Mbuna tank upgraded to 125 gallon - stocking question

[Galactik]

I shutdown all of my tanks but decided to keep my mbunas and moved them from their 60gallon to a 125g.

I currently have about 15 mbunas (yellow labs, powder blue, 1 venustus and 1 Acei). They all get along great, Acei was a rescue from a friend and js currently the biggest fish in the tank at about 4.5 inches or so.

I want to add more fish but wanted to get some opinions as to what would be a good number and types recommended.

Ideally I'd like to have some variation in size and shape more so than color and im open to add a different species as long as they have similar diet requirements as to prevent bloat.

What are your thoughts?

 

[RD.]

I would start by losing the venustus, eventually it will be capable of taking the heads off the smaller mbuna, such as the labs. Or just swallowing them whole. Then build on more/different mbuna.

 

[A201]

Some of my favorite Mbuna are
Rusties, Trewassae & Afras.
Most aren't too aggressive relatively speaking.

 

[DJRansome]

I would shoot for 25 mbuna and agree with losing the venustus.

1m:4f each of the yellow labs and acei and powder blue (assume you mean Metriaclima callainos?). That's 15 and you said you already have 15?

So if you have 15 and can add 10 then 4 females for the acei.

That leaves you with the ability to add one species. For a different shape, maybe Labeotropheus?

 

[Galactik]

Quick update on the 125-

Everyone has settled in nicely and have had no issues whatsoever with aggression. In fact. I've had some breeding activity and it appears that I had 2 survivors that are about half an inch or so (starting to swim with the big guys)

At the moment I have 20 mbunas.

I've been thinking about adding more fish in but still on the fence as I dont want to completely mess up the balance.

Are there any larger types I could throw in the mix to add more shape variation?

I'm still keeping an eye on the venustus per the previous recommendations but so far so good. I'd venture to say it's not even in the top 3 of most aggressive fish in there. So far anyway haha. Hoping it works out and I dont have to relocate because the colors are beautiful.

 

[DJRansome]

If you want larger fish with mbuna,,,keep the venustus and get rid of the Metriaclima (blue callainos, orange blotch estherae, solid orange estherae, etc.). So yellow labs, acei and venustus. Because you have yellow labs and estherae in the tank I would separate the survivors (probable hybrids) while you can still tell them from the pure fish. This way, once you have decent ratios of the labs, acei and venustus you could allow survivors to stay in the tank with a reasonable expectation of them being pure.

 

[Galactik]

Thank you for the suggestions! I decided to not get anything other than mbuna for this tank to keep things a little easier. I'll be keeping an eye on the venustus to see how that plays out but that'll be my bigger fish in the tank later on. I figured the OBs will get much bigger than the labs later on so that will give me the size variety I was looking for, just need to grow them out.

I did end up getting a last group of 6 Pearl of Likomas. Which would bring my stock up to 26

I'm not too concerned about hybrids as I'm not actively trying to breed anything and will not be selling either. Just letting nature do its thing.

 

[DJRansome]

Nature did not do it's thing since you already have survivors, or am I mistaken? Maybe a group of 5 Synodontis multipunctatus for fry control. If you do not separate the survivors you will lose the ability to sell/give away even your pure fish...at least the species of the mom.

 

[Galactik]

Nature did not do it's thing since you already have survivors, or am I mistaken? Maybe a group of 5 Synodontis multipunctatus for fry control. If you do not separate the survivors you will lose the ability to sell/give away even your pure fish...at least the species of the mom.

I'm not really worried about it at the moment as I still have room in the tank and I'm letting them settle. The way I look at it, I got 2 free fish and get to enjoy the process of seeing them grow.

I don’t know about your area but african cichlids around here have gotten crazy expensive.

If it starts becoming an issue I can always explore alternatives.

 

[DJRansome]

The problem I had was once the survivors grew to the size of the pure fish, I could no longer tell which was which. Thus the pure fish were no longer able to be sold or given away. Prices seem to be about the same to me. Enjoy your tank!