Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hey all. I've got a 20g long tank with 5 multie cichlids, and I'm looking to breed them. I was thinking of adding some scavenger or bottom feeder fish to the mix. Since they use shells to lay eggs, the eggs should be okay, but I don't want anything that'll get picked off by the multies. I considered snails, but they're shell dwellers, so I figured they'd just become a snack... not exactly what I'm looking for. Are there any other options out there that might work, something that'll pick food off the bottom without becoming a meal itself?

Quick update on my tank - added a couple more multies and a group of mystery snails. The snails seem to be thriving, so now I'm thinking about adding some top-dwelling fish to the mix. Would hatches, danios, or rainbows work well, or should I look elsewhere?

I'd advise against hatchets, they just don't thrive in hard, alkaline water. Danios might be a bit more tolerant, but I wouldn't say they're the best fit either. Most rainbows need more space than your tank can offer.

If you're serious about breeding, it's probably best to stick with just the multies - that way you can focus on their needs. Adding other fish seems like you're leaning more towards a display tank, which might not be ideal for breeding.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate the honesty. Guess I'll just stick with the multies and snails for now, don't wanna overcomplicate things.

I'd keep it as is, personally. The multis can get pretty aggressive, especially in a smaller tank like yours. They'll be too busy guarding their territory and protecting their young from each other to coexist peacefully with other species.

I had a breeding colony of these multies in a 50 gallon and they were notorious for attacking anything that crossed their path. Compressiceps cichlids, which usually get left alone due to their sharp scales, didn't stand a chance. They were fearless. I'd advise against adding any bottom feeders - they'll either eat the fry or get attacked by the multies.