This is my first time getting into African Cichlids. Normally I only keep American Cichlids. I've done some basic research about African Cichlids. So any suitable tank mates for theses? I heard that they're downright psychopath.
About auratus and Demasoni.
- Thread starter Fanatic_Fish_Lunatic
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From my experience, auratus is so aggressive, its hard to keep in any community..
And de masoni is best kept in a colony of its own kind, similar to the way Tropheus are kept.
Not that de masoni can't be held in a comminity, but a colony of mutiple generations is a very satisfying and color display experience, and seems to work well in that setting as opposed to a hodge podge of random individuals.
And de masoni is best kept in a colony of its own kind, similar to the way Tropheus are kept.
Not that de masoni can't be held in a comminity, but a colony of mutiple generations is a very satisfying and color display experience, and seems to work well in that setting as opposed to a hodge podge of random individuals.
Generally, between mbunas, peacocks and haps. What is the most aggressive? I kinda want to mix them in the future.
If I may chime in, mbuna's tend to be the more aggressive out of the bunch, but that's not to say that there are not more docile species. Mixing them can be a little tricky, and more often than not it will work out better if you separate them, but I have both seen it done and done it personally. do with this info what you will. I hope I helped!
No problem! African cichlids are such cool fish. I truly hope you have a fantastic time keeping them if you decide to!
I agree with Duanes, especially if the tank mate is auratus. I would only keep auratus in a 72" tank with 2 other aggressive species (not demasoni...Maingano might work as an example) and even then auratus are touch/go with excessive aggression. One male and seven or more females minimum. Never more than one male/tank.
Demasoni are hard to keep and delicate healthwise so a single species tank is the safe choice but they can go in a smaller tank...48" long is good for them.
I have mixed mbuna with peacocks and haps and would NOT do so again. If you decide to try anyway, go with only yellow labs or acei for the mbuna and if you are thinking all-male 75G 48x18 rectangle is the minimum...all-male also works better in a 72" tank.
Demasoni are hard to keep and delicate healthwise so a single species tank is the safe choice but they can go in a smaller tank...48" long is good for them.
I have mixed mbuna with peacocks and haps and would NOT do so again. If you decide to try anyway, go with only yellow labs or acei for the mbuna and if you are thinking all-male 75G 48x18 rectangle is the minimum...all-male also works better in a 72" tank.
I have been keeping CA/SA cichlids for the last 20+ years and the big guys last year i tried the African cichlid thing as my LFS was running a good sale so i bought about 20 of them dropped them in my 125.
They are a cool fish to watch on YT or at my friends house but after keeping large cichlids i got bored of them and gave them back
Can you tell me what's the problems you had with keeping them all together? Aggression? Size difference?
I have never kept auratus and never would. Just not into overly aggressive fish. I have read the advice of highly respected fishkeepers like Duanes and heeded it.
If you mean mbuna with haps and peacocks...mostly aggression. But even when that was well managed, the labs and acei acted differently from the rest of the fish, stood out as looking like they were out of place, and just generally subtracted from the tank rather than added to it. I removed them after a couple of years.
If you are wondering about more aggressive mbuna...I like to keep the more timid haps and stuartgranti peacocks and in all-male you are constantly battling to keep the mix compatible to maximize color. I even removed several supposedly peaceful haps to this end. Waste of time to try even more aggressive mbuna.
In fact, I don't do all-male at all any more. The colors and compatibility with mixed gender haps and peacocks is just SO much better.
If you mean mbuna with haps and peacocks...mostly aggression. But even when that was well managed, the labs and acei acted differently from the rest of the fish, stood out as looking like they were out of place, and just generally subtracted from the tank rather than added to it. I removed them after a couple of years.
If you are wondering about more aggressive mbuna...I like to keep the more timid haps and stuartgranti peacocks and in all-male you are constantly battling to keep the mix compatible to maximize color. I even removed several supposedly peaceful haps to this end. Waste of time to try even more aggressive mbuna.
In fact, I don't do all-male at all any more. The colors and compatibility with mixed gender haps and peacocks is just SO much better.