When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Last Updated: Nov 10 Cichlids are a big time fan favorite of pet owners and aquarium enthusiasts.
That said, they need a decent amount of maintenance, they need a lot of room, and they are not particularly friendly with other fish either. In terms of space, yes, they need lots of it, and you might be wondering just how much. We really do not have a quick answer for you here, which is because there are cichlids of vastly varying sizes and they all have different requirements. This does really vary depending on the Cichlid type and what else you are housing.
Here is a quick overview, remember bigger tanks are always better… and make sure you do your research! Ok, so before we talk about how many cichlids you can fit in a gallon tank, and how much space they need in terms of tank volume, we should discuss how big they can get.
Now, we are going to talk about this in general, and shortly after we will take a look at the spatial requirements of some of the most common and popular cichlid species for home aquariums. So, as we have mentioned, there are quite a few cichlid species out there, several dozen, in fact, some of which can get very big, and some of which stay exceedingly small. So, a rule of thumb here is that every single inch of cichlid should have at least 2 gallons of space , but this is the absolute minimum more is always better.
According to this rule, a 6-inch-long cichlid should have at least 12 gallons of tank space, but studies have shown that this is a bit small, the absolute minimum to say the least. Most would now agree that these fish should have a little over 3 gallons of space for every inch.
So, if you have a 6-inch-long cichlid, you should aim for a gallon tank. There are many cichlids that will grow to about 6 inches in length, and for these a gallon tank is great. So, if the question is how many you can fit in a gallon tank, 2 cichlids are best, but 3 will also do fine. There are also cichlids that can grow to around 8 inches in size, and these should have a tank of roughly 24 to 30 gallons, with 30 being the ideal.
However, there are few cichlids that are smaller in size and will be fine with 5 to 6 gallons of water for each of them. But again, the territorial issue can intervene, thus it is better to give each cichlid more space than their size asks for. Research well for the types of cichlid you are planning to keep or the one you fell in love with. Do not keep any of the cichlids in the confined space or the smaller tank than they prefer.
There are few smaller cichlids that will happily adapt and adjust to the life of a gallon tank. You have to make sure there is everything these cichlids will need to survive in the gallon tank.
Or else, you might have to have a faceoff with consequences despite the appropriate size of the tank. When we are talking about Ram Cichlids, you can go for 1 male and 1 female in the gallon tank. The female number can go up to 2 but the male number needs to remain one. The male-to-female ratio should always be when you are keeping a smaller tank. Again, you cannot exceed more than a pair of these cichlids in the gallon tank. You may have to face consequences if you try overstocking them.
The same story again, you can keep a pair of this cichlid in the gallon tank. We can keep a pair of these Kribensis Cichlids in the tank with no problem or issues whatsoever.
Our dear Apistogramma Agassizii is probably one of the most undemanding cichlids you can get. Now coming to another type of cichlid that is also quite smaller compared to other cichlids. You can keep cockatoo cichlid in the gallon tank but their number should be 2 or less than 2.
Another Apistogramma you can keep in the gallon tank is Apistogramma cacatuoides. But the number will vary a little than Apistogramma Agassizii. You can go for 1 male and 2 females for these cichlids when you look for cichlids to keep in a gallon tank.
A pair of umbrella cichlid will do great in the gallon tank but do not exceed the number. Overstocking these territorial cichlids can cause some serious damage to fish as well as the tank. Neolamprologus multifasciatus are the smallest cichlids you will find and probably be the easiest for you to keep.
You can keep nearly a colony of them in the gallon tank. You can nearly keep 10 to 15 of these dwarf cichlids in the tank. Thanks to 2 inches size of the male dwarf cichlids and less than 1-inch size female dwarf cichlid. The confined space cannot handle bigger fish. These cichlids love to swim around and prefer fun activities. But bigger cichlids will have a problem staying in a confined space.
Ram cichlids need to be kept in a pair in at least a gallon tank. So, you can keep 2 pairs — 4 ram cichlids — in a gallon tank. Ram cichlids have a reputation for being super peaceful. Peacock cichlids are on the aggressive side — and a small tank would make their mood worse. They usually grow around inches long. For smaller peacocks, you can house a harem of 1 male and females in a gallon tank.
You can add mid-sized cichlids or six dwarf cichlids like kribensis in a gallon tank. Irrespective of their stature, most cichlids are aggressive, although the magnitude would differ. Recommended Readings! Mbunas, Peacocks And South American. How Many Cichlids in a Gallon Tank? Use This Simple Formula! Also read : African cichlid aggression — How to deal with Fish Bullies.
Contact to us. Skip to content. Minimum requirements Keep Aulonocara in a tank of at least 55 gallons. Breeder tank For the breeder tank with only one species of Aulonocara, add 1 or more males for a school of females. Subscribe to our mailing list By subscribing to our mailing list, you will have access to our knowledge base and receive our latest promotions and shipments directly into your mailbox.
Continue reading. Should you use an air pump in your aquarium? How to oxygenate your tank. How to Control Algae in your Aquarium. What to Feed Aquarium Fish.
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