choosing the right dwarf cichlid for your aquarium

[willie32]

@willie32's African fish suggestions are spot on for hard water, while @infold's North/Central Americans require similar mineral needs. Given your Apistos, I'm guessing you're working with soft water.

Dwarf Cichlids are naturally shy; they wouldn't last long in the wild if they were show-offs.

Some great options, in my opinion, include Western African Pelvicachromis kribensis - not to be confused with actual kribs, P pulcher. There's been a misidentification floating around for 80 years. Apistogramma veijita, hongsloi, or macmasteri are also worth considering; A cacatuoides; Nannacara anomala; Nanochromis; and Dicrossus filamentosus - the lyretail checkerboard Cichlid, a fantastic SA native that thrives in groups of 6 and is budget-friendly when available.

Actually, with a GH of 12, it shouldn't be an issue to bump it up a notch with coral sand and a buffer for tap water.

[condoKeeper]

@willie32 has suggested great African fish for hard water, and @infold has North/Central Americans with the same need for minerals. If you have Apistos, you probably have soft water.

Dwarf Cichlids are naturally shy. In the wild, they'd be someone's meal if they drew too much attention.

Considering your options, I think Western African Pelvicachromis kribensis are a great choice. They're often misidentified as kribs, but they're actually smaller and more colorful. Apistogramma veijita, hongsloi or macmasteri are also good options. A cacatuoides, Nannacara anomala, and Nanochromis are other species you might want to look into. Dicrossus filamentosus, the lyretail checkerboard Cichlid, is another great choice.

[isledeep]

I've recently introduced two Borelli Cichlids to my 50-gallon setup. Currently, I have 12 neon tetras, 6 ember tetras, and 3 histrion loaches as tankmates. I'm pretty sure I've got two males on my hands. The larger one is being quite aggressive, constantly chasing the smaller one and preventing it from eating. Interestingly, it leaves the other fish alone, focusing its bullying on the smaller Borelli.

In terms of aggression, I'm looking for ways to curb this behavior. My tank has a moderate amount of plants and plenty of caves, but the aggressor is relentless in its pursuit. I'm wondering if adding a couple more Borellis might help, but my LFS only seems to stock males.

[limer]

I'd suggest looking into Dicrossus maculatus, the Spade-tailed Checkerboard Cichlid - they're always on the move, curious about their environment. Kept mine in a 20 high, worked out well, had to relocate the fry to another tank for growth though.