basically keep africans with africans and americans with americans, but each type of cichiid grows and acts differently. i have 6 african cichlids in a 55 gallon and there is plenty of room for more, but i want to wait til i know how they are going to react one they hit maturity. i have mbunas. 2 each of auratus…..very aggresive, powder blues socolofi….not very aggressive…….and electric yellow curealus (?)……aggressive over territory. they all get about 6″ long if i am lucky and i added them to the tank all at the same time so ther hasn’t been any signs of aggression other than chasing each other. there is a great cichlid site that i belong to…its called cichlids.com very helpful peope and useful info.

How many you can get depends on whether your tank is a high (corner) 45 or a long 45. Cichlids need a lot of bottom area in their tanks. They claim territories and defend them. In the wild, their territories can be as big as 4-5 feet square. Of course this won’t be possible in an aquarium. Even a 55 g tank only has a footprint of about 6 sq. ft.

A long 45 could house up to 8-10 semi agressive cichlids like the electric yellows or socolofi. The auratus are not a fish you want to have in a community tank, they are very agressive. If you decide to go with the yellows, get one male and 3 females. Same with the socolofi. That will give you a good mix of colors. The yellow labidochromis males and the socolofi males do not look alike and therefore will not see each other as rivals for the females.

Even these semi agressive fish need plenty of rock work and caves to hide in and claim as territory. Always plan a few extra hideouts so they can change around occasionally. I use landscaping sandstone to fashion caves and such. Terra cotta pots are also good for caves. Just lay them on their side or knock out a chunk of the edge and turn them upside down. Be sure the hole is big enough for the fish to get in and out of easily.

A 45 high would probably only house about 4 yellows OR 4 socolofi.

There is a way to overcrowd a tank and keep the agression level manageable even though you have multiple males. With a lot of fish in a tank, the agression is spread around and one fish is not the target of unrelenting attacks.

I have had as many as 25 cichlids in a 55 gallon tank at one time without fatalities or serious damage. Some fry (babies) of the breeding pairs even survived by hiding in the rocks.

BTW, you should add all of the fish to the tank at the same time. If you put a group in the tank and then try to add fish later you will not have good luck. The fish already in the tank will have their territories staked out and the new fish will not have any place to go but up in a corner to die. If you absolutely have to add fish later, you must completely rearrange the rocks and caves so everything is brand new and add the fish as soon as you are done and then turn the lights out for the night. Everyone will be scrambling to find new hideouts and the new ones will be able to fit in with the old ones. A super dominant male may still give you problems.

Below are a few suggested communities for relatively peaceful cichlid aquaria. All tanks are assumed to be set up. .

Smallish Tank (upto 100 litres). Two severums or angelfish or festivums, one pair curviceps, one Sturisoma, six Corydoras, six medium-sized tetras.

Medium-sized Tank (Upto 200 litres). Six severums or angelfish or festivums, two pair curviceps, one pair rainbow cichlids, six Corydoras, four Sturisoma, ten medium-sized tetras, ten hatchet fish.

Larger sized Tank (400 liters). Six jurupari, one pair rainbow cichlids, six Corydoras, four Sturisoma, ten medium-sized tetras.

Large Tank (800 liters). Eight jurupari, eight severums, six Corydoras, six rainbow cichlids, four Sturiosoma, twenty medium-sized tetras, ten hatchet fish.

Very Large Tank (> 1000 liters). Mated pair chocolate cichlids, eight uaru, eight jurupari, eight Sturisoma, ten Prochilodus.