Accidentally got into Africans now need some advice.

[Achilles1763]

Okay, so I managed to convince the misses to let me set up a tank for a small predator which resulted in us setting up my old 80g for a 5-6 inch fish! So I was in the market for some dithers and as our water here is so hard it needs to be chewed I went with African cichlids. So we have 3 Penadri, 3 yellow laps, 3 Kyoga flamebacks and a peacock. The tank is 5ft L, 2ft H and 1.5 ft W with a sand base and lots of Rocks spread across the bottom and a large bogwood stump for my predator.
Basically now I have Mbuna I would like to know how best to aquascape the tank further for them and do I need more fish? All I know about mbuna is that you need lots of them! The tank has a massive external filter set up and running and they are being feed rift lake cichlid pellets. Thanks

 

[markstrimaran]

They will reproduce like rabbit's. Decide how many you want.
Break the tank into 1/3 with line of sight rocks. The higher up the better.
Lots of caves, and read up on each variety. Agression can vary.

 

[Achilles1763]

Really!? They bred even in mixed tanks? Okay so I will get down the garden centre and get a load a large flat rocks to create a 'rock wall' for vertical cover And caves etc. Should break up the sight lines fairly well. Stocking wise all the ones I have a fairly mild manored so I was going to stick with that theme and stock more flame backs and peacocks (ideally blood dragon peacocks). What sort of stock density should I be Looking at 20 fish seems about right? Finally what can I do to really make their colours pop? Any secrets? Thanks

 

[DJRansome]

You want 1m:4f of each species. Except the peacock.

One species of peacock/tank since they crossbreed. And the peacocks may not be happy with aggressive mbuna like pindani (socolofi).

 

[Achilles1763]

Cool thanks, I guess M/F can be distinguished by the make being colourful and the female being more muted? If so I have 2 male and 1 female flame backs.. okay need more ladies! The pindari and the labs I cannot tell yet. How many fish should one aiming for a full tank?

 

[Hendre]

20 should be good, apart from that im not sure how to help.

 

[tlindsey]

Cool thanks, I guess M/F can be distinguished by the make being colourful and the female being more muted? If so I have 2 male and 1 female flame backs.. okay need more ladies! The pindari and the labs I cannot tell yet. How many fish should one aiming for a full tank?

Check our forum, and youtube KG Tropicals.

 

[Achilles1763]

Thanks gents, I have a lot to be getting on with then

 

[Achilles1763]

As advised this will be milliputed together tomorrow in the tank.... I am not totally happy with the height but it's something I can build on later when cash flow permits lol.

 

[markstrimaran]

Really!? They bred even in mixed tanks? Okay so I will get down the garden centre and get a load a large flat rocks to create a 'rock wall' for vertical cover And caves etc. Should break up the sight lines fairly well. Stocking wise all the ones I have a fairly mild manored so I was going to stick with that theme and stock more flame backs and peacocks (ideally blood dragon peacocks). What sort of stock density should I be Looking at 20 fish seems about right? Finally what can I do to really make their colours pop? Any secrets? Thanks

I have a new batch of fry about every month, from 3 females. I did not follow the 1 to 5 rule, but I have an elaborate habitat. That allows females to hide and evade any obnoxious male.