A Few Noob Questions...

[xinchavoc]

I am new to africans and am thinking about getting a few... I have kept ca/sa cichlids for a few years now.... I was at an lfs and saw a bumblebee cichlid... they look really nice... I wasnt able to find much on them... my question is how big do they get? do they tolerate tankmates? Do you guys think they will do well with central americans given their is enough hiding places... thanks in advance

 

[Brooks74]

Bumblebee cichlids also known as Pseudotropheus Crabro are known as one of the meanest Mbuna found in your LFS .The males can turn almost black .Never kept CA or SA cichlids so I cant say if they would work but Malawi Africans generally need hard water with higher p.h. and most Mbunas like the bumblebee need a herbivore diet.

 

[shellies215]

crabros get big, I think 9 inches, and yes they are mean. I know people have mixed CA/SA with africans, although I don't like the idea for the reasons brooks mentioned about water and diet, as well as behavior differences. The body language and behavior of SA/CA cichlids are polar opposites of africans, so if (or when) there is a fight/ territory dispute, whatever it may be, the fish trying to signal submission will be misinterpreted as showing aggression, many times resulting in the death of one, or both fish.

 

[Kscichlid]

I would go with either a species type tank or do one with a lot of individuals to minimize aggression to any certain fish. Dems are nice for a species tank or even Acei / Lab mix works or even Salusoi (prolly spelled that wrong).