Cichlid tank mate

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Scoobs55

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 21, 2015
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Hello, first off let me start by saying that I know the conditions aren't ideal. But it's a better life then previously for now.

I have acquired an African cichlid (supposively) and it's only like an inch or two long and the previous owner said it barely has grown for months. Anyway for now it's in a 5 gallon. Soon to be 10 gallon, I know this isn't the best, most likely not permanent but please help me with a tank mate. I need something else to put in this tank. I would love to have a crayfish or shrimp but I doubt that would work. Any fish I can put with the tiny cichlid in a 5 or 10 gallon.
 
Scoobs55 said:
Hello, first off let me start by saying that I know the conditions aren't ideal. But it's a better life then previously for now.

I have acquired an African cichlid (supposively) and it's only like an inch or two long and the previous owner said it barely has grown for months. Anyway for now it's in a 5 gallon. Soon to be 10 gallon, I know this isn't the best, most likely not permanent but please help me with a tank mate. I need something else to put in this tank. I would love to have a crayfish or shrimp but I doubt that would work. Any fish I can put with the tiny cichlid in a 5 or 10 gallon.
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I would just let the African by itself and see if it starts growing. if it hasn't been growing and it's in a 10 gallon, that's still barely big enough to maintain water parameters, so you'd be better off w/ a bigger tank if u want any tankmates. If you got a 55g or a 75g you could do a variety of African cichlids, just not in a 10g and definitely not in a 5g

10g, 5g = hospital tank, quarantine tank, Betta tank, fry tank
 
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He hasn't grown in a while. At least that's what the owner told me. I've had him for about a month and no growth. So there is absolutely nothing else I can put in there. What if I got a 20g long. I just want a more diverse tank whether it includes multiple fish or invertebrates. Thanks.
 
There are over 2000 species of African cichlids, some are as small as 2", and never grow larger, and may be peaceful or not, some get as large as 3ft long and may or not be aggressive, so just saying African cichlid is like saying I have a dog will it work in my 200 square ft efficiency apartment 24/7, is it a purse dog, or a great dane(?).
A pic would help even if you don't know what kind it is.
 
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I will try and snap a pic later, he's blue/purple with like a black outline. Apprently from the assorted African cichlid tank..
 
its a Mbuna/Hap......I would just leave him alone in that tank and feed him some vegetable-based pellets/foods generously and culture some algae on some rocks for him for now. Might be other possibilities in the future but that will be up to you and tank upgrades, but for now just sit tight.....that's my advice
 
Okay. I feed him pellets. Why grow algae? Seems to come already, also what could I put him with if I move him to a 20 long. Could I put him with a green phantom pleco? My pbass died and my green phantom is alone in the 55 but I don't want just a tiny cichlid in the 55. I'm not interested in a bunch of them either
 
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