Have never owned ciclids, would like to

Question
Hello Ron.  I have a few questions if you don't mind.

First of all, can I put coincides in a tank with a surface area of 30" x 12"?  It'll either be a 29 gallon tank or 20 gallon LONG, both same surface area which I'm sure you already know.

Some I mention may be too large for either tank but I'll give it a shot.  One type is the Keyhole, another is the white albino Socolofi (sp?), and Electric Yellow?  Also I was wondering about these Auratus (sp?) types.  All of these I've seen in the large chain stores like Petsmart and Big Al's.  I'm in Southern, Ontario Canada. I also would like to know about German or Blue Rams.

I was told with Ciclids that some will get along with the usual community fish (I have balloon mollies/cories/glass tetras in one of the tanks but I was thinking of purchasing another tank).

I was also told that Ciclids will get along fine with their own type if they're all bought at the same time but if you add 1 or 2 or more later, the original ones will attack the newer ones.  Also, once your original 5 or whatever # you bought die over time, even when you're left with 1, you cannot add a new one.  Is any of this true?  I gave up on them and bought some more balloon mollies instead LOL.

Well, I certainly gave you A LOT of details re: questions so I hope you'll be able to answer them all.  I sure appreciate it!

Thanks,
Paula

Answer
Hi Paula,
 I am not sure what "coincides" are?   Do you mean cichlids?   If so, yes you can put them in such a tank. The tank size determines the kind and number of fish that you can put in there. Equally important is how much "structure" you have in the tank.  By structure, I mean plants, rocks, etc that break up the space.  The more structure you have in a tank, the more fish you can put in there because weaker fish will have a place to hide.

  In general, it is best not to mix fishes from different parts of the world.  So, for instance, keyhole cichlids are from South America, while socolofi are from East Africa, as are Electric Yellow cichlids.  Auratus are from East Africa. Rams are from South America.  The rams and the keyholes will likely go together best in that tank.  The cories would go in such a tank, though I am less certain about the mollies and glass tetras, which might get attacked.

  As far as them getting along and adding fish, there is no hard and fast rule.  Basically, the key thing is the amount of structure.  If you have very little structure, i.e., just a plant or two, then the first fish in there are going to claim the whole tank as their territory so that anybody added in afterward is going to have problems.   

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>