Anyone ever mix Mdoka White Lips with Central or SA Cichlids?
- Thread starter FINWIN
- Start date
I kept Placidochromis phenochilus for years, and while they will lock lips like any other male cichlid - see pics in following thread; https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/africans-from-the-past-warning-pic-heavy.716020/ I agree with what GS stated, they will be no match for a fish such as an Oscar, or even an adult BP that gets pissy. Also a good chance of it getting singled out by all of the larger fish when being added late in the game.
I agree, this could easily be what happens, but I’ve seen crazier things work. This is why I said/reminder to FINWIN, “You are smart enough to know how to handle the situation if it doesn’t work out.” My rule of thumb = Have an alternate plan before adding another fish and monitor very close after. I really like your pics in the link
RD.
" I really like your pics in the link "
Thanks.
Agreed, always a good idea to have a plan B. I only added to this thread because of my experience with both phenochilus, and KKP. (blood parrot) My female KKP dominates a tank that also contains an adult male H carpintis. She almost killed him while the male carpintis was first courting her. Both of those fish could easily shred an adult phenochilus to pieces if they so desired, an adult Oscar, the same. GS was not off the mark when he stated the pheno could potentially get its lips ripped off. Adding a Mdoka at this point would be a great risk I think. Sometimes crazy mixes work, but typically this kind of thing works better when fish are all added when fairly young, and all at the same time, or at least near the same time before territories are well established. Especially considering the OP's statement of:
I'd rate my territorial scale like this, one to 10
Oscar /Bp a tie, around 8
Thanks.
Agreed, always a good idea to have a plan B. I only added to this thread because of my experience with both phenochilus, and KKP. (blood parrot) My female KKP dominates a tank that also contains an adult male H carpintis. She almost killed him while the male carpintis was first courting her. Both of those fish could easily shred an adult phenochilus to pieces if they so desired, an adult Oscar, the same. GS was not off the mark when he stated the pheno could potentially get its lips ripped off. Adding a Mdoka at this point would be a great risk I think. Sometimes crazy mixes work, but typically this kind of thing works better when fish are all added when fairly young, and all at the same time, or at least near the same time before territories are well established. Especially considering the OP's statement of:
I'd rate my territorial scale like this, one to 10
Oscar /Bp a tie, around 8
Your KKP female parrot sounds like my female Parrot Patch...she's the reason I ended up with multiple tanks. She tore up my dominant male parrot Kong one night when he tried to bully her, and he dominated everyone else. Both of these parrots are in their own tanks permanently.
Guess this idea's a bust. I don't want to risk a beautiful fish and recreate more potential problems. In addition to the info you guys provided, I can't even locate one with any real size anyway. Not worth risking this in my mind.
You mentioned the fish that would shred the white lip. I have them all, unfortunately. A still growing bossy O and a pissy ~6 inch parrot that overpowers the O. And he's my mildest parrot. Trying to come up with an idea for one last fish that would compliment the others is proving trickier than I thought. The severum and syno are doing well as the newer entries.
I have to admit surprise, I'd been lead to believe all africans were on the aggressive side. So when I heard about the white lips I got excited about the possibility.
Those fish you had were lovely. Some look like stained glass!
I think that you made the right choice. Here's my female, beautiful fish, but she has a serious bark, and an even worse bite. lol
After hearing this on top of GS, I would have to agree it’s a bad idea after all. They are a very nice fish though
FINWIN
if you ever go another , more compatible route. As far as crazy mixes go, I’ve seen quite a few and have one myself, but it did happen by accident and they were all fairly small at the time.
I'm open to suggestions that won't exceed a foot, especially since it looks like my O may have monster potential. He can't be more than 7 months at the most and is 10 inches x 4 1/2 inches tall already (not including fin), and still growing at 2-2.5 per month. The syno might make a foot too, and the BP has another inch or two, maybe three to go. So I'm thinking ultimate sizes.After hearing this on top of GS, I would have to agree it’s a bad idea after all. They are a very nice fish though
