Are There Community-safe Cichlids?

Question

I have a 10g tank full of livebearers, and I have had a lot of fun with them, but I am looking for something more exciting. I have done a TON of research, and I am planning on buying a 46g tank with full spectrum lighting and intense planting and everything, and I want to have something other than swordtails in it. I know lots about most types of fish except cichlids.

So are there any types of cichlids that stay small and peaceful, for a community tank? I know Blue/Gold/Bolivian rams do, but what else?

Answer 1

Like you say, the various Apisto species like Rams are generally community safe, although they can be a bit delicate and sensitive to water conditions. Make sure your tank is well established and cycled before you add them, but running the tank for a while with some spare livebearers will do that for you.

Kribensis is another option, they stay small like Rams and are pretty peacefull. I have kept them with guppies and neons that are the normal target for larger fish. Only time they may get aggro is if you get a pair breeding, then they will defend their nesting site from all comers. But all chcilids are like that to some degree.

Ian

Answer 2

In the 46, you bet you have a group of options, in the 10, not really.  Yes you could probably keep 1 or 2 Rams in a 10 as well as Shell Dweller Africans, but not both.  That's really about all that would do ok in a 10.  You look at this from the 46 gallon point of view, and you could go with some Mbuna types, or maybe a peaceful Hap type, but if you go with a Hap, I'd only keep one species.  If you go with Mbuna, you could probably do 2 different species.  In this case, with a 46, I would not go with the African typical overstock set up. That's when you'll run into issues with your community tank, with that footprint.