help with stocking

[Bleeding]

Hey guys, trying to stock a new 55 gallon tank....

This is my first time doing africans, any stocking suggestions? Mabye some that are heartier than others?

I tried finding a few species that I think I would like (pardon the spellings i guess):

Labidochromis Caeruleus
Labidochromis Lividus
Iodotropheus Sperengerae
Labeotropheus Fuelleborni
Pseudotropheus Acei
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Aulonocaras?

 

[ikevi]

All but peacocks should work together... and honestly in a 55 you already are likely planning on packing it in with all those mbuna. Plus realize that some of those guys you picked are not that easy to find. Good luck, so far you are on the right track.

 

[tarheels910]

Yea, like Ikevi said, I would leave out the peacocks.

 

[mike dunagan]

agree with above both right...

 

[Bleeding]

Thank you for the advice. Can you be specific about which species to NOT include with this group.

Also, with this stocking list (with the ones you suggest I do keep) how many of each species is appropriate, and also, how many before i begin to overstock, I have read that mbuna need to be a little overstocked to curb some agression, but I def. dont want to go overboard and have water problems....

Thanks again

 

[tarheels910]

Thank you for the advice. Can you be specific about which species to NOT include with this group.

Also, with this stocking list (with the ones you suggest I do keep) how many of each species is appropriate, and also, how many before i begin to overstock, I have read that mbuna need to be a little overstocked to curb some agression, but I def. dont want to go overboard and have water problems....

Thanks again

Personally, I would do

1 M-4 F Yellow labs
1 M-4 F Acei
1 M-4 F Saulosi

This would be a peaceful setup for the most part.

 

[ikevi]

Like I said all of these are fine:
Labidochromis Caeruleus
Labidochromis Lividus
Iodotropheus Sperengerae
Labeotropheus Fuelleborni
Pseudotropheus Acei
Pseudotropheus Saulosi

But peacocks, ie Aulonocaras shouldn't be mixed with them.

So then on the mix I am going to assume you really only want a good looking tank,and all fry while cool to have are not intended on resale. IE mixing these guys will make it impossible to really know who the fathers are. Tarheels910 gave a good mix of color, but pick what you want. (And for the yellow labs just pick them, sex doesn't matter and is extremely hard to determine unless the female is holding...)

I tend to say really max number of fish you can have is going to be ~15 when full grown (as tarheels910 suggested). But I have seen more and they work just have lots of rocks and lots of filtering.

Now then I personally would say pick only one Labidochromis species if you want to keep fry... Plus I haven't seen any Labidochromis Lividus around here though I don't know how easy it will be around your area. I also tend to stay away from the Fuelleborni just because they get big, especially when compared to the Saulosi.

Honestly here are all the mbuna, some common some not so:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2

and here is a basic suggestion for a 55, again basic is the key word.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

 

[Bleeding]

Good Info on both those links....

I like this suggestion, those Labidochromis species are really pretty fish, too bad they suggest not to mix those....


Select any 3 species (max 12 fishes):
• Metriaclima estherae
• Pseudotropheus saulosi
• Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
• Labidochromis sp. "Hongi"
• Labidochromis caeruleus
• Labidochromis sp. "Perlmutt"
• Labidochromis chisimulae
• Iodotropheus sprengerae
• Cynotilapia afra
Do not mix any Labidochromis species.

 

[tarheels910]

Good Info on both those links....

I like this suggestion, those Labidochromis species are really pretty fish, too bad they suggest not to mix those....


Select any 3 species (max 12 fishes):
• Metriaclima estherae
• Pseudotropheus saulosi
• Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
• Labidochromis sp. "Hongi"
• Labidochromis caeruleus
• Labidochromis sp. "Perlmutt"
• Labidochromis chisimulae
• Iodotropheus sprengerae
• Cynotilapia afra
Do not mix any Labidochromis species.

I dont know why. Its okay to mix Perlmutts and Yellow labs. Many people do it and dont have problems.

 

[ikevi]

I dont know why. Its okay to mix Perlmutts and Yellow labs. Many people do it and dont have problems.

Oh the only real reason is that with them mixed you will have hybrids, not may, but will, with the other mixes it is more may.