I'm torn about a fish tank right now

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

I don't have the room or money to set up my big African Cichlid tank right now, so I'm setting up a 10 gallon in the meditation room. Do I go with a pair of angelfish, some African Cichlid "shellies" or a lone Convict Cichlid? As you can see, my focus is cichlids, although I do have a teeny two gallon with a betta right now.

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[Robeson]

1. I commend you. Someone who gets into having fish has to make a...

...real commitment. It is a labor of love for those who want them.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. I used to have an absolutely gorgeous 55 gallon African Cichlid tank

Some of my fish were $50 a piece. The tank even went through a move with me. I went on vacation for a couple weeks, and my roommate didn't feed the fish once. They all killed each other. I could have fucking killed her.

I get really serious into my tanks. Right now, I'm limited with money. I hope to get my 55gallon set up within the next six months and by next spring to have a koi pond. I've always wanted a koi pond, and now we own a house, so by God, I'm going to have one.

So, I figure, in the meantime, I'll set up a little 10 gallon. It'll add a little life to the meditation room, and the cat will like it. She recently discovered my geckos and will spend hours watching them (even though they hardly ever move).

[Robeson]

13. LOL, about the cat...

...as a proud owner of five indoor cats, I can only imagine...;-)

[jeff30997]

2. I got just what you need:

:)

[Kali]

4. meditation room? Angels.

have you ever noticed how animals (and plants!) with sweet names tend to be more aggressive? Angelfish in a community tank? not so great. By themselves? perfect for a meditation room!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Yeah, I used to have a 10 gallon tank with a pair of angels

They were nice, and bred pretty often. I trade the babies back to the local fish store for supplies. They always have great quality fish. They cost a bit more than the chains, but almost everything they have is either bred themselves or by local people. It results in buying much healthier fish.

It's LostinVA's meditation room. I just fixed it up for her, but I'm not into being zen.

[madinmaryland]

6. Sorry, but the cats are getting really hungry seeing those pics.

They're now eating dry food.

:hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. The one cat gets hungry when I feed the lizards

She's cricket obsessed. Couldn't give a shit about the geckos, but LOVES watching the crickets run around in the tank twice a week.

[madinmaryland]

12. Two of the three cats would love to eat the lizard, but the other one

has an aversion to anything, after jumping off a third story deck after a hugh bumblebee and spending 11 days away from home.

[texanwitch]

7. What is wrong with guppies.

I have some really pretty guppies.

I like having a fish tank.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. Guppies are pretty, but I'm just really into the cichlids

I used to have a little guppy tank, though.

Seriously, if I was rich, I would have a fish room with a bunch of huge tanks with all sorts of cichlids and catfish.

[texanwitch]

10. I wish I could have really big fish tank.

My goal has been to have 55 gallon tank.

I have 29 gallon now.

I have several little catfishes, they are cute.

Maybe one day.

[Lucian]

11. Angelfish would be great for meditation.

[Lyric]

14. Jaguar Cichlids

I can't wait until we're living somewhere that I can set up my tanks again. We just don't have any room or extra functional electrical outlets here. :(

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. It's a 10 gallon tank, not a 125 gallon, but Jaguar Cichlids are cool

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. I'd go with the angelfish, unless you have a cockroach problem...

...in which case the convict can be a source of great amusement.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. Yeah, no vermin here

Thank God, the last house had mice.

[jmowreader]

16. I'd get the shellies

Angels can get too big for a 10-gallon, and convicts aren't any fun if there's only one in there. So...dwarf Africans it is.

[Ivan Sputnik]

19. I think you should meditate on it....

And go with whatever you see first in your mind's eye.

[redqueen]

20. I'd go with the shellies, but I voted for angels...

because I've never had angels and always wanted to, but then I thought they might be cramped in a 10-gallon tank. So I would get the shellies instead, I guess.

I used to have a 55-gallon tank with African and some South American cichlids... love those. As soon as I can move to an apartment that allows fishtanks, I'm setting it up again.

[Justyce]

21. My African Cichlid tank stressed me out...

They were always killing each other and picking on one relentlessly until it died, etc. I certainly didn't find it relaxing. I ended up switching to Angel Fish. They're still a little aggressive, but nothing like the African Cichlids were... Much better for a relaxing tank.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

22. It's mostly a matter of picking the right combo of Africans

And, it's hard to actually know what you're buying in a lot of pet stores selling tanks of "Assorted African Cichlids."

[flvegan]

23. Piranha.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

25. I'd love a piranha tank, but too big

[rug]

24. This is the simplest solution.

[Haole Girl]

26. Angelfish are so pretty...

as long as they wouldn't be too big for that size tank.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

27. I'm not really concerned about them outgrowing it

They get too big, they go back to the fish store. The store here is really good about letting people trade in fish.

[Haole Girl]

28. Oh, that's cool

I'd definitely go with the pretty fish, then. :hi:

[Texasgal]

29. Do you have the same issues with African Cichlid's as

I do?

They seem to eat everyone else and are MEAN!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

30. Mine got along pretty well

You just have to give them plenty of hides, put species of similar aggression together, and keep them well-fed.

I didn't run into problems until I left them in the care of a roommate. Then, they all killed each other off in a week.

Shellies are pretty calm, though. They're little (under 2") and you need to give them a few shells for each fish.

[Texasgal]

31. I have ONE fish left

and it's the African Cichlid.. he's such a badass I can't out anything else in there for fear he'll kill them!

Guess I'll have to wait until my bully dies and then replace him with something nicer!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

32. What kind of African Cichlid?

What kind of fish did you have him in with?

[Texasgal]

33. I had other African Cichlid's with him

I have no idea what type of AC I have, all I know is t hat he's an asshole! :P

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

34. What does he look like?

That's the problem with getting them from most pet shops. They sell them as "Assorted African Cichlids" and unless you know what specific kind they are, you really can't tell what you're buying.

[Texasgal]

35. He's light a very light blue

and he he has some very light orange patches, his body type looks typical if AC's?? Am I making sense?

Yeah, I bought this lil' guy at petsmart, usually my fish come from an independent fish store... I have no idea what I was thinking.

Should I flush the little bastard? :evil:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

36. Sounds like some sort of peacock or zebra cichlid (or hybrid thereof)

The coloring would be right for one of those.

[Texasgal]

37. He is pretty, I'll admit to that

much.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

38. You should be okay putting some females of the same kind in with him

They're not as pretty, though.

Or a decent sized syndontis catfish or pleco.

[Texasgal]

39. Are you thinking he is just "frustrated"?

:blush:

Geez.. I wish I could just go around killing people when I need to get laid! LOL!! :P

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

42. Lots of African Cichlids will kill other males, but only harass females

You need to have a group of females for every male, otherwise they'll be harassed to death. If they have a harem, no females get harassed to the point of stressing out and dying.

[Texasgal]

43. Hmmm.. interesting!

Thanks for your input on this.

Think I'll go down and get some females!

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. Whale Shark. Trust me - best fish for the home tank. Whale Shark.

[Parche]

41. Haruuuuuuuuuuu ka

Piranha would be hilarious!!

:rofl: :rofl: :hi: :hug: