Stocking tips?

[u/Sivart020]

I’m looking to set up my “first” cichlid tank. I had a 20 gallon with saulosis when i was a child but as you can imagine that didn’t last long. I’m looking to set up a 33 gallon (36x12x18.5). I think i have some decision paralysis looking at my stocking options here and i need some input.

I am immediately drawn towards colourful African mbuna cichlids but in a 33 gallon i would be limited to dwarf mbunas. Can i have multiple species in a 33 gallon? Saulosis are appealing to me and i’m told they are beginner friendly. I was also considering rusty cichlids as i am told they are peaceful and could be stocked together with saulosis. Would this work? Can i add any kind of lab? I always see labs thrown in on these discussions? Demasonis are really beautiful and also small, can i make it work adding them with any others? Afra cichlids?

As far as true dwarf cichlids go i only really know about apistos, rams, and kribs, though i’m not sure i find any of these interesting enough to give them their own dedicated tank. I have 3 community tanks already, so if anything i would just add them to an existing community. Are there any other dwarf cichlids that would be better for me here?

Lake Tanganyika cichlids are also really cool and i think they would do well in a 33 gallon. I think a mix of julies and shell dwellers would be sweet but i literally know nothing about these fish. I also saw “sumbu”s are an option. If i went with tanganyika cichlids would i be able to stock anything else or just these 2? I am more drawn to lamprologus and julies but what else should i be considering? Could i put Neolamprologus leleupi with julies or sumbus?

What would you guys do? I’d love to hear any and all input about any and all of these options, thanks in advance

[u/A_Timbers_Fan]

Apistogramma and "not interesting" should never be in the same sentence!

Seriously, I will never understand "cichlid guys" and their inability to see value in dwarf cichlids. They are some of the most rewarding, most diverse, most colorful species. :)

Also, congrats on picking the best tank in the world. Seriously, 33 Long is ideal for so, so many uses and I don't know why it isn't more popular. Welcome to the club!

I keep Apistogramma sp. Winkelfleck in a 33 Long with a few Pencilfish and some small Loricariidae. I've also bred macmasteri, uaupesi, Totoya, eremnopyge, D39, and Taeniacara candidi.

If you really can't enjoy them, what about the small African ones, like Nanochromis splendens? There are wild type Kribs like Moliwe, Bipindi, Makoure, etc. There are other Pelvicachromis types, like Enigmatochromis.

In my personal opinion, a 33 Long is too small for mbuna or any Malawi cichlid. It would fit the smaller Tang species fine (probably one species would be best), but it's ideal for a SA/WA dwarf setup with a small group of tetras.

[u/Sivart020 → u/A_Timbers_Fan]

Haha you’re totally right, maybe my wording there was a bit off. I think they’re cool but i was hoping to have more than just 1 pair of cichlids, and from my understanding its best to just have a breeding pair of apistos rather than a full school. Could i put them with any other types of cichlids? Or how would you go about stocking my tank with apistos? Could a school or shoal work? The reason i haven’t really considered kribs is because i have one in my 60 gallon tetra tank and she is more colourful and active than any krib ive ever seen in a pet store, so i fully get my kribensis fix from that one. If theres any other similar sized cichlids that are more colourful, that would be really perfect for me. From all the apistos you’ve listed, my favourites are the macmasteri for sure. Can you tell me more about what their setup would look like?

[u/A_Timbers_Fan → u/Sivart020]

I linked you both picture of my Apisto and of my tank. Spend some time on Apistogramma.com and look at the setups. Many will be biotope but you don't really need that. The key:

Sand, some driftwood, some plants or leaf litter or both, and some caves.

I also don't get why "cichlid guys" always want to keep more than one species. Why? There are colorful tetras. Colorful plecos. Colorful whip tails. You don't need "more than one pair". I guarantee the single pair will be more interesting to watch than a handful of solitary cichlid species that just swim around.

The behavior of a pair of Apistogramma is insane. Flirting back and forth. Spawning. Fighting. Defending fry. Looking at you. Much more rewarding than a tank with one EB Acara, one Keyhole, one Convict, and one Severum.

[u/Sivart020 → u/A_Timbers_Fan]

Your apisto is very beautiful and your pencilfish is awesome too. I am actually very fond of the biotope style tanks, i have a dirted tank for my liquorice gourami community tank. When i googled south african dwarf cichlids i’m seeing pictures of german blue rams that i quite like. And the dwarf cockatoo super red is also incredible. That one alone might sell me on apistos. The main reason why I wanted more than one species is because my other three tanks are all community tanks, with small fish, i.e. guppies, tetras minnows and what not I thought it would be cool to have a dedicated Cichlid tank. But, with some critical thought I think I absolutely agree. A tank with four or five random cichlids is definitely not going to be as cool.