"New" 55g. . what to do. . .

Okay, so we are setting up another tank. . a 55g. I know our tropicals will be going in there for now, but I want some other fish too. So, I need some help. I am fish dumb when it comes to africans other than those from Malawi. I know for sure that we are going to try to find some geophagus tapajos sooner than later and I know that I want some shell dwellers and/or rock dwellers. What fish can I get that will get along well and still give me lots of color?? Thanks in advance!!

my favorite tang cichlid is alotlomprolgus calvus i think there gorgeous and they dont look like a typical cichlid

I'm not sure how the calvus and tapajos would get along but I was looking into the calvus too. I like them a lot! :)

mixing tropical and africans wouldnt go so well.

Good luck !!!
sometimes works ...

thats true ull never know wat happens

So. . . . no suggestions as to what to put in there?? Shell dwellers or rock dwellers?? And the tropicals, like I said, are only going in there for now. . . this won't be their permanent home. :)

in that case i would try n get some of those calvus!!!!
they look awsome!!!

For that size tank and I'd suggest a mix tanganyikan with shell dwellers.
Comprecisseps, Leleupi and brevis to take care of the bottom and a bit of cyprichromis or paracyphs for mid-top dwellers.

3 calvus
3-4 leleupi
4-6 brevis
6-8 cyphs

Put a good filtration and that should be a colorful tangayikan tank.
Altough they'd be happy in a bigger 75g but I think i will work with great filtration.

Thanks khrister! I will have to look into those and see which I like most. :) I'm not sure if we will do any calvus simply because neither of us like them much. We have time, I just needed to get a list going so I can start finding and purchasing our fish. :)

Not Calvus, they grow bigger than Comps...
Let see if this pic of Fire Fin Comps will change your mind

Oh BTW extra in the pic are some male Cyphs Neon Head Chituta

they all look Nice!!!!

Wow. . . those are beautiful!

tight @$$ fish dude

Khrister you have just now convinced me. With the list that you provided of what we could do could a rock dweller go in with those? I was looking and found this one that i really like http://www.safhl.net/davesfish/images/Eretmodus%20Kigoma%20Red.jpg .

That you can do too. Gobbies are cool looking too but I have no experience with them. I don't think they can be more aggressive than Comps.

i have Eretmodus sp. "blue point south" which is a goby cichlid, mixed with 6 Compressiceps & Calvus, 3 each, 2 7-strip frontosa's and 5 Neolamprologus helianthus Sunflower. the goby's, comps, calvus and frontosa's seem to get along well a little nipping here and there but the sunflower's are a bit of a terd. they are the most aggressive in my tank, even though they are not the largest LOL. Not sure if this will help you.

jcsmit7 wrote:

i have Eretmodus sp. "blue point south" which is a goby cichlid, mixed with 6 Compressiceps & Calvus, 3 each, 2 7-strip frontosa's and 5 Neolamprologus helianthus Sunflower. the goby's, comps, calvus and frontosa's seem to get along well a little nipping here and there but the sunflower's are a bit of a terd. they are the most aggressive in my tank, even though they are not the largest LOL. Not sure if this will help you.

It does help now to convince my wife to get a goby. I am veering away from the tapajos due to availability and price of them.

going to have to make an ammendment my last post on this topic, lost one of my compressicipes, believe the redhead, not sure when but after cleaning the gravel, due to algae, and finding two of the calvus's on the floor. they hide in the decor to well. I could not find the redhead. whats the saying poop happens LOL.



RIP(or peices what ever it was)

Aww man that sux!!!

never had cichlids stay in the decor when pulling them out for cleaning the tank till i got the compressiceps and calvus's. numerous times i have found them flopping on the floor after pulling out the decor. thought i might loose one today it was swimming weird after finding it and putting it back in the tank but it appears to be fine now. keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

i would not suggest mixing lakes let alone african and new world cichlids, just not usually a good idea

I think we are going to avoid mixing lakes we just really liked the geo's and tried to find less aggressive fish so we could have a better mix. This was the whole idea, but we do have some mixes already with some less aggressive fish and they are one in the fewer that are doing well.