how many cichlids does it take to screw in a light bulb?

[jonnyb1425]

I just bought the 15 gal. tank I am planning on setting up as a cichlid only tank. I have a couple of ideas about some of the dwarf varieties I can get, my only question is how many should I get? Also, which kinds are the best to have in the same tank if I get more than one species?

[TankGirl]

I think you could get about 3-4 rams, like a male and 2 females, or you could get shelldwellers if you have hard water. There are some apistos you could get, but you would need to stock it like with the rams.

If it is like most 15 gal tanks it is relatively tall with a small footprint and therefore not really much room for two species of cichlid.

I have tried to keep a pair of kribs in a 15gal and found it to be a bit cramped for them, so I'd recommend against those in anything less than a 20gal, although they are really one of the best kind of cichlids if you are new to cichlid keeping.

[Menagerie]

I agree with TankGirl. Mixing two types of dwarf cichlids is not a good idea. You would only be able to keep one or two of each and this may lead to territory disputes. I have both apistos and rams in a 50 gal and they tend to stick with their own kind.