Looking for Cichlids initial setup advice - Thanks!

[BooshWacka]

JD with a couple convicts gets my vote...JDs are very pretty fish once full grown great colors...

another option is firemouths very interesting fish

 

[fishhooked]

Iv'e just been hearing south americans. Have you considered african cichlids? The Mbumbas to be exact. From lake Malawi. Very Active fish and you can acquire quite a variety at your lfs. As for quantity, you could have quite a few in there. But if your wanting to stick with the south american's you could definately do a jd or two. Or even the ebjd, their beautiful fish. They are a little expensive if your just starting out, but theyre no harder than any of the others listed.

 

[bobblehead27]

Nah, Convicts are one of the easier to sex. Females have orange on their bellies while the males do not. The thing I had happen was, my 2 females acted like a pair. One laid eggs and they both guarded them. Weirdo's lol.

ORRR very hott if your a male con....

 

[CLDarnell]

Thanks for the suggestion on the Bristlenose Pleco, I think I would like one of these as well!

Like Monte said, make sure you get a Bristlenose Pleco. I haven't seen them at Petsmart/Petco before. The box stores only sell Common Plecos from what I have seen. A common will outgrow your tank and...well, make a mess of things. A BN will stay relatively small and do a pretty good job cleaning up.

Good luck!

 

[Gatorxxx420]

ORRR very hott if your a male con....

LOL!!!! I think they're a very common fish, but can be extremely beautiful fish. I also agree on JD's being beautiful fish too. That's why I chose to keep them.

 

[Metalspoon96]

Thank y'all the suggestions! I really just like the SA Cichlids, their shapes and colors look like something from a different world! The only fish I will have trouble finding is the Bristlenose Pleco, but I got a couple more fish stores to look at before I end up having to look online.