Bristlenose in a Malawi?

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mukundam123

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 6, 2008
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Sunderland
Hi,

Just wondering if it would be possible to keep bristlenose's in a Malawi setup? I've just started the malawi, and have 3 zebra obliquidens (From Lake Victoria....only in to ensure that the tank is fully cycled) in there at the moment. Hoping to take then out and get some proper Mbuna eventually.

Anyone tried this combo?

Cheers
 
ya you can i have a large common pleco in my mbuna tank, but make sure you let it acclimate to the ph increase
 
if you just want it to eat algae, than i wouldnt do it - Mbuna eat algae quite effectively without the help of a pleco. The pleco would just add a lot of bio load. When i first set up my tank, i added a pair of plecos to it. Now, 3 years later, i want the plecos out, because they take up bio load and they are not biotopic ;) So unless you really want them, i wouldnt get them
 
The only concern i would have is the africans attacking the bristle nose... africans can be ruthless when they gang up.... i have a common in with all my africans in a 125gal..i was concerned for him but i figured i would try it because i did not have any place for him to go.. he fought with all the other plecos i have in the other tanks.. it worked out... he hides in a big bell ornament... i hand him down some extra food with tongs so the food gets right into the bell.. africans eat everything in sight.. so i would just have concern if the bushy was getting enough to eat.. it will be interesting to hear about how others make out with bushy and africans...and i agree with Blatch that tangs would be less aggressive then malawi cichlids..
 
Thanks guys...I'm now considering switching to a tang! lol! I think I might try without the Plecs first, and if theres still too much algae, then I'll put some in.

Thanks
 
I've had bristle nose plecos in with my Pundamilia Nyerereis which are very similar to mbuna temperaments and they always fought. The bristle nose plecos held their grounds and actually roughed the nyererei up to the point where he stopped trying to bully the bristle nose. I actually had to take out the plecos since they were so aggro. Just my experience.
 
This is the fish that I recommend for years now. I get them because I like them in the tanks. I have some with my shellies. I will add them to other tanks later, but I got them really small. So I wanted to let them grow out. Many people have had success with them with all types of rift cichlids.
 
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