Tropical Fish Forums

[wossisbomb]

I really would like to get into keeping cichlids. I have a 30 gallon with a bristlenose and 3 small julii's corys (three lined). Planted with amazon swords and anubias. It has just plain gravel. I am thinking of kribs or bolivian rams maybe a single convict. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[diademhill]

Not the convict as they are too aggressive, even as a single, for those tankmates.
Bolivian rams, Rams, Apistogrammas,r Laetacaras or keyholes.
A pair of trio depending on species.

A bristlenose will eat any eggs produced.

You may need some upper level dither fish for apistos or rams.

[wossisbomb]

OK thank you very much I think I'm going to try the keyhole or bolivian rams because they are closest to my pH. One more question, can I have otos or amano shrimp in with them? I'm pretty sure I can't but just checkin

[freshigal]

I have amano shrimp in with my Bolivians with only a minor problem. When the rams have laid eggs they have to guard against the shrimp. So far no fry have survived. I think the shrimp's egg snatching stresses out the rams a bit but there is little aggression otherwise.

I agree with diademhill on the dither fish. Mine are in with neon tetras and pencilfish.

[Hexum]

What about Festivums (Mesonauta Festiva)? I've had a few and found that they are pretty good fish, both care and personality wise. They chase a bit, but I've yet to see them be in a fully aggressive nature. They might be a good cichlid starter.

[diademhill]

Festivums would be good in a 75gallon but not in a 30g.