55 Gallon malawi, Aggression?

[Guerrero]

Hello MFK!

I have a 55 Gallon, I'm still in the process of stocking. I have:

1 2-3" Venustus
1 3" blue Hap Moorii
1 2 DragonBlood.

My Blue Hap is always chasing my venusuts, although he won't chase the dragonblood.

Also I was trying to do an all male, but now I would like to have some fish that would breed in the aquarium. What else should I add ?

I would like to add:

Red Empress
Albino Peacock
OB Peacock.
Nara Flame Tails
Ruby Red Peacock.

Thanks,

 

[MoNsTeR FiS]

If you want to breed things just have one male and many females of one kind per tank. When there is females the males get a lot more aggressive and will kill each other. If you had multiple types of Peacock cichlids in your tank they would hybridize. Also, if your going to try breeding two completely different african cichlids it will work but when fish first start to breed they often are killed so the predator can eat the eggs of fry.

 

[Guerrero]

How many different kind can I add if I do a 1M:4F ratio?

 

[james99]

3 groups, 1m/4f, only 1 peacock species, avoid having species that look similar. Stick with fish that get no bigger than 6"-7"

 

[Guerrero]

So should I go with 2 groups of haps, and 1 peacock? Can't I do just peacock tank?

Thanks,

 

[james99]

So should I go with 2 groups of haps, and 1 peacock? Can't I do just peacock tank?



Thanks,

Peacock females a hard to tell a part, which could lead to hybridization. People normally keep only one per tank.

 

[Guerrero]

Peacock females a hard to tell a part, which could lead to hybridization. People normally keep only one per tank.

Oh I guess that makes sense...

Well I'll figure it out. If not I'll just keep throwing juveniles from different species until I get an All male?...

 

[DJRansome]

Venustus, moorii and empress are too big for a 55G. If you're ultimate goal is all-male in a 55G I would buy sexed males. Ngara and Ruby Red would be good candidates. As would cobue and maleri. Then haps I'd go with electra, tetrastigma, chrysonotus and marginatus for a stock of 8 males.

 

[Guerrero]

But having 8 males in a 55 wouldn't be overstocking would it ?

 

[james99]

Peacocks and haps do not get the "overstocked" treatment that is normally used for mbuna. They prefer more space and open water to swim. Not to mention 8 fish that are 4-6" will make a 55 look small.