Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / August 2004

I've got lots of cichlid experience.  Mainly africans, I've bred
hundreds zebras and brichardis, etc., who hasn't :).  I have had
oscars, dempseys, convicts, rams, when I was young.

I now have a older juvenile sunshine peacock, a couple of very young
red peacocks, and three decent sized clown loaches in a 30 gallon
long.

I run two Aquaclear 200's, artifical rock, and no gravel. It's very
easy to keep the water clean and I do 25% water changes every two
weeks.

As they mature some of the peacocks will have to go as they're all
males.  I was planning on ultimately keeping just the sunshine and a
couple of loaches.

I have just obtained a baby Tilapia buttikoferi.
Yes I know some of what to expect. Either he goes or everyone else
goes.
He's very interesting to watch as he's always moving about searching
for food, coming to the front of the glass, never hiding. Awesome
personality.

If I should decide to keep him ( am I insane ? ), would I be able to
maintain him alone in a 30 gallon long tank? Like I said, no gravel,
plenty of filtration, regular partial water changes.

I've always toyed with the idea of having a solo cichlid, about 5-8
inches, with personality. It appears that he would be just as happy by
himself.

Thanks,
George