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Jan
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how many cichlids in a fish tank?

Hi:

I’m a beginner with african cichlids…..I bought my first 2 fish last week, they are amazing 1- yellow lab & the other I’m not sure, but he’s got brown spot and yellow background with a bit of blue on the top……….. My concern is that I want to add 5 more, but I heared that they are agressive fish, I don’t want that, so which one should I put together with my other 2 fish without having huge fights and blood………………hope this makes sense to you………………………..

by site admin on January 18th, 2009 in Cichlid Care - Tags: ,
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  1. Josh wrote on January 24th, 2009 at 7:33 pm Uhr1

    I have been rasing africans for about 5 years now and what i have learned with them is this. It depends if you have males and females. Males will always be aggressive towards other males when they set up territories. Same with females. Depends on what size of tank you have as well. I would only reccomend putting africans in a 50+ gallon tank because they do become quite large. It is better sometimes to put alot more africans with each other and this is what i have luck with because it seems to calm the aggression. When i buy my africans i always watch them for about 5 minutes to learn their personality and aggressiveness. African cichlid aggression in my experience is way overblown. But they do become aggressive when setting up territories. If you have the same type of breed of africans you want a 1 male to 6 female ratio because the male will stress the females out during breeding. Post the size of you tank for us to better answer your question as well

  2. lyte wrote on January 25th, 2009 at 11:07 pm Uhr2

    I would like to say…i have a 55 gallon tank and i have 27 cichild in it all diff. ones and they are just fine. so just email me if u have any ? opangaclimer@yahoo.com

  3. matt wrote on January 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pm Uhr3

    i have been raising fish for some time now and just lost most of my fish due to an ammoina spike and i have decided to switch from large aggresive fish to colorful african cichilds and more of a relaxing tank the only survivoir was my jack dempsy i was wondering if i can mix the two. i have never dealt with african cichilds so any info would be great thank you

  4. Missy wrote on January 27th, 2009 at 2:31 pm Uhr4

    I would like to say…I have a similar question. I have 1 red belly pacu, 2 blood parrot, 4 Blue Gourami, 2 Black Convict Cichlid, 2 Tiger Oscar, 2 Albino Oscar, 1 Trinidad Pleco in a 75 gal tank and I also have 1 Jack Dempsy, and 5 Misc. Africans in a 50 gal tank. I am planning on getting a 125 gal. in a short while. Would it be ok to mix all of them together in the 125 gal tank?

    Another question is with the 125 gal tank that I am looking at it has a jaguar cichilid. The guy that has it said that he has to be left in a tank all alone. He is about six inches long now. I am considering putting him in the 75 gal tank but I want to know if their is any other fish that I can put in there with him? I do not want to put but maybe two more fish if possible. Because I know that he should get to be over 12″.

    Thanks

  5. Edwin wrote on February 4th, 2009 at 6:42 am Uhr5

    I would like to know how many African Cichilds I could put in a 36 Gallon tank? I was thinking like 10.

  6. Richprice wrote on February 8th, 2009 at 6:57 am Uhr6

    I would like to say…we have a 100 gal tank. We’ve had our 10 cichlids for 3 years, they had 6 babies last year. We have no idea about the male/female business but we knew not to add new fish etc etc. Now yesterday, my husband did his usual tank cleaning-drain all but 20 gals out and refill with fresh water and his “special blend” of chemicals and all the fish and one plecko died. We managed to save 5 babies and 2 pleckos (we put them in another tank) but we are completely baffled as to why they all died just like that.

  7. Kristin wrote on February 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm Uhr7

    I would like to say..Richprice I think I know what may have killed your fish. I recently acquired some afican cichlids and have been researching how to take care of them. Anyway, I was told by a cichlid expert that massive water changes can kill the fish, even if it’s been done before because it becomes a temperature problem in the water. If your husband had the water 5 degrees or more different than 20 gallons in the tank, he probably threw the fish into shock. You have to think that they are not that much different from humans on this part. If it is 100 outside and you jump into a pool that is 20 degrees, your heart races and so on. Also, your husband should only being doing a 25% water change each day over a few days, not all at once. The more the fish stress out, the more they are prone to disease and death; just because it had not happened before doesn’t mean it will never happen.

  8. Kristin wrote on February 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pm Uhr8

    The fish you described as one with spots on yellow background with blue could be a Giraffe Cichlid. This type is VERY aggressive; I had one until recently and I had to sacrifice it to a vet because he came VERY close to definning one of my more peaceful ones. He was 3 times the size of the others. Anyway, make sure to watch your tank; these guys are not stupid, they know they are bigger and can put up a fight.

  9. Tony wrote on March 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 am Uhr9

    I would like to say… Hello We have a 120 gallon Tall Cichlid Tank, and about 2 weeks ago we noticed that 2 of our Cichlids Lips was swollen a bit, and then their eye’s became bugged out. Skin changed colors and had large patches on them of a greyish and somewhat yellow in color, and also some of those have had like a cottony look to their face and eye’s as well, and after this it seemed as if it went into their skin like it was eatting at them. We have treated out tank with “E.M. Eyrethomyacine” and the we was told to use Maracyn 2 along with Maroxy, So that is in our tank right now. What is this that they have, Since it seems we are not getting a straight answer, because treatment for this has began to get really exspensive, and would like to get a hold on it, so we do not loose the rest of our fish. There are still like around 20 in the tank that don’t seem to be afected by this. But I don’t want this to spread to them either..

    Thanks Tony

  10. Tony wrote on March 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 am Uhr10

    I would like to say…I forgot to put in there all of my fish are A.Cichlids, other than “4 Tin Foil Barbs and 2 A.Cats, and a Pleco, which those are not affected by this”

  11. brooke wrote on May 8th, 2009 at 5:09 pm Uhr11

    I would like to say…I have 2 african cichlids 1 yellow and 1 brownish one, thats supposed to turn blue. they are about an inch big and living in a 55 gallon tank. i want as much info as i can get. please email me at b.burson@yahoo.com

  12. aldo wrote on May 13th, 2009 at 6:07 am Uhr12

    I would like to say…can i put silverdollars with african cichlids..?

  13. britt wrote on June 26th, 2009 at 6:54 pm Uhr13

    I would like to say…I have a 55 or 60 gallon not real sure but that I have 14 fish and they do fine just make sure you keep their tank clean and give them lots of food which will help keep most aggression down.

    Quick note: I just got a pearlscale goldfish. Just wanted to know how to know if male or female. Thanks

  14. dee wrote on July 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm Uhr14

    I would like to say…I have a 40 gallon tank and 1 bright orange cichlid I do not know if it is a boy or girl I also have to algae eaters what other fish can go in there and how do I know if they are girls or boy cichlid

  15. P.J. wrote on July 27th, 2009 at 8:51 pm Uhr15

    I would like to say…I have a 58 gallon tub tank,i just recently did a water change and i lost ten of my fish.Not including the fry frm my convicts.That left me with 11 remaining fish.I have 2 jack dempseys,2 convicts,3 fire mouths,2 green terrors,a red devil and a texas cichlid
    d.My question is,do you think my tank is over crowded?I realize all theese fish are very aggresive.Theyve all been tanks mate for months,how do you think my tank will do with this combination of cichlids?Thankx

  16. cole wrote on July 29th, 2009 at 9:22 am Uhr16

    one of my friends has a 75 gallon tank with 11 african cichlids all the same kind. i asked friend if they ever fought before and he said they have always got along well yesterday he got 2 plecos and he said they instanly started fighting . i want to know if plecos can go in with african cichlids.

  17. cole wrote on July 29th, 2009 at 9:27 am Uhr17

    oh and the plecos are albino

  18. Joe wrote on November 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pm Uhr18

    I would like to say…Yes I’m an newb at cichlids and I want to get some. How do you tell the difference between a male and female? How many can I put in a 65gallon tank? What other fish would be okay to put in with them? And I have about a 10inch bottom feeder in there right now. Will he live to see another day or will the chichlids eat him. Thank you for your time

  19. April wrote on January 30th, 2010 at 6:22 pm Uhr19

    I would like to say…I Have a 27 gallon tank how many and which cichlids can i keep in it?

  20. Glenn Verde wrote on February 28th, 2010 at 7:33 pm Uhr20

    Hi,I am getting a 220 gallon tank.How many red devils can i have in it just red devils.Also if i just wanted just African Cichilids?Please email me if you havr any sugguestions. Thanks

  21. Jose wrote on March 18th, 2010 at 11:34 pm Uhr21

    Hi, im new to keeping cichlids but i cycled my water, added substrate that buffers ph. My ph is at 8.2 with temperatures at 78 deg. I have 2 Yellow Labs, One zebra looking one, and an electric blue. I have a 46 Bowfront. I was wondering what other cichlids could i add to it. preferably 5-6” adult size.

  22. koolkid73 wrote on April 9th, 2010 at 7:32 pm Uhr22

    I would like to say… how many fish can i put in a 75 gallon tank

  23. john wrote on April 23rd, 2010 at 8:28 pm Uhr23

    I would like to say…i have 5 cichlids 1 lace catfish 4 crabs one spotted puffer and 1 plecoin 36 gallon tank. i have a reel bad ammonia problem done 30% a water change for last 3 days put in ph lower,salt,prime and have not feed them for 2 days the water is cloudy tank has been open and runnig for about 2 months. need help do not know what to do. please

  24. dino wrote on April 27th, 2010 at 7:26 pm Uhr24

    I would like to say…i just need some 1 to explain to me if i put the same salt and stress coat and nutrafin cycle that i used 4 my community fish, can i use it 4 cichlids please reply thankyou

  25. Pamela wrote on May 1st, 2010 at 7:23 pm Uhr25

    I would like to say…i have a 55gal and i’m getting ready to redo the tank i have two jack dempseys and one green terror.i have gravel in it and i want to put sand in it because i know the jacks and terror like the sand..what kind of sand can i use..can i use play sand in the tank as long as i clean it realy good ..or do i have to get the white sand from a pet store..if anyone could let me know please email me ay alissa19802000@yahoo.com thank you

  26. Rman wrote on June 10th, 2010 at 2:14 pm Uhr26

    I would like to say… what’s with all the questions? i thought that these were answers.

  27. Tropical Fish Tanks wrote on January 6th, 2011 at 4:20 am Uhr27

    I would like to say…There are tall aquariums and short aquariums, the tall ones are at a slight disadvantage do to that all oxygen to carbon dioxide gas exchange must take place at the waters surface and the square inch of water surface to gallon ratio is not as good in a tall aquarium as in a shorter wider fish tank, but both options are still widely available.

  28. mike wrote on February 9th, 2011 at 10:12 pm Uhr28

    I would like to say…i have a 55gal with 2 tiger oscars ,2 red oscars ,1 red devil cichlid , 1 convict cichlid,2 african cichlids and 2 jack dempsy cichlids,2 typs of catfish only 2 of those and 12 moga cichlids will they be fine growing up together ?the tiger oscars are a size and a half bigger then most except the red oscars maybe half size bigger the red devil,convict,and africans are close to same size the jacks are jus a lil smaller the the red oscars and the moga ciclids are the smallest 1.5 inchs maybe ,will all these fish be ok to live together with theses size ranges ect and can they cross breed since the all part of the cichlids familt tree????????

  29. mike wrote on February 9th, 2011 at 10:14 pm Uhr29

    there all part of the cichlids family tree

  30. Jennifer Keen wrote on February 13th, 2011 at 9:39 pm Uhr30

    I would like to say…I just introduced 4 cichlids into a tank with an aggressive orange cichlid. I quarantined the aggressive fish into a ziplock bag and put it in the tank, top open and taped to the side. He is still attacking the new (same size) fish in the ziplock bag. Should I just get rid of the aggressive fish to save the other 4 fish? I also changed the setup in the tank with lots of distraction and places for the fish to hide. New to this and could use some suggestions.
    Thanks
    Jennifer

  31. jessica wrote on September 20th, 2011 at 10:19 pm Uhr31

    I would like to say… i dont think anyone eer answered the first question :/ How many were able to be maintaned in a 45 gal aquarium? :D THANKKS

  32. site admin wrote on September 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 am Uhr32

    @jessica Start only with one or two before adding another fish each week. Don’t think of populating your aquarium.

  33. bill wrote on September 29th, 2011 at 7:39 pm Uhr33

    i would like to get a pair of red belly pacu in my African cichlid 40 gallon tank

  34. AIN wrote on October 31st, 2011 at 6:11 pm Uhr34

    How many fish can you fit in a ten gallon tank? I am getting them for the first time

  35. tyler miller wrote on December 21st, 2011 at 9:02 am Uhr35

    well my african took a bite out out of my electic and then took a bite out of my placosimas what do i do

  36. rich wrote on January 5th, 2012 at 10:33 pm Uhr36

    hello i have a huge question, im setting up my african cichlid tank and its 120 gal, how many fish can i put in there comfortably including a couple cats and a couple plecos

  37. rich wrote on January 5th, 2012 at 10:35 pm Uhr37

    please e-mail me @ richardneuin@yahoo.com as i dont get on here much anymore with responses to previous question

  38. site admin wrote on January 20th, 2012 at 1:24 am Uhr38

    @rich Start with few fishes.

  39. site admin wrote on January 20th, 2012 at 1:25 am Uhr39

    @TylerMiller Separate them.

  40. sharon wrote on February 12th, 2012 at 3:47 pm Uhr40

    I would like to say…i have a 55 gallon tank with a big mix of fish, we have black skirt tetras, neons, 2 plecos, 1 cory, and another catfish, a peacock eel, a rainbow shark, a jack dempsey, amd 2 angel fish. I have a tiger oscar, but had to put him into a 10 gallon by himself he tried eating my angles what can i do?

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