I just caved in and purchased a 55 gallon aquarium from craigslist with the intention to stock it with african cichlids and want some help on what to stock it with. I really love the electric yellow labs and the blue acei so I was thinking 4-5 of each of those and then some bumble bee, auratus, and/or some "mixed african cichlids" like the striped ones with the bump on its head (sorry I don't know the species name). So can someone try putting a stocking list together kind of like that including any other fish you would recommend. Thanks
55 Gallon African Cichlid Tank
- Thread starter chasers
- Start date
The striped fish your describing is a Frontosa, I would under NO CIRCUMSTANCES put a Frontosa with a bumble, have seen it a few times and it always end with the frontosa dying.
I agree, The Frontosa will get big (Around 8 to 10"). Plus a 55 is rather the small side for them too. They like much bigger tanks.
I know many people have had good luck putting Mbuna's with Peacock or Hapochromis Chiclids. But when they get older and territories become more important you will lose fish. I know very little about Mbuna's but with Haps and Peas you can get away with many different males if you keep the tank a MALE ONLY Tank. This will keep the aggression down. Tank setup is very important, try to have line of site breaks either in the middle or at 2 places across the tank. You can use tall plants or tall decor to do this. Rock caves, be sure you have more caves then you do fish. Over stocking (a 55 Gallon tank at adult size I would put 12 fish in it) with double filtration usually helps keep aggression down and so does lower temps 76 to 78 range. Most of my chiclids love a powerhead running, they play in the current and can find places to get out of the current when needed. When adding new fish to the tank add them 3 or more at a time, this allows less chance of one getting singled out, rearranging the tank prior helps too.
Good Luck
I know many people have had good luck putting Mbuna's with Peacock or Hapochromis Chiclids. But when they get older and territories become more important you will lose fish. I know very little about Mbuna's but with Haps and Peas you can get away with many different males if you keep the tank a MALE ONLY Tank. This will keep the aggression down. Tank setup is very important, try to have line of site breaks either in the middle or at 2 places across the tank. You can use tall plants or tall decor to do this. Rock caves, be sure you have more caves then you do fish. Over stocking (a 55 Gallon tank at adult size I would put 12 fish in it) with double filtration usually helps keep aggression down and so does lower temps 76 to 78 range. Most of my chiclids love a powerhead running, they play in the current and can find places to get out of the current when needed. When adding new fish to the tank add them 3 or more at a time, this allows less chance of one getting singled out, rearranging the tank prior helps too.
Good Luck
Alright so I already have about 30 punds of lace rock that I will start with, my goal is to create a saltwater reef esque type tank that obviously is freshwater with african cichlids does anybody have any tips on how to make that work the best. Also I read that the cichlids are mainly low to mid swimmers hanging around in there caves, is there any type of dither fish or something I could add to the top water to break up the space, I was thinking some tiger barbs but not sure. Also what about bottom scavengers/algae eaters. I think it would be cool to get some kind of crab or shrimp in there but not sure if there is one that is suitable for the african cichlids so can someone please let me know, and if not should I just do a pleco? Thanks
As you are all aware it is my preference for tanganyikan cichlids , especially bitope setups. The mbunas or malawis fight too much. Or a smaller species specific tank, on the small side something that can enjoy itself. Julidochromis or or some calvus look nice in a 55 , brichardi / dafodil colony. When all else fails to a big shellie tank..
Yellow labs and acei, are great mbuna to start with because they are really mellow (i kept mature yellow labs with angels with no problems... wouldnt reccomend it though unless your willing to risk the angels. fish in general can be unpreditable)
Bumblebee cichlids are the LAST fish i would reccomend, they are incredibly unpredictable. my male would be fine one day and kill three the next for absolutely no reason. i finally decided to get rid of him when he ripped the eyes out of a catfish, who survived btw and is still doing well.
Auratus are for either professionals, species tanks, or hyper-aggressive tanks. a young male i "adopted" from a teacher killed a strongly established red zebra more than twice his size. pure blooded crazies
frontosa are for experienced keepers only, who know what fish they can be kept with safely. they need to be kept in fairly large groups (at least 6) and need a very large tank, not to mention they easily reach 10 inches and often larger.
personally, i would reccomend peacocks (smaller varieties), yellow labs, demasoni, maybe red zebras, and a synodontis catfish (something like an upside-down cat or a featherfin synodontis... only one, since most compatable catfish are co-specific aggressive and get to be about 5 inches or larger)
good luck!
Bumblebee cichlids are the LAST fish i would reccomend, they are incredibly unpredictable. my male would be fine one day and kill three the next for absolutely no reason. i finally decided to get rid of him when he ripped the eyes out of a catfish, who survived btw and is still doing well.
Auratus are for either professionals, species tanks, or hyper-aggressive tanks. a young male i "adopted" from a teacher killed a strongly established red zebra more than twice his size. pure blooded crazies
frontosa are for experienced keepers only, who know what fish they can be kept with safely. they need to be kept in fairly large groups (at least 6) and need a very large tank, not to mention they easily reach 10 inches and often larger.
personally, i would reccomend peacocks (smaller varieties), yellow labs, demasoni, maybe red zebras, and a synodontis catfish (something like an upside-down cat or a featherfin synodontis... only one, since most compatable catfish are co-specific aggressive and get to be about 5 inches or larger)
good luck!
Alright So Here is my question, as I said I really want this tank to look like a saltwater tank, so I need to pick a palette of colors that would be characteristic of a saltwater tank, and I am a bit worried I am getting to much blues and yellows. So what if I go with 4 Electric Yellows, 4 Acei, 1 Electric Blue Johanni, 2 Kenyi, and 2 Red Zebra (The Orange Ones)? Its a shame about the auratus I really liked the color and stripe pattern but o well. Do you think that color scheme would work and be similar to a saltwater color pattern. Also did anyone have any suggestions about the shrimp/crabs I really would like to stay away from the catfish unless there are no ocean cousins that scavenge the bottom.
Well with the line up u just named you just named the auratus may be ok, I just wouldn't put them in with the electric blue johannis, have had bad experience. If u decide to do the auratus add a bumble bee.