Set up confirmation

[Clone]

I have been in the hobby for about 8 years now and am just getting around to cichlids. Planted tanks are my true love in the hobby, and I have a 58 gallon Oceanic that I set up in November that needs some livestock. All I have in there now are a hand full of Otto cats, a bristlenose pleco, and 4 red eye tetras. Not very exciting.

I have been hitting the net in search of info on dwarf cichlids and stumbled on to this site. My relevant water parameters are: pH ~6.5 (due to CO2 injection), GH 16-18 degrees and water temp 76 degrees.

I would really like to get a pair of Kribs, with a pair of Bolivian Rams and Checkerboard Cichlids (Dicrossus filamentosus.) The latter two are available at The Fish Place and are beautiful. However, after doing a search on this forum it appears the Kribs are aggressive feeders and the rams would be scrounging for food. Is this assessment correct? If so I would substitute the Kribs with Keyholes.

I would also like to know if I could get away with adding another cichlid species, an Apisto sp. or Angles(my wife loves them). I appreciate any comments and/or suggestions.

Thanks,

-Jake

 

[Mike Wise]

Jake,

I'd suggest leaving out the checkerboards. These fish never do well in aquaria with harder water. They prefer pH values around 4.5 - 5.5 and very soft water. Keyhole Cichlids are excellent fish for planted tanks. They are very shy in underplanted tanks. If you are not interested in breeding your fish, I see no problem keeping angels, Keyholes, and Bolivian Rams together.

 

[Clone]

Thanks for the help. I picked up a pair of Bolivians and a pair of Apito. agassizii "double red" yesterday. So far both species are very shy and hide when ever I approach the tank. A different LFS has Kribs for sale should I shy away from them given their "breeding disposition?" What if I was to get two Kribs of the same gender?

 

[Mike Wise]

I would not mix West African & South American dwarf cichlids. Their methods of communicating their moods are different. This can lead to unnecessary fights. Might I suggest a second West African tank?

 

[Clone]

Mike Wise:

Might I suggest a second West African tank?

Don't tempt me. If I set up any more tanks I will have to start removing furniture.

 

[Mike Wise]

Been there; done that