, for the same reasons as you i thought their colors were gorgeous and i could have tons of them swimming in and out of the rocks, but i got bored of them and wanted something different so i went with CA/SAs, but yeah with a 55g there aren't many CA/SA that you can keep in there but some have colors just as bright, like you could keep a carpintis in that 55g of yours, maybe even a pair (though you would have to do lots of water changes) or you could do sajicas and honduran red points, there are tons of options they just aren't readily available at your average pet store

 

[balton777]

I've tried to do an African tank on a couple of occasions. I have one word about them....BORING. You can try it but if you're used to having new worlds cichlids and their awesome personalities, I can almost guarantee you'll switch back.

 

[Danger_Chicken]

CA/SA have more personality IMO. You can get more of a SW look with africians. The right group of africians can be interesting since they mess with each other all the time, but there isn't as much owner/fish interaction. Like everything else in this hobby it all comes down to personal preference.

I keep a tank of tang's now...they make great feeders for my new worlds

 

[lilfats2]

get a colony of peacocks and your good. watch his behavior around the tank and the females and when hes ready to spawn get into breeding them. u wont get bored...

 

[balton777]

get a colony of peacocks and your good. watch his behavior around the tank and the females and when hes ready to spawn get into breeding them. u wont get bored...

Wanna bet?

 

[lilfats2]

No lol. i have a big pair of Odos now. so i lost that bet already

 

[FSM]

You're posting in the American cichlid section, the answers are going to be biased. I don't know if I've ever posted in the African cichlid section, because I'm not interested in African cichlids.