Getting my very first Africans tomorrow!

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LadyBarbara001

LadyBarbara001

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 7, 2008
228
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San Antonio, TX
I get to pick up my very first African Cichlids tomorrow...getting 8 yellow labs and 8 Rusties from a local breeder here. I have a 55 gallon cycled and ready for them (removed other fish and cleaned the tank tonight). I'm really excited, after doing about a month's worth of research I feel like these are the right starter fish for me, and the breeder thinks the Rusties are holding! Babies!!

I have a variety of food on hand, and can't wait to spoil my new fishies!

In about 3 weeks I will be getting some C. Afras from the same breeder, if everything works out. I'd like to move all these fish to my 75 gallon at that time, and pick up some Kyoto Flamebacks for a species only tank at that time.

Any tips, hints or suggestions for the newbie?

Thanks!
 
Hmmm, depends on the day? LOL I have Spirilina flakes ( I know I didn't spell that right), and a Cichlid pellet as a staple, along with all sorts of other goodies (frozen and freeze dried) brine shrimp, freeze dried red shrimp, have some frozen Krill, some regular algae flakes, blood worms...I have a smorgasboard here.

Anything I should avoid? I tend to do the flake more than anything, but I have Mormyrids in other tanks, so an after dark snack is usual in this house, and normally frozen brine or blood worms are on the menu.
 
Ok, did my homework, none of the meaty stuff for the Rusties, should have checked that earlier...just when I thought I knew what I was doing...sigh. Ok should be right now here, sticking with a mostly veggie based diet. Thanks Mike, made me think!
 
Yellow labs are really nice african cichlids. They look real nice with yellow tailed acei, sort of a yellow and purple/blue color theme. Both of those species are also real peaceful in general for mbuna. Check to see if your breeder has any of those since the dietary needs are the same for them . Lots of rockwork and a sandy bottom will go over good too.
 
I wouldn't be able to keep all 4 species (in groups of 8) in my 75 gallon, would I? The Acei, the C. Afra, the yellow labs and the Rusties? I thought that would be too many fish for that size of tank. I'm trying to convince my husband into letting me use his 125, but we have fish in there that he hates to rehome (his needlenose, being the main one). My breeder does have the yellow tailed Aceis, and wants to sell them as well, so I could....but I don't want to start a problem. I'd rather understock, or just plain stock right with the less aggressive species.

Thanks!
 
bOOsteN aUdI;2193041; said:
:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL: mike your the man!
Click to expand...


he is too tactful and subtle LOL. :banhim::ROFL:

Yes, groups of eight would be too many for that sized tank . You could do all of them in groups of 4 though. The only thing i dont like about mixing mbuna species is they will often interbreed between species, when you have a whole bunch of species its harder to see when its happening. Oh, almost forgot to tell you , one nice thing about the acei is they really like to occupy the upper areas of the tank as well as the rockwork, most other mbuna really stick to the rockwork and the upper areas often look deserted. Acei will swim together all over the tank and makes it nice and active all over.
 
LadyBarbara001;2192559; said:
I get to pick up my very first African Cichlids tomorrow...getting 8 yellow labs and 8 Rusties from a local breeder here. I have a 55 gallon cycled and ready for them (removed other fish and cleaned the tank tonight). I'm really excited, after doing about a month's worth of research I feel like these are the right starter fish for me, and the breeder thinks the Rusties are holding! Babies!!

I have a variety of food on hand, and can't wait to spoil my new fishies!

In about 3 weeks I will be getting some C. Afras from the same breeder, if everything works out. I'd like to move all these fish to my 75 gallon at that time, and pick up some Kyoto Flamebacks for a species only tank at that time.

Any tips, hints or suggestions for the newbie?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Lot's of water changes, keep your filters clean and don't overfeed.
 
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