Suitable 30G Cichlid Bottom Dweller - Aquarium Advice

Joetoyc · 10-23-2009, 02:41 PM

I have a 30G Lake Malawi set up that is currently home to a blood red parrot and angel fish- I know not really Lake Malawi fish but I had to get them out of my community tank due to aggression, and due to their size I don't plan on stocking many more fish. However, I'm having a hard time keeping my substrate, white sand, and lace rock clean. So I'm looking for some recommendations. I was thinking of a Starry Night Plec (Ancistris sp.) for the bottom because they don't get too large. Any advice would be great.

mfdrookie516 · 10-23-2009, 02:46 PM

a synodontis cat would be good with mbuna, but maybe im misunderstanding the post.. is it a malawi setup or do you just have a blood parrot and angel in it?

DragonFish71 · 10-23-2009, 03:03 PM

A pictus cat might work too. They get about 6 inches. We keep 2 in our 55g cichlid.

Joetoyc · 10-23-2009, 03:04 PM

but maybe im misunderstanding the post.. is it a malawi setup or do you just have a blood parrot and angel in it?[/QUOTE]

Thought the parrot and angel fish curretnly call the tank home, the tank is a malawi set-up that will eventually have only malawi cichlids in it.

Joetoyc · 10-23-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonFish71

A pictus cat might work too. They get about 6 inches. We keep 2 in our 55g cichlid.

I have a pictus cat in my community tank that I was thinking of moving over, I was a little worried, though, that the tank was too small for him. At about 5'' he is fill size, I've had him for almost a year and he hasn't grow in months.

JustOneMore20 · 10-23-2009, 06:57 PM

30g is kinda small for most Malawi Cichlids.

Synodontis cats (specifically petricola for their size) would probably be the best match though since they come from similar water. Give them some places to hide. I wouldn't trust a Bristlenose to Malawi Cichlids...especially in a small tank.