[boatman]

I'm entertaining the idea of setting up a 'colony' of altolamprologus compressiceps chaitika gold. I would like to have a pretty good sized school of them (10-12).
Is it feasible? What size tank would I need?
Would I be able to keep anything else with them? Maybe a school of Cyprichrmis?
Could I do shelldwellers too?
If it HAS to be a species only tank I'd be fine with that, just a little variety would be optimal
For aquascape lots of rock work(texas holey/lace rock) possibly some Vallisneria, anubias, java ferns
Thanks in advanced for any input

 

[DJRansome]

A colony can work if you have 3 males and the rest females. I would skip the shell dwellers but cyps might work. Not as much rock as mbuna, but each female will need to have a place she can enter, but that is too small for the male to enter. Breeders tend to use large shells, like whelk.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would buy "Calvus Caves" instead of using shells. Sometimes females get stuck in the shells.

Minimum tank size is a 4ft x 18" x 18" tank. If you have a 6ft tank, you could do shell dwellers, and certainly a school of Cyps in the 6ft. Rocks and plants as you like.

 

[boatman]

thanks for the replies, this is all good info.

 

[GTRFan]

I'm entertaining the idea of setting up a 'colony' of altolamprologus compressiceps chaitika gold. I would like to have a pretty good sized school of them (10-12).
Is it feasible? What size tank would I need?
Would I be able to keep anything else with them? Maybe a school of Cyprichrmis?
Could I do shelldwellers too?
If it HAS to be a species only tank I'd be fine with that, just a little variety would be optimal
For aquascape lots of rock work(texas holey/lace rock) possibly some Vallisneria, anubias, java ferns
Thanks in advanced for any input

A school of 10-12 individuals is quite interesting. Did you succeed? How many males are in the colony?

 

[Auballagh]

Hello @GTRFan .
And, welcome to Cichlid Forum!
-
Unfortunately, we get a LOT of folks here who basically do a 'hit & run' with a request for info regarding a good idea, then we get left hanging about the results. But, let's see if tagging @boatman gets him back for an update on how well those ideas worked. Or didn't.
Pics?!!

 

[DJRansome]

Three males and nine females. I never got enough females and then I moved and lack of auctions since COVID. Others have succeeded though...with calvus and I assume comps would work the same.

 

[GTRFan]

Hello @GTRFan .
And, welcome to Cichlid Forum!
-
Unfortunately, we get a LOT of folks here who basically do a 'hit & run' with a request for info regarding a good idea, then we get left hanging about the results. But, let's see if tagging @boatman gets him back for an update on how well those ideas worked. Or didn't.
Pics?!!

Thank you) Perhaps they will answer us and there will be a photo)))