My new African Cichlids (30 Gallon) video inside

DjBootleg

Just wanted to do a quick video showing my newest set up (this is my third) with 6 African Cichlids... Their actually quite neat, this is the my first time owning Cichlids or even aggressive fish at that... Their young as you can see, I'm not sure what breed they, if you do please drop a them in the comment section below. I'd appreciate it!!! 4 smaller ones and 2 slightly bigger.. Sorry about the background noise and the camera kind of out of focus... Going to do a in depth video of this tank and my other two VERY soon. Thanks!

Also any tips you have would help as well.........

djembekah

those are very pretty little guys, but i have a strong feeling that the cichlid experts will tell you that you need to upgrade your tank big time. i feel like 40g breeder is the smallest people recommend? not sure. hopefully someone will be in, telling you better, soon :)

Tazman

The ones with yellow and brown blotches are psedutropheus crabo (extremely aggressive), they also get to 8". Blue one and all yellow/orange one are Pseudotropheus saulosi (aggressive), horizontal black strip one is possibly an Auratus (extremely aggressive)- cannot tell very clearly though.

Hate to say it but the tank is indeed too small for those fish, given the aggressive nature of the fish you have, you will need at absolute minimum a 75g tank for those fish when they are adults which wont be too long. You have some of the most aggressive cichlids there and they will likely be major issues in that tank before long.

They will fight each other to the death, auartus could easily wipe that tank out in a heartbeat if it decides it doesnt like the other fish. Also cichlids prefer a sandy bottom as they like to dig in the substrate, rocks and plenty of them should be the decoration in the tank, very few live plants as they will eat them.

Sorry to say but there is 100% going to be serious aggression issues in that tank before very long, once the males reach breeding age it will be hell in there. Even the females of these species can be just aggressive as the males. I can see in part of the video one of the crabo already trying to tail bite the saulosi and chase them around the tank. Magnify that 10 times and this is the level of aggression these fish are capable of producing in a heartbeat.

DjBootleg

I just picked up a 50 gallon cube tank with a bunch of decorations for then to hide in. that should be good for them now right?
Posted via Mobile Device

Tazman

what are the dimensions?

DjBootleg

now sure exactly...

lizziefishgirl

O man Idk even in a 50 your gonna have some war. they will protect there teritory to the death. I had 9 in a thirty long witch looks to have as much bottom space as your 50 and I ended up with three and had to get rid of my aurutus. If it is a Boy or girl. either way It WILL kill everything. That Is one mean fish.

Tazman

Hate to say it but that tank again is not suitable.

Cichlids need the extra length in a tank to be able to setup territories.

I have to agree with the previous poster that there will still be issues in that tank, there is simply no room for fish to claim a territory, which in the case of Auratus will be the whole tank.

DjBootleg

They seem peaceful and shy when I look at them.. I have a total of 3 caves full shelter. And about 6 fake plants and 2 rocks. All great spots to hide.. I can't explain how aggravating this is.... I regret getting the cichlids.. but once I get fish its hard to let em go. Unless its to a friend.. but I guess I have to give up the extremely aggressive ones and get some of the smaller ones like I have... So how many exactly extremely aggressive ones do I have?
Posted via Mobile Device

Jakiebabie

Take a deep breath, yes I know it is very frustrating. But the tank MUST BE horizontal in design. Fish swim a fair distant and even a 48 inch long 75 gallon comes to a grinding halt when you hit the end. Fish do not swim in circles, or vertically from top to bottom. When a profile lists a minimum tank size it usually give a length in inches. Your 50 gallon is not as big or suitable as a 36 G long or 45 G long. Both are 3 feet long!! And still neither of those are suitable for these Cichlids as you also have to consider "turning room". When a fish reaches 8 inches in length, a 12 in wide tank is also not suitable.
Take a moment to view some Youtube videos of big tanks, (many of these are horrendously overstocked too... don't look at that) Look at how the fish travel, look at design and set up. If you look at your fish and sit back and watch them you will likely find them either chasing each other or twitching sitting in one spot... cause there is no place to go.
Fish keeping as you know is highly addictive, I'm sure you will find something more docile to put in that 50G. Keep your eyes out for a horizontal tank on Kijiji or Craig's list. Good luck.
Others will have to advise you about the nature of the fish you have. Also the breeds are listed in the tab above marked Tropical Fish Profiles at the top of the page.
Even tho you already own them research each breed to understand what you are dealing with.