135 gallon community... with a catch

[Jc1119]

So I have a 135 gallon tank (72x18x24) about 400 lbs of rock, 400 lbs of sand. One resident for sure. A group of Haplochromis 44.

Would you stay with Victorians or add Mbuna to complete the community? I understand there is a risk of hybridization due to similarities between alot of the Victorian females. Thoughts?

 

[1974Pantera]

I would definitely stay with Vics but future residents are going to have to be males. I have been successful with all male Vic tanks but there are your aggressive and non aggressive Vics that shouldn't be mixed. I would add a nyererie strain or maybe some Fulu's to go with your sp. 44's. A. latifasciata will also work with the above combination.

Love to see that group of 44's, post some pics!

 

[1974Pantera]

Pundamilia sp. blue bars will also work with your sp. 44's.

 

[Jc1119]

You would do an all Male Victorian tank? Wow. That would look pretty cool. I was kinda hoping to do a breeding group of the 44's though. How would you go about an all male tank with Vics? Do you house multiples of the same species together?

 

[1974Pantera]

You would do an all Male Victorian tank? Wow. That would look pretty cool. I was kinda hoping to do a breeding group of the 44's though. How would you go about an all male tank with Vics? Do you house multiples of the same species together?

Ok, so the above shot is 5 different male Vics, all in close proximity....but more often than not, you find this happening in your all male Vic tank:



They joust for awhile and then things settle down.

 

[1974Pantera]

You would do an all Male Victorian tank? Wow. That would look pretty cool. I was kinda hoping to do a breeding group of the 44's though. How would you go about an all male tank with Vics? Do you house multiples of the same species together?

My 125g houses 9 different male Victorians, totaling more than 30 fish. The only Victorians that don't work are the non aggressive species such as your ruby greens and aeneocolors. Flamebacks will work but will not exhibit any color and they will be on the bottom of the pecking order. The sp.44 in most cases will become the most dominant and depending on the individual temperment, will kill other tank mates. Thus, I have multible tanks to take care of the nasty variants.

 

[1974Pantera]

Another tough (aggressive) species to go with your sp. 44's are the pundamilis sp. crimson tide. Tough to find a clean strain but they are beautiful.

 

[1974Pantera]

Pundamilia sp. blue bars will also work with your sp. 44's.

Here's one of my males.

 

[1974Pantera]

More Vics together:

 

[1974Pantera]

Here's a hybrid Vic, yep, I keep them, not create them: