Cichlid Stocking Options

[PBirdsong]

Well, some of you have already seen my new look for my old 55 gal. It's definately a big improvement.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=73212

Anyways, now that the Electric Blue (and mate) have been introduced; what next? Any thoughts?

 

[Guest]

your gonna want to add a lot more rock structures to taht tank. Africans need a ton of caves to estabilish territory and keep down on aggression.

 

[PBirdsong]

Actually they are doing well. The rocks on the right hand side have plenty of caves, and the driftwood is almost hollow underneath. I also have a new plant in the rear center that should fill in soon.
An updated picture will be posted this weekend. The tank is a lilttle different now; mostly in plant life. A little too much algae too . . . but that's in a different post
Anyways . . . as far as stocking; I don't want to go larger than my electric blue, "Samson". First off, there isn't room . . . second; I'm designing the whole thing around him. He's my favorite.
I temporarly have otos in there to help control the algae until my CO2 system is ordered.

 

[PBirdsong]

So . . . any species ideas that I could add?

 

[Guest]

what all do you have in there?

 

[PBirdsong]

2 Neolamprologus brichardi; 2 leleupi; 2 Mated Electric Blue; and a couple of Otos. More details are here:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=73212

 

[Guest]

are those lake Tanganyikan? I keep Lake Malawi so i don't relaly know anything about what you keep. I thought you were supposed to keep it pure, either lake malawi or tanganyikan, but i see you have the electric blue in there as well. So id say you can add just about anything you want as long as they get along!

 

[toddnbecka]

One or more Altolamprologous calvus or compressiceps would be helpful, particularly if/when the brichardi start spawning. As the fry grow, the brichardi expand their territory, eventually taking over the tank. Calvus or comps will keep their numbers down a bit, and are well equipped to defend themselves from attack.

 

[PBirdsong]

I've actually been wondering about my brichardis. The way they behave has made me wonder if I lucked out and actually got a male and female.
Until my electric blue showed up the Leleupi ruled the tank. They took whatever they wanted for territory and were highly aggressive. They have calmed a little now.

Part of the reason I picked up the brichardis and leleupis was because I was told they stay relatively small. Any other cichlids out there that tend to stay small?

I'm also debating on introducing a raphael cat too. Any opinions on that?

 

[toddnbecka]

Raphael cats live in completely different water conditions than african cichlids. A Synodontis would be better.

 

[PBirdsong]

Our aquariums are completely different water conditions from the wild.

I've had Raphael cats before. And I have seen them in cichlid tanks. I'm just wondering if anyone has tried that on here.
Any other fish suggestions guys?