Keeping Rift Lake Cichlids In Community Tanks

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
RD. said:
All blue fish, with similar body shape? lol There are plenty of fish from Lake Malawi that are not blue, and do not have the same body shape, nor have the same body language, nor will they cross breed. One example, a group of C. moorii, and a group of L. caeruleus, which is a mix that I have in one of my tanks. In that same tank I also have a group of 8 S. lucipinnis, which although are synos from Lake Tanganyika, the synos that are endemic to Lake Malawi are near impossible to source in these parts, and IMO get too large for a 125, which is the size of my African set up. So clearly I am not picking on those that go non biotopish. I was simply pointing out some of the faults that I see with some of these set ups, that others feel are a success story.
Click to expand...

Malawian cichlid originated from one lineage, Haplochromine. This is why they are so similar in body shape, color and can cross breed 100% in captive environment. Random sampling of aMalwian cichlid are are 90% blue, 10% yellow and red. Most blue fish have touch of yellow and red though, but are still predominantly blue fish. I have seen giant Malawian display tanks in pubic aquarium with 50+ species, and they all look the same blue fish with little contrast. The few Malawian tanks I’ve seen in YouTube that have rainbow color of red, yellow, white, black and blue fish are hybrid peacock tanks with names such as Strawberry, blood dragon and OB.

Lake Victorian cichlid have even less diversity, all haplochromine. Collectors have trouble isolating females of different species as they can’t tell females apart.

It’s Lake Tanganyikan cichlid that have diversity as the species originated from multiple lineage and inherited interesting variation of color, body shape, markings and breeding behavior.
 
RD. said:
All blue fish, with similar body shape? lol There are plenty of fish from Lake Malawi that are not blue, and do not have the same body shape, nor have the same body language, nor will they cross breed. One example, a group of C. moorii, and a group of L. caeruleus, which is a mix that I have in one of my tanks. In that same tank I also have a group of 8 S. lucipinnis, which although are synos from Lake Tanganyika, the synos that are endemic to Lake Malawi are near impossible to source in these parts, and IMO get too large for a 125, which is the size of my African set up. So clearly I am not picking on those that go non biotopish. I was simply pointing out some of the faults that I see with some of these set ups, that others feel are a success story.
Click to expand...

Liveaquaria has been getting a few rare synodontis species lately
 
I know that much, but the thing is that it goes from fish to fish, some fish can be really mean and nasty, others can be really peaceful, you just don't know, it all depends on the fish
Click to expand...

You still don't get it. One doesn't give advice based on the possibility of a rare exception, they give advice on what is typical behaviour of the species.

As an example, one of the genus that the OP mentioned was Pseudotropheus, which by and large are an aggressive group of fish, with teeth to match. They are not "gentle", they are not kind or friendly, and they are not a good community fish to be used with various smaller more peaceful SA species. The fact that a certain mix has worked with this species, does not equate to it being a good idea, or sound advice.

I'm not going to keep going round in circles with you. Live and learn, or remain ignorant. Your choice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocksor
RD. said:
You still don't get it. One doesn't give advice based on the possibility of a rare exception, they give advice on what is typical behaviour of the species.

As an example, one of the genus that the OP mentioned was Pseudotropheus, which by and large are an aggressive group of fish, with teeth to match. They are not "gentle", they are not kind or friendly, and they are not a good community fish to be used with various smaller more peaceful SA species. The fact that a certain mix has worked with this species, does not equate to it being a good idea, or sound advice.

I'm not going to keep going round in circles with you. Live and learn, or remain ignorant. Your choice.
Click to expand...
I just shared my experience and thoughts, you don't need to get all snarky with me
 
Your experience is near zero, Jeffrey, that was my point.
 
They are all blue fish with similar body shape,
Click to expand...

Just going off of what you stated, tiger. Obviously all Malawi fish aren't all the same shape, and blue in color. lol Plenty of yellow species, and orange, some yellowish orange, such as the geographical variant of Labidochromis caeruleus that I have (Ruarwe), as well as natural OB morphs. Some are even primarily white, some primarily a rust color, and some red. I just found it funny that you would say that all Malawi fish are blue. Lots of blue, certainly, mostly blue, sure, but all blue? Not by a long shot amigo.
 
RD. said:
Just going off of what you stated, tiger. Obviously all Malawi fish aren't all the same shape, and blue in color. lol Plenty of yellow species, and orange, some yellowish orange, such as the geographical variant of Labidochromis caeruleus that I have (Ruarwe), as well as natural OB morphs. Some are even primarily white, some primarily a rust color, and some red. I just found it funny that you would say that all Malawi fish are blue. Lots of blue, certainly, mostly blue, sure, but all blue? Not by a long shot amigo.
Click to expand...
You just don’t get it. Google some underwater scenes in Lake Malawi or visit some public aquariums with Lake Malawi tanks, and you will see predominantly blue fish tanks. Only a few Malawian are pure yellow, pure white, naturally OB, but no pure red. Only man made fish have pure red and intense rainbow OB.. As for shape, majority are peacock and Mbuna shape. Malawian are all maternal mouth brooder. The courtship is short and violent, and males just rape the females with no part in fry rearing.

I never stop keeping Rift lake cichlid, but focus on peacock for color, and a few unusual shape Malaian such as Moori, eye biter and trout cichlid. All Malawian cichlid is just too boring to me in term of color, body shape and markings and breeding behavior, and this is why I like to mix in with CA/SA. I enjoy the strong bonding, extended courtship and fry rearing habit of egg layers.
 
Last edited:
LOL, I've been keeping Malawi species for decades, own several of Konings books, and have friends that have dove in Malawi. One of them spent 6 months working for the late Stuart Grant. My first "yellow" fish were F1 offspring from his wild breeding group of yellow labs that he collected at Lion's Cove. I have watched his power point presentation, and viewed hundreds of photos that he took there. I have also watched countless videos from this part of the world. I'm also friends for many years with a person who for several decades owned one of the largest African cichlid farms in south Florida, someone who created a few of those
"man made" strains, so I'm well aware of the difference.

I never once used the word "pure" in relation to color. I said "primarily", such as a yellow lab is primarily yellow, even though they have black on their fins. If someone asked me what color an adult male C. borleyi from Kadango was, I wouldn't say blue, I would say red, even though the males heads are blue. In fact, if you wanted to really nit pick here, most fish from Lake Malawi are a drab brown color, as most of the species are not monomorphic and the females are quite drab in comparison to the males of the species.

I've also never heard the term "rape" being used to describe mouthbrooders from Malawi. That is probably one of the most idiotic things that I have ever read on the internet. Whoa …..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom