I am thinking of getting a male and 3 females of Melanochromis auratus and start breeding them. What minimum tank size would you recommend for them? They are about 3" now and the male has dark color. Any other tips for breeding these mean mbunas?
What tank size for breeding Melanochromis auratus?
- Thread starter alexanian
- Start date
I have 3 females in a 60 gallon with 2 frontosas. 2 neon blues. 2 kenyi. Cory cats. And a breeding pair of german reds. They all het along just fine but the biggest fish in there is 3 inches which is the pair of german reds
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGmwUfhTOJU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Here is a link I think you can see em in there
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Here is a link I think you can see em in there
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I'd recommend more than 3 females...6+ would be preferable.
I've bred M. auratus in a 4' tank. I wouldn't go smaller. The key is lots of females per male and lots of other robust fish to spread the aggression. Maybe a dozen or so Metriaclima of some kind.
I use PVC condos - basically groups of 6" long PVC rubber-banded together for hiding spots.
Just keeping the Melanochromis by themselves will result in the females getting pounded.
Ryan's set-up with a frontosa, cory cats and peacocks will result isn't a mix I'd recommend.
Matt
I've bred M. auratus in a 4' tank. I wouldn't go smaller. The key is lots of females per male and lots of other robust fish to spread the aggression. Maybe a dozen or so Metriaclima of some kind.
I use PVC condos - basically groups of 6" long PVC rubber-banded together for hiding spots.
Just keeping the Melanochromis by themselves will result in the females getting pounded.
Ryan's set-up with a frontosa, cory cats and peacocks will result isn't a mix I'd recommend.
Matt
Matt I agree with you about the mix. I keep juvees in this tank in my living room so I can have a lot of different color and active movement. When they outgrow I have four other tanks in my basement to move them around and a few other keepers to trade with for differnt stuff. I like a variety. As far as the breeding I agree with you 100 percent. I would recomend a seperate tank for the wholding female to be by herself. I have good luck with that to keep the stress off of them.
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Ive kept many Mbuna and found these to be a pain I had a hyper male who chased and bullyed both males and females and torn fins ect.
Started with wild group from Mbenji Island 3m 4f
They bred well and produced many F1 fry but i moved them on in end for Metriclima Msobo.
Started with wild group from Mbenji Island 3m 4f
They bred well and produced many F1 fry but i moved them on in end for Metriclima Msobo.
My plan is to keep them in a 5 foot tank, although it will be a bit narrow - only 30 cm - about one foot, hope that it'll work since it's around 60 g. Interesting that you mentioned Metriaclima as tankmates Matt since I was thinking of getting Red zebras but wasn't sure if they would hybridize so I was thinking of keeping them by themselves. Another option was keeping N. venustus with them but I don't think the tank will be big enough for those. What do u think? Any suggestions on numbers of red zebra or N. venustus, if it is possible to keep them in a L5'xW12''xH20'', if I keep one male and 5-6 females of M. auratus.
Everybody says they're PITA to keep because of how aggressive they are so I'm still not 100% sold on the idea.
Everybody says they're PITA to keep because of how aggressive they are so I'm still not 100% sold on the idea.
