Bill's first foray into Africans.

Ryan (aka Alowishus) came over and spent a couple of hours helping me pick out my first selection. Him at the keyboard, flying from site to site.. My requirements were: mature size of 5 inches or less and no super agressive fish. Their home will be a 75G I'm picking up later today. What did we decide on? Demasoni's.... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_demasoni.php

How about the African Fans on this forum chime in on our selection and offer up a few suggestions too!.. Bill in Va.

I would avoid the Malawi Mbuna as a first African, they tend to be pretty aggressive.
Look more for open water cichlids, they tend to be a little more mellow.

I really think that C. Moorii would be a good first fish for you http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1061 They do get on the large side but are downright peaceful! 6 of them in a 75g would work just fine, and later on you can do some mid sized rock dwellers in there with them.

i agree with fern

Everyone who has had Demasoni's that I have known has passed them very quickly to newbies due to the aggression. I think the Moorii would also be better for a first african cichlid.

i dunno if demasoni's are a good beginner fish. ive read they are super aggressive, that they should be kept in groups of 12+. any less and the dominant male will kill off one at a time. i think if you're looking for an easy beginner fish...i hear acei's are good fish to start from.

do you want a show tank or are you setting up a breeder tank?

I was planning on a dozen to start out with... Fern.. I'm so cheap, I just make myself justify a 75 gallon tank to just 6 fish!....Hence the 5 inch limitation... I'll have to get Ryan to chime in on here...LOL...
Another specie I am considering is Saulosi.. or Ruby Greens... (why did I give four away I'll never know)..<grin>..

You can do 6 mooriis and a dozen ruby greens in that tank no problem! That would be a very nice beginner tank! Fairly mellow and very pretty! I can set you up on the mooriis and shay should have some ruby greens ready to go pretty darn soon!

I can't find a link on the mooriis... need to research them.. and keep me in mind when the ruby's are ready!.. Bil l

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/c_moorii.php[url][/url]http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/bluemoorii.php[url][/url]http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/AfricanCichlids/BlueDolphin.asp[url][/url]http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/AfricanCichlids/BlueDolphin.asp[url][/url]http://mycichlidtank.oneinfostop.com/Dophlin_desc.htm

In most folks tanks they dont get to be but 6-7" long