Stocking 36G - dwarf cichlid suggestions?

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dxdx

dxdx

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 26, 2010
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My foray into German Blue Rams did not end well - they both died within 7 days. Clean water, planted tank about 20ppm nitrate for the plants. Have read these guys are tough to keep alive. Have high ph which I didn't want to chemically alter, but thought they were local, got them from my LFS.

So, I'm looking for a hardier dwarf SA/CA cichlid to keep in my 36 gallon bowfront. Been reading about them, apistogramma seem to be the most common for being under 4".

I'm doing plenty of reading, but I'd like to hear personal suggestions, what are your favorite dwarf cichlids under 4"? post up pics if you got em.
 
IME, any small central american cichlid is going to be easier to keep/breed than the "dwarf" south american cichlids, especially if your water is hard.
Most of the Cryptoheros and Thorichthys would work. Couple others...


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aclockworkorange said:
IME, any small central american cichlid is going to be easier to keep/breed than the "dwarf" south american cichlids, especially if your water is hard.
Most of the Cryptoheros and Thorichthys would work. Couple others...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info - I will look into these. Any specific species that you like?

I was looking at a Belize native that I can't recall the name of, but it looked like it might get too big. It would be cool to have a CA setup since my 300 is Amazon based...


edit: it was the cryptoheros cutteri but what I read said they max out at 5" which may be too big. true?
 
Bolivian Rams are much easier to keep than German Rams, although not as colorful.
 
dxdx said:
Thanks for the info - I will look into these. Any specific species that you like?

I was looking at a Belize native that I can't recall the name of, but it looked like it might get too big. It would be cool to have a CA setup since my 300 is Amazon based...


edit: it was the cryptoheros cutteri but what I read said they max out at 5" which may be too big. true?
Click to expand...

I have bred Cryptoheros cutteri and currently have a large male that's around 5" but that took several years. Females are smaller. They are one of the more aggressive Cryptoheros. You might like nanoluteus, they are one of the smallest and have great yellow. Also, Herotilapia multispinosa are easy to find and stay small. Also can't go wrong with Thorichthys meeki.


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HRP,or sajica would work both stay under 5 inches i think.i have not kept many of the other cryptos,but they seem to all stay in that 5 inch range.not SA or CA,but kribensis are another cichlid choice
 
Thanks for the suggestions I was researching most of these last night but I don't know how I missed the sajica and nanoluteus. I like the blue on the sajica - this may be my choice - anybody have opinions from keeping these?


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dxdx said:
Thanks for the suggestions I was researching most of these last night but I don't know how I missed the sajica and nanoluteus. I like the blue on the sajica - this may be my choice - anybody have opinions from keeping these?


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Click to expand...

They are all pretty similar as far as care goes. Start with a group of 6+ and let a pair form naturally and then get rid of the others. Most will breed readily...


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my vote would be for a pair of HRPs
 
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