Which African cichlids in 40 gallon tank

[MrBichir]

Which African cichlids in a fourth gallon. Could someone please give me some stocking ideas for my new 40 gallon African cichlid tank. Thanks?

 

[TUCCI]

Thats not much room and the water parameters are going to make you insane. You could toss a handful of Convicts (but their not Africans) which might work....those bastages are survivors

 

[fishguy1978]

Nanochromis sp. would work in that size tank. They are west African mostly riverine species so the water parameters are not as stringent. These are beautiful but very aggressive. They are a bottom dweller so your dithers need to be surface fish.
If you are wanting rift lake cichlids then I would do shell dwellers like neolamprologis similis, multifacitus, or brevis. Lamprologus ocellatus would work too but are much more aggressive.
You can do julidachromis sp together with the shellies but make sure you have a good cave structure for them at one end and the shells at the other.

 

[Deadeye]

I agree that shellies are the best rift lake cichlid option.
I wouldn’t do any but the smallest and more mellow mbuna (labs, acei, rusty). I tried larger mbuna in a 36 back when I had no real experience and it was a blood bath.

 

[MrBichir]

Ok thanks. Could I do a tank just with juliachromis

 

[fishguy1978]

Ok thanks. Could I do a tank just with juliachromis

Yes. Get a group of at least 6 so that you could get a pair.

 

[MrBichir]

Ok what is the best sized tank for them. Could I put them in anything less than a 40 gallon tank?

 

[fishguy1978]

Ok what is the best sized tank for them. Could I put them in anything less than a 40 gallon tank?

I wouldn’t go smaller. The julies are territorial so the will need space and rock piles to help disperse the aggression.

 

[MrBichir]

Ok thanks for the help