Do I need a clean up crew for a Mbuna tank?

[ck986]

My Mbuna will eat the algae off the driftwood and if food reaches the ground it does not last long. I have a Red Zebra that acts like a goldfish sucking up rocks looking for food.

 

[Mokujin22]

Petricola will be fine with mbuna believe me. The mbuna don't mess with them. Mine learned the hard way when I first added the catfish. I think they have spikes or something, I just know the mbuna left them alone in a hurry. They will eat any and all fry they find though so if you want baby mbuna then avoid the catfish.

+1. They can also disrupt spawning to the point where the cichlids will not even try anymore. (doesn't stop me from keeping synos though.)

I also keep albino bristle nose plecos in all but my 6' tanks for glass cleaning. Have had the eyes nipped once, but it involved demasoni in a tank too small for the group.

 

[Whiteboi_J]

pics up in African Rift Lake forum....went w/ spotted hi-fin