I am starting up a 30 gal tank and would like to stock it with colorful Malawi cichlids.
FRANKLY, FOR A PERMANENT HOME A 30 IS NOT REALLY BIG ENOUGH FOR MALAWI CICHLIDS.
IF YOU START WITH ALL YOUNG FISH, 2" AND SMALLER, THEY'LL BE OKAY FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS, BUT THEY REALLY WANT MORE RUNNING ROOM THAN 3 FEET.
What would you suggest as far as how many fish
12 OR MORE.
IF YOU CAN'T DO A 55 OR 75 GALLON TANK, PICK SPECIES SUCH AS YELLOW OR OTHER LABIDOS,
PSEUDOTRPH. ELONGATUS LIKOMA,
P. SAULOSI,
P. DEMASONI
AND A FEW OTHERS STAY SORT OF SMALL.
type of sand...YOU HAVE MANY CHOICES,
I SUGGEST
DOLOMITE,
CRUSHED CORAL,
OR ARAGONITE,
OR AFRICAN CICHLID SUBSTRATE
...ALL THESE BUFFER THE pH AUTOMATICALLY...
YOU CAN ALSO USE COLORED OR NATURAL GRAVEL,
BUT YOU MAY NEED TO USE A CHEMICAL pH BUFFER.
Just trying to get an idea of which fish will get along
THEY ALL GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER,
BEARING IN MIND THEY ARE ALL AGGRESSIVE...
and a number....
THE MORE YOU CROWD THEM THE FEWER YOU WILL LOSE TO AGGRESSION,
I'D PUT AROUND 15 IN A 30 GALLON TANK,
BUT THEY SHOULD REALLY BE MOVED TO A 75 GALLON
WITHIN A YEAR.
_________________
Ned
unclenedsfishfactory@gmail.com
508 533 5969
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