Don't want a typical dwarf...

[Colby Dixon]

I'd like to eventually add a breeding pair of Cichlid to this tank...some different, not the typical "ram"...possibly some "apistos"...but to be honest with you, I really don't know much about Cichlids that don't live in "liquid rock"...so Im interested in any suggetsions...here's what I've got going so far...

This tank is the handiwork of my live in Girlfriend: (aka on some forums as "blackmagic79")
The set up is:
Tank:20 gallon standard
Light: 20 inch "Satellite Compact Fluorescent" ( 10000°K daylight and 460 nanometer actinic)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 032+113030
Substrate is 15lbs Seachem "Flourite" http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images ... e_fa21.jpg
Filtration: Emporer 400 with "cell pore" inserts on one side, and media basket with Fluval "peat granules".
Aquascaping is petrified wood and bog wood, "rainbow rock" pebbles, as well as a slightly hidden broken terra cotta pot.

I'm not sure on what all the plants are, but I know there is some spreading grass of some kind, marble queens, a red ruben, java fern and some other swords...

Currently, one golden CAE that was starting to get to aggresive for the communtiy tank, just to get the bio load going...He'll get given to my buddies LFS as soon as I know what I want in there...

I'm looking into maybe some wild M. ramzeri or maybe some "Apistos" for fish..













Side view from right side:

[Lisachromis]

Very nice looking tank. You'll have to do a bit of research to find Apistos that will do well in a 20g tank. Good choices are cacatuoides and borellii. There are many species that will work though. It all depends on your water. Another good dwarf choice imo, would be Nannacara anomala.

[MatsP]

How about some Mikrogeophagus altispinosa? They aren't the "usual ram", and usually the ones you get are wild-caught, so not the "beutified" tank-breds you get with the M. ramirezi.
I think they'd still go well in a 20g, but I've never kept them myself, so I can't say for sure.

--
Mats

[gage]

with the size of tanks ive seen people keep bolivians in, they would be greatful to be in a 20, a 20 will be fine for a pair of bolivians and a few dithers or something.

[Mike Wise]

It would be helpful to know a few other things before making any decisions. First, are you planning to use this as a community type tank more that a breeding tank? Second, what are the water values (pH, dGH, dKH) you have in your aquarium? These will have a lot to do with the species suitable for the tank.

[apistomaster]

I agree with Mike, that if you provided some actual water test values we wold have a much better idea of what Dwarf Cichlids are suitable. I am noticing that many fish keepers believe their water is very hard and are using the terms "liquid rock" yet when they post the tests their water it is actually on the border line between moderately soft or slightly hard.
Some other fine SA Dwarf Cichlids are the Laetacara spp, A. borelli, A. cacatuoides and Nannacara anomala will all adapt to med soft or slightly hard water.
Bolivian Rams are very tolerant of varied water chemistries but even the TR Blue Rams are able to do well in most tap water.

[Hudson Ensz]

M. altispinosa is VERY trendy just look at the cichlid forum .com every day there are billions of threads on them and everyone is telling everyone to get some. they would deffinately work but i prefer my paucisquamises, gibbiceps, agassizi bitaeniata and 4 more rare apisto's (rare in the hobby that is) you probably wouldnt find them easily but it is worth it. M. ramirezi are great little fish.
whatever fish you get would love that beatiful tank

[apistomaster]

Hi Colby,
Wild caughtCheckerboard Cichlids, Dicrossus filamentosus, are regularly available and are very different in behavior than most Apistogramma spp and are compatible with most SA Dwarf Cichlids. They are always pretty reasonably priced. A little challenging but only in the sense that if you keep up your water changes and have healthy plant growth as you do, I'm sure they would do well for you.

Hi Hudson,
I don't know about you, suffering to having to live in Manaus, SA Tropical Export Capital of the World, you are in some fish keepers' idea of Heaven.
Your choices of favorite Apistogramma spp shows good taste. If I'm ever able to make it down to Amazonia I'll have to look you up and we can have a few beers.
Heiko Bleher invited me to come along one of his collecting expeditions but I don't have that kind of money to spare now. Someday, I have promised myself I'll go.
I'm just beginning to set up an on-line fish business, Larry's Tropicals. Wild Discus are my first love and I would like to hand pick Wild Royal Blue Discus specimens from one of the exporters in Manaus.
I have some F1 Peckoltia sp. L134 Leopard Frog plecos available.

[Hudson Ensz]

Hi Colby,

Hi Hudson,
I don't know about you, suffering to having to live in Manaus, SA Tropical Export Capital of the World, you are in some fish keepers' idea of Heaven.
Your choices of favorite Apistogramma spp shows good taste. If I'm ever able to make it down to Amazonia I'll have to look you up and we can have a few beers.
Heiko Bleher invited me to come along one of his collecting expeditions but I don't have that kind of money to spare now. Someday, I have promised myself I'll go.
I'm just beginning to set up an on-line fish business, Larry's Tropicals. Wild Discus are my first love and I would like to hand pick Wild Royal Blue Discus specimens from one of the exporters in Manaus.
I have some F1 Peckoltia sp. L134 Leopard Frog plecos available.

How cool is that? deffinately sell pikes! (crenicichla sp) it would be great if you could come down!!! but i dont know about beers... i am only twelve i have never talked whith a cichlidophile in person though most brazilian i have met just dont seem to be very involved who cares about a smart fish, or about the scientific names of fish or even that it is a beatiful pike cichlid, apistogramma etc. i am making a cichidaholic out of my great 15 year old sister but she hasent caught the disease... yet
thanks a lot and i hope colby will find some apisto's or other beautiful cichlids