Hello there, just started my tank about a month ago. Bought a 10 gal tank and the guy at the pet store told me that cichlids don't mind being crowded. After a month of watching my biggest cichlid put a lickin' on the rest of them I went to another pet store where i was informed that 5 gal per cichlid is the norm. So now I'm running 2 10 gallon tanks with 4 cichlids each. I've got a 55 gallon I have to pick up from pop's house and I plan on setting it up in the next week or so. And that's where I'm at.

Welcome! Sounds like you will have a fishroom going in no time

Phish,

Congratulations on joining the most addictive hobby and welcome to ACF.

What kinds of cichlids do you have because most will not be happy in a ten gallon. Also most MBUNA's like to be overcrwoded but to do this you have to have filtration to handle them.

If I were in your shoes, I would put all of them in the 55, then set-up the two tens with hydro sponges and let any holding females spit in the ten so you can keep most of your babies.

Welcome to ACF! Great to have you with us

Hey Phried

Welcome This is a great site and will be most helpful in so many ways!!

Man o Man, Those fish stores will do anything to seal the deal.
If you have a small Pseud. Zebra about a 1" long, it will eventually grow to about 5" So obviously a ten gallon with more than 1 of these fish will just not cut it.

The 55 gallon tank is a great choice to start out and before long you will be looking at Craigslist to pick up a 120 gallon 5 footer or a 125 gallon 6 footer tank.

Have fun!!!

My two bits
Bill

Hey PhriedPhish, welcome to ACF!!

Nice that Pop is giving you a 55 gallon. They will be much happier in that tank.

I've got 3 red zebra 2 yellow lab, a half white half yellow, and 2 blue (one with stripes) still lookin up what kind they are. It was an assorted cichlid tank at the pet store. Will edit when i figure out the other names

If you can get some pictures up people here could prob help ID them for ya.

2 Electric Yellow, 2 Red Zebra, 3 Ice Blue, 3 Acei, Pleco (switching him to GF's Platy tank when I get Cory) and the gangsterest tetra I've ever seen.