Transcriptus or L. helianthus tank size

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Industrial

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 22, 2010
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Buffalo, NY
I have never kept african cichlids for and I wanted to do a species tank of either J. transcriptus or Lamp. helianthus. Any pointers on the minimum tank sizes for both? With either kind, I am planning on getting a group and saving the pair if they pair up.

Both kinds are awesome, but from what I have read if I need to move around fish temporarily, these guys cannot be mixed with anything else that I have (the rest of my fish are generally peaceful).
 
I've bred j.marlieri, which are bigger than j.transcriptus, in a 20g long. You might be able to get helianthus to breed in a 20g long. In either case a bigger tank before you get a pair would be better since once a pair forms, everyone else is a target and in a 20g that could easily mean all other fish die.
 
I agree with whetfish, Once paired, they can be kept in a 20l, but the group would be better in a 36x18 30g or 40g. In the breeder sized tank, you might be able to hold on to more than just one pair.
 
I only really want one pair long term. Don't a lot of tanganykans bond over territory? I remember reading that when moved to a new tank, or the tank is rescaped pairs break up and sometimes start fighting. My intentions are a species tank with just a single pair. If it all works out good and I have the room, I hope to house them in a 33 long one day and create a colony, but I don't want to plan for that since there is a good chance I won't have the space.
 
If you're worried about disrupting a bond over territory you could do one of two things. One would be move the non paired fish. Two is move the territory with them, set up the territory(rockpile) exactly the same in the tank you move them to. You could probably put six or so in a 33 long and once you get a pair pull and sell the extras.
 
I used to have a ncie setup of Trans in a 29 gallon tank (same foot print as the 20l iirc). Easy to get going, just takes awhile. Great to watch them interact as a pair or in groups.
 
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