choosing the right dwarf cichlid for your aquarium

[condoKeeper]

Looking for a colorful dwarf cichlid pair with lots of energy, not shy at all. Need something new for my 20 gallon high. Considering A. Borelli, A. agasizzi, Bolivian ram, German ram, smiling cichlid, flag, African butterfly, and kribs.
My water parameters are ph 7.0 and Gh 12.

[willie32]

Looking for a colorful dwarf cichlid pair with lots of energy, not shy at all. Need something new for my 20 gallon high. Considering A. Borelli, A. agasizzi, Bolivian ram, German ram, smiling cichlid, flag, African butterfly, and kribs.
My water parameters are ph 7.0 and Gh 12.

Do you have all those fish in the 20g already or are they spread across other tanks?

[barnicle]

I'm assuming you don't have all those in the same tank. There are many Apisto varieties you could consider, they're a good fit for a 20g high and come in a range of colors.

[graye]

If you're already keeping dwarfs and have the space for multiple tanks, I'd think you'd know what you're getting into. You've got the knowledge, so do your own research. Either rephrase your question or take a step back and reevaluate what you're asking. It feels like you're looking for a reaction rather than genuine advice.

[condoKeeper]

I'm assuming you don't have all those in the same tank. There are many Apisto varieties you could consider, they're a good fit for a 20g high and come in a range of colors.

They're in other tanks, and the 20g will be just for the new pair. I do love Apistos, but the ones I have are pretty shy, not as active as my flags.

[willie32]

Considering your existing collection and wanting something new, a pair or trio of shell dwellers could be an interesting change of pace. Multis, Similis, or Ocellatus would do well in a 20-gallon tank, they might not utilize the height but they're quite different from your other fish.

[condoKeeper]

Looking for a colorful dwarf cichlid pair with lots of energy, not shy at all. Need something new for my 20 gallon high. Considering A. Borelli, A. agasizzi, Bolivian ram, German ram, smiling cichlid, flag, African butterfly, and kribs.
My water parameters are ph 7.0 and Gh 12.

Do you have all those fish in the 20g already or are they spread across other tanks?

I'd recommend something different from your other fish - a pair or trio of shell dwellers could be perfect for a 20g. Similis, Multis or Ocellatus are great options, or maybe even Sumbu Shell. They won't utilize the height, but they'd bring something new to your collection.

[condoKeeper]

I appreciate the suggestions, but I'm really looking for something that'll make the most of my 20g's height, I'm not sure shell dwellers would be the best fit for that.

[infold]

I'm fond of Convict cichlids, they're pretty cool.

[graye]

@willie32 has great suggestions for hard water fish from Africa, and @infold's North/Central American recommendations also require minerals. Given your Apistos, I assume you have soft water.

Dwarf cichlids will naturally be shy - in the wild, a small fish that's too showy becomes lunch.

For me, the standout options are:
Western African Pelvicachromis kribensis - often misidentified as kribs, but these are smaller and more vibrant.
You might also consider Apistogramma veijita, hongsloi, or macmasteri; A cacatuoides; Nannacara anomala; or any of the Nanochromis species.
Dicrossus filamentosus, the lyretail checkerboard Cichlid, is another excellent choice from South America - it's a great group fish, and relatively affordable when you can find it.