scavengers for afro cichs

[gobucks1]

what is a good scavenger for a 55 gallon mixed african cichlid tank?
i know that some synodontis would be the way to go, but hte only ones that we have around here that arent way overpirced are the lace cats and they get too big.

i want something that schools and can hold its own and will be able to live in the tank for life.

any suggestions?

 

[gunner36]

I have clown loaches in my tank, they do a pretty good job at keeping the food bits cleaned up, plus they are as much fun (maybe even funner) to watch as the africans. The africans leave them alone, they dont mess with them at all, they are healthy and thriving in my tank.

 

[TheFanatic]

I have clown loaches in my tank, they do a pretty good job at keeping the food bits cleaned up, plus they are as much fun (maybe even funner) to watch as the africans. The africans leave them alone, they dont mess with them at all, they are healthy and thriving in my tank.

I have both Syno cats and Clown Loaches. Go with the Loaches. They are fantastic. And they don't have to be clown loaches. Any loaches will do...

 

[gobucks1]

I have both Syno cats and Clown Loaches. Go with the Loaches. They are fantastic. And they don't have to be clown loaches. Any loaches will do...

really, thats great. but i have tried CL's before and they disappeared. there were three of them who were about 2''.

maybe skunk loaches?

 

[Angler]

Not sure why your clown loaches disappeared before. As mentioned, they are a great choice and the cichlids will leave them alone. I had 4 clown loaches in a 55 gallon Mbuna tank.

 

[CichlidAddict]

Synodondis or pictus cats both worked for me in the past.

 

[gobucks1]

Not sure why your clown loaches disappeared before. As mentioned, they are a great choice and the cichlids will leave them alone. I had 4 clown loaches in a 55 gallon Mbuna tank.

yeah i dont know either, they did get picked on though.

should i grow them out in a seperate tank first?
i have access to a ten gallon that i could grow them out in for a while if that would be better?

and how many should i get?

 

[gobucks1]

Synodondis or pictus cats both worked for me in the past.

pictus?
would they get to big and do they get along with eachother?

 

[TheFanatic]

pictus?
would they get to big and do they get along with eachother?

That's not my first choice. They require different water chemistry, but if you are keeping your params toward neutral they would be fine. They don't get very big but they do like to school so you would be best served to get say 5 of them....

 

[TheFanatic]

yeah i dont know either, they did get picked on though.

should i grow them out in a seperate tank first?
i have access to a ten gallon that i could grow them out in for a while if that would be better?

and how many should i get?

Clown Loaches do not grow very fast, so you would be growing them out for quite some time in a 10 gallon.

How many should you get? Hob big of a tank do you have?