What goes good with cichlids?

[Beza]

Hey so I have a 75gal tank with a bunch of cichlids (10) + 1 pleco in it, that I bought about a week ago.

I was talking to the guy at Big Al's and he said not to throw any more fish in there for at least 2 weeks. Is this true? I used pretty much all of the original water - which was a pain in the ass, believe me, so would they still be that stressed from a move?

What I am really interested in is FW cleaner species, like more plecos or snails or something.

Any suggestions or comments? Are there other fish hardy enough to put up with these mofos?

[cuz]

i'd leave it at the one pleco for now. pending what kind it is they may decide it doesn't belong with them. bristle nose seem to be the best bet as they tend to stay hidden most of the time

[dsaundry]

A lot of cichlids love snails....to eat, You didn't say what type of cichlids. I have kept lots of cichlids an my time and for the most part, keep cichlids with cichlids only. Pet shop owners love to sell the wrong fish and then say, oh well, I guess they didn't get along...I have actually heard one fw fish salesperson try to sell neons with Salvini cichlids...Do your homework but a cichlid only tank can be very nice. One more thing, with 10 plus cichlids you will probably have a pair that lay eggs, if this happens they become very aggressive and will usually pin everything to one side of the tank...have fun though...my favorite fw fish...:biggrin:

[Keri]

Are they African cichlids?

Synondontis cat species have the same water-type requirements and many of them are ok with Africans, just be careful which species you buy as some of them can grow quite large

check out this link:

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=29#95

[BlueAbyss]

I agree on the Syndontis, there are also crabs that are found in the African lakes (but I don't know if they are suitable for a community tank).

I don't think I'd mix anything but a very large pleco with most of the South American species (at least any of them over 6"), and with some of them I'd think twice at that.

EDIT: And I like my tilapia with lime and ginger, served with a green salad. :wink:

[Beza]

I have no clue as to what the heck it is exactly that I've got, although I do know I have a breeding pair of Neolamprologus brichardi (Karilani), likely an Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, possibly several Labidochromis caeruleus; a bunch of greenish, dark banded, with orange-red dorsal tip species that I assume are some type of peacock perhaps, and one other strange one that is very light colored with a strange jaw or lower cheek that seems to jut out prominently, while the fish itself has a pronounced tubular or cigar shape, and dark dorsal tips.

Let's see if the pics work.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs051.snc3/13867_331826450522_628420522_9993314_3230282_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs051.snc3/13867_333294995522_628420522_10013321_518334_n.jpg

[sphunt]

Yellow one is an 'electric yellow' breed of labchromis, which is a malawi cichlid. Looks like another couple of peacocks, which would also be from lake malawi. But I dont recognize the bigger looking fellow in the bottom left of your second picture. Either way, synodontii make a good tank made because theyre fiesty enough and dont get picked on too much, and they thrive in the same high pH malawi water that the rest of your tank should have.
Personally Ive used pictus cat fish with malawi cichlids in high ph water, doesnt seem to bother the pictus

[fishytime]

I have actually heard one fw fish salesperson try to sell neons with Salvini cichlids...:


Thats actually not that far of a stretch( I woulnt have recommended neons)....you can add small schooling fish with most cichlids to use as "dither fish"....the school of small fish make the cichlids feel more at ease....they have to be really active and fast swimmers though....like zebra danios etc. Ideally you would use cyprochromis but those are sometimes hard to find and expensive...synodontis are great tank mates except you dont see them much during the daylight hours....most of the plecos work as they are quite armored and can take the abuse....you can also use chinese algae eaters as they themselves are as aggressive as the cichlids.....