AJanzen Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hi everyone, I've been wanting to set up a tank in my daughter's room (she's just under a year) as she absolutely loves the other tanks we have in the house. Wanted to set up something with bright, colourful, active, fish. Was originally thinking of a discus tank but have been steered away from them due to their sensitivity. I have a 55gallon sitting around waiting to be filled and am just looking for some suggestions on setting up a cichlid tank and some of the more colourful breeds to put in it for my daughter's enjoyment. Also, I don't really want any fish that are going to get more than 4-5 inches in length as I would like a decent amount of fish in the tank. Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremoose Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 My money is on an African cichlid tank, Lake Malawi cichlids in particular. I'd go with 6-10 Pseudotropheus Saulosi's (the dominant males look like Demasonis and the females are yellow like Electric Yellows) and 6-10 Strawberry Red Peacocks. If you want color and personality, this mix gives you yellows, blues, and reds. Additionally you get all the interesting behavior that goes along with these little guys. Oh and maybe a common pleco for your clean-up crew (kids tend to love the sleek look of plecos, I know my daughter does!). Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 One of the easiest tanks I've set up for myself and others is a group of Electric Yellows, a group of Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos, and possibly a group of Rusties. These are all relatively peaceful as far as African cichlids go, and they're all quite different, so there is virtually no chance of hybridization. One of the best looking tanks I put together had these fish (less the Rusties) in a tank where I stacked halved terra cotta pots and grew Java Fern on them. I stacked the pots up the entire back wall, and the stark contrast in colors of fish, decor and plants was awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremoose Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 A couple pics of them: P. Saulosi Strawberry Peacock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troni Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 african cichlid of the mbuna type, theyre very colorful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano85 Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 A bunch of colorful female bettas and a school of cories at the bottom would be a cute tank imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJanzen Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Thanks for the suggestions guys, very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnytens Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 high quality red zebras are great in a mbuna tank, and for me a must, bright reddish orange coloration is a great stand out in the tank and compliments blue mbuna as acei , mainganos and msobos. Electric yellows are nice for the splash of yellow , although several species have yellow females such as the saulosi and msobo. Kenyis are another great colored one, they are a little more aggressive but if you crowd the tank things are fine, the females are light blue with dark blue stripes and the males are yellow....so a group of 12 females and a couples males is quite nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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