Yellow Lab.. need another type of cichlid

[callista83]

I have a 20 gallon tank with 1 male and 2 females and a pleco. I want another kind of cichlid to go with them. I'd like to keep to African cichlids of course and prefer more peaceful ones.

I saw the demasoni cichlid in the store but now that i"ve looked them up, it says they are very aggressive. So they probably can't go together with the labs right?

[Devon Greatwolf]

I do not believe you will find another cichlid to co-habitat with the labs in a 20. I have two Neolamp. Pulcher (Daffodil Cichlids; Brichardi Complex) in a twenty and they are extreme territorial (I got the pair because the original owner returned them to the LFS when they took over a 50-gallon African mix tank). I use zebra danios as target fish and they are harassed badly if they drop more than a couple of inches from the water surface. Actually now that I think about it the three labs will probably out grow the 20 and depending on what type of Pleco you have it also will probably out grow the 20 (My common Pleco which is app. 10yrs old measures app 24"). So my final suggestion if you would like to keep multiple species of Africans is first upgrade tanks preferable to 50+ gallons (70 would be great). Based on a 70-gallon I would say you could keep possible six labs and five blue ahli's (this is a tank that I would like to have). Please be careful when setting up an African tank as these fish when pairing tend to be very territorial. Most “nice-looking” African tanks are usually overstocked with only males to spread out the aggression. Please do not take my thoughts as "law" I am actually new to the world of Africans and my experience has been based on primarily the smaller Tanganyikans and anecdotes of friends who have raised/kept Africans. All I can truly see is that you are on the right path by asking questions. The key to “keeping” fish and not “having” fish is research and patience. Good luck, and may peace be with you.

[Kuli_Loach]

I agree, 3 labs in a 20g is pushing it. A 30g is my minimum size really for Africans.

[The Wedge]

Yeah, I have 4 Labs and 8 Demonasi, in a 30 gallon...they are juvies...but these fish are all BUSINESS...Overstocking might dither out the aggression some, but I broke down and got a 90 gallon with a 48.5 by 24.5 footprint. They will have plenty of room to develop territory in there. I know with only having these guys for 4 weeks that they will out grow the 30 in 6 months and my little 30 gallon will turn into the Roman Coliseum. I love these guys, but as I said they are all BUSINESS! My assumption is that those Labs will not dig another swimming fish...coming into their world unless it is floating on the top. Go for the 75 one piece at a time...do it do it do it do it do it...it won't stop there :)

[Dixie]

hmmm I could have swore I posted to this last night. Guess it didn't go through.
I agree, a 20g. is to small for yellow labs long term. If you can't get a bigger tank, maybe check out the shell dweller cichlids. I think they are ok for a 20g. but please check first because I'm not that familiar with them. Good luck.

[Dixie]

As for the demasoni, people mix those with labs alot. The demasoni mostly pick on their own kind. I've never had them but they say one is ok but any more than that and you need 12-15 for them to get along. If your labs aren't full grown and you plan on getting a bigger tank before long, you could try one demasoni. Or a fish that has the same colors, stays pretty small, and doesn't have such a bad reputation is the maingano (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos) like the one in my avitar.