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Best Cichlid for a 30 Gallon Tank

pelleeklund

pelleeklund

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
May 23, 2009
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Pennsylvania
I'm looking for advice on what fish to get for my sons first tank, a thirty gallon in his room. He has no real preference but I'd like to get him something with some personality, that way he is interested enough to stay on top of the maintenance. Anybody have a fish that stays about 5 inches max and is really interesting to keep? I automatically though cons, but I know there is a bunch of smaller fish I've never kept that are as cool if not better. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
A 30 gallon tank is really tiny, so the only Central American small enough IMO would be Amatitlania nanoluteus, it stays small, has good color, and is not lacking in personality.

If you are leaning more toward South Americans, you have a better selection of dwarfs to choose from.
Or if you are open to Asian species, the Orange Chromide (Etroplus maculatus) would work as may Etroplus canarensus

There are also many African dwarfs, that could fit the bill.
One thing that could help with the decision would by the type tap water you have, soft low pH, or hard with a high pH.
The 1st fish I mentioned prefers hard water, but many South American dwarfs, or West African dwarf species prefer soft low pH water.
Some rift lake African species that "might fit that tank, such a s shell dwellers prefer hard high pH water.
You may want to check with your water provider for info, before buying.
 
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It depends what you are looking for, there are plenty of cichlids that will do fine alone or in a pair in a 30 gallon. Pretty much any cryptoheros species (now amatitlania) will work. I feel like he might get more enjoyment out of a community? Most kids won't want to keep only one or two fish in a "large" tank.
One option that I can think of that is very entertaining would be tanganyikan shelldwellers. Super interesting fish to watch, they live in their shells and dive in and out. However, in my experience they are pretty fragile, and pH needs to be kept very high as well. A group of dwarf Africans like demasoni would also work, he could have 8-10 fish, and the colors might be more appealing.
Best of luck!
 
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We have hard water, which sucks but I've been keeping tanks under these conditions forever so I can show him how to raise or lower ph and maintain his parameters. ill have to look into some of those africans, i haven't had any of those for more than 10 years. I feel bad because his favorite fish of mine is the Dovii, which couldn't be any less suitable for his setup. i was thinking about those mini dovii (grammodes?) but I don't think he could keep more than one in that tank.
 
A grammodes would get way too big, even alone, eventually. you should really be looking at fish that get to 6" ish max if it's a permanent home for the fish. Grammodes are pretty people-shy until they get large too. Hard water is good for both Central American and African cichlids, it is not good for South Americans generally
 
It's the people shy part of them that I don't dig either. I know they grow slow so I figured it might be a cool fish he could grow out for a bit then put in my 125 or 220 down the road. I know what it's like with your first tank, you turn over fish trying to keep whatever new awesome fish you found out about. Hopefully I could find something that would keep his attention for a bit. That's why I thought about breeding Cons, whole family dynamic and all. Plus he could contribute to my tanks food supply. What other cichlids breed easy in small quarters?
 
a solo salvini would be ok in a 30 gallon IMO. especially if female, as they stay smaller than the males.

would also recommend live plants, they are usually quite shy in bare scapes.
 
Do you think I could breed them in a 30? I have them readily available locally and I'm fairly confident I can sex them, even at an early age. They are a dynamic looking fish with a lot of personality. Good look, definitely on the short list.
 
By the way he's super excited about scaping his tankk. He's always been interested in the tanks layout, I think he will be a stud aquascaper.
 
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