New Cichlid tank?

I've never considered Bolivians because of the pic I posted. Hmmm.....:hmmmm:

 

they may not be as overtly colourful as their cousins but what they lack in colour they make up for in character and health

 

so is any of these guys compatable with plants?

 

yes

 

GBR are definitely plant friendly - Here is a pic of mine (Thanks @Aqua - This is your baby)

 

these are two of my 3 males i see they have divided the tank amongst themselves two on either side and one got the middle,they knock heads a few times but nothin serious.this morning i saw the one had dug himself quite a pit in the gravel.wish i had some females.

 

Those are bolivian rams?

 

yup

 

GBR's are easy to identify male and female. How do you do it with Bolivians other than the pink belly?

 

i think it has something to do with the dorsal fin spines but im not sure will google a bit

 

With GBR's it the blue spots in the black stripe behind the eye and pink belly if it's a female and a spikier black section to the dorsal for the males.

 

and are these guys also compatable with tetras as i see them in the pic, also what additional care does these guys need?

 

not much they kinda hardy fish once they make the first few weeks,normal tank maintenance will keep them happy.

 

They are very suitable community tank mates (Regarding aggresion) as long as your water parameters are ok. Mine is in a tank with Angels, Gouramis, Cardinals, Rasbora, Guppies, Cory's and seems to be doing ok.

I have lost GBR's before and have been told that they should be kept in species tanks but I think, like any community tank, you need to provide the correct water and compatable fish.

 

@MarcHawke thanks, that what i wanted to hear, i love my cories and my other tetras, how many of the bolivian rams should i be able to keep in a 700l tank, male/females?

 

70l/fish is the recommended if I remember correctly. What are the floor dimensions of the tank?

 

its 1.2x70x70

I am also thinking of going pure cichlid, but i love my plants too much but would really like a vef big kind of fish to go with my tetras i allready have, and im sure they will help control the the fry as well...

 

I would rather err on the side of caution with these guys. Maybe 2 or 3 pairs. I would buy 2 males and maybe 4 females. Wait for them to pair up and remove/sell the others. provide them with lots of plants and flat stones at opposing ends of the tank where they don't have a clear line of sight on each other. As we have said earlier, they will become agro if they are spawning. Mine chased away all my fish (including Dwarf Gourami which are quite a lot larger than them). They truly are magnificient fish with amazing little natures.

A side note - Both parents raise their fry and protect them.

 

I have never kept fish like malawi's but they seem very limiting. Not a lot of compatable tank mates, no plants, lots of hiding spots, deliberate overstocking etc.

 

Yeah thats why i dont like malawis as well, one species of fish with just rocks dont do it for me... and after the paring took place i must get rid of the other males so i have 2 pairs of them in the tank then? and flat stones? like mini cave like structures or just like a rock kind of effect for the fish?