Hello. I posted this same topic on the Central and South American forum and after doing some thinking, I thought maybe it's not a bad idea to get some ideas on this forum as well. Don't worry, I'm not stocking anything now (especially since I've been dealing with issues on my current tank, though that seems stable at the moment), but I'm curious about some ideas for a non breeding African cichlid tank. I know the most obvious answer is an all male peacock tank although that's a bit pricey for my likeing to get guaranteed males. I'm curious what other combinations might be realistic. I see that Imperial Tropicals sells all male mbuna and Victorians (I know mixing mbunas as well as keeping all males seems to be a no go) but maybe a combination of some less expensive varities with a few peacocks or mle Victorians might be an option. I'd also accept ideas of other riverine cichlids. Who knows, just doing some research. Thanks for indulging me.
75 gallon stocking ideas
- Thread starter SCM_2123
- Start date
Do you have a high enough pH for Africans? I personally don't like male tanks, so not a problem. Just get a group of 5 Synodontis multipunctatus and no worries about fry.
With haps and peacocks, you would have 1m:4f of each. So one colorful fish and 4 silver females.
1m:4f Aulonocara rubescens
1m:4f Placidochromis electra
1m:4f Otopharynx tetrastigma
1m:4f Copadochromis azureus
With mbuna, you can get all colorful fish. But no peacocks.
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f Pseudotropheus acei
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae
1m:7f Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos Maingano
For Victorians, I would only do a species tank. Not too many Victorians are peaceful enough to tolerate multiple males in a tank so don't swap species without checking.
4m:16f Haplochromis ruby green
With haps and peacocks, you would have 1m:4f of each. So one colorful fish and 4 silver females.
1m:4f Aulonocara rubescens
1m:4f Placidochromis electra
1m:4f Otopharynx tetrastigma
1m:4f Copadochromis azureus
With mbuna, you can get all colorful fish. But no peacocks.
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f Pseudotropheus acei
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae
1m:7f Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos Maingano
For Victorians, I would only do a species tank. Not too many Victorians are peaceful enough to tolerate multiple males in a tank so don't swap species without checking.
4m:16f Haplochromis ruby green
Thanks for these suggestions. What about West African cichlids? Any experience with those?
What is the verdict on all male mbunas? I've heard conflicting views on this. Is it best of have different species that don't look alike and to overstock? That's what I have read on sites that say this is okay. What about all of your experiences?
Is it possible to mix all male Victorians or Tanginyikans? Can you overstock with different species in different genera that won't hybridize?
Is it possible to mix all male Victorians or Tanginyikans? Can you overstock with different species in different genera that won't hybridize?
It's hard enough to get a successful mix with all male haps and peacocks, and I think the males still have better color when they are with females.
But IMO and IME mbuna are just too aggressive for all-male. And mbuna females can be just as colorful, so why bother?
Male Victorians don't color much at all without females.
Tangs just hover in place, frozen, when kept as singles.
You can reduce hybridization risk by stocking haps or mbuna with different genera, no look alikes (no one even close...like one blue species, one yellow, one red, one white) and plenty of females/male of every species.
But IMO and IME mbuna are just too aggressive for all-male. And mbuna females can be just as colorful, so why bother?
Male Victorians don't color much at all without females.
Tangs just hover in place, frozen, when kept as singles.
You can reduce hybridization risk by stocking haps or mbuna with different genera, no look alikes (no one even close...like one blue species, one yellow, one red, one white) and plenty of females/male of every species.
The solution is a natural one. Stock 5 Synodontis multipunctatus and they will take care of fry patrol.