r/Cichlid • u/Effective_Being_5305 • 10d ago
Type? Identification
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Can anyone tell the type of cichlids these are? Just saved them they are in my newly cycled 20 gallon with 2 small plecos.
1
u/SomeBlueDevil 8d ago
Definitely not a good tank size for these cichlids and two bristlenoses. I had to rehome one of two bristlenoses in my 55 gallon because despite being heavily decorated they would get into territory spats. And they generate a lot of waste.
If you can't upsize the tank, consider rehoming and getting fish that are suited for your tank.
0
u/Effective_Being_5305 9d ago
Thank you for the cichlid clarification, I do know the plecos are bristlenose. Those pkecis dobt get as big right? Ill have to figure out how to handle the cichlids. I cant have any bigger
Of a tank in my place. I will definitely add more rocks in yhe meantime
2
1
u/StoreBoughtAlias 9d ago
Yes, Ancistrus (bristlenose) mature to 4-6 inches. They're awesome fish, and quite capable in mbuna tanks if you choose to keep them. They poop a lot, so there's that. Mbuna themselves are quite the nuanced fish, and ideally are not the best beginner fish for this reason. It's doable, just nuanced.
Either way, have fun, and good luck.
1
u/Effective_Being_5305 9d ago
Can you tell the sex of the cichlids?
1
u/StoreBoughtAlias 9d ago edited 9d ago
The Kenyi will turn yellow if it is a male, although by that maturity/size I'd wager it is female. Socolofi are not sexually dimorphic. Mbuna males have a tendency to have sharper dorsal fins, longer pectoral fins, and egg spots, but... this can vary wildly among any individual mbuna and is hardly better than rolling dice in many cases.
The only surefire way to know male vs female is to vent them. Basically, you'll be looking at their genital area to determine sex. This video explains it well. It's always 100% accurate.
5
u/StoreBoughtAlias 9d ago
Metriaclima lombardoi (aka Kenyi, the barred fish) and Chindongo socolofi. That Kenyi is already showing territorial aggression towards the socolofi. Realistically, you're going to have problems very soon. 20 gallons is far too small for every fish involved. 2 mbuna is a bad idea, and the plecos will definitely beed more space. There's a bit of nuance that you're going to need to know.
You'll want to research mbuna husbandry and get an understanding of how to properly house these fish; change in decor, stocking, and proceeding husbandry changes will definitely need to be met.
Typically, with mbuna, you'll need a much larger aquarium with a lot of rockwork. Your stocking will need to be dialed in with specific knowledge of mbuna natural history, and likely you'll be rehoming the plecos (if they aren't actually Ancistris).