looking for colorfull community.

[BC in SK]

often they do not understand each others body language and warning signs. Which often results in a situation that may have been a minor skirmish turning into a bloody war. Again this is something that I have read and am in no way presenting it as fact. Just some food for thought. Does any one else have any thoughts on this.

Somebodies interpretation......one I could not disagree with more. This theory has been around for at least 35 years.....told to me by a number of aquarists and explained in some 1970's literature: Specifically the showing of belly as a sighn of subordinate status. CA/SA tending to show more belly and mbuna some times showing belly as a sighn of dominance/aggression. But these signals of aggression/dominance and subordinate status are completely different Both CA/SA and rift lake cichlids have very similar signals to show subordinate status as they pass by a dominant fish.....observe the position of the dorsal fin! Similarily, both CA/SA and rift lake cichlids have very similar signals to show dominance/aggression......observe the up right dorsal fin. As if they don't understand each other! Seen these signals work between the two, time and time again! Just because a fish gives a subordinate status signal does not mean that it is going to work or be accepted......many times i have seen a CA/SA show a lot of belly to another of the same species or other SA/CA and get a hard shot for it or a chase around the tank. What, they don't understand each other?......or they understand each other all too well!

Funny how we raise this objection for mixing different cichlids and yet people mix all kinds of non-cichlids with cichlids, with no mention or objection to their different 'language' or possible mis-understanding.

As far as Azedenkae's proposed stocking, firstly IME, rainbow cichlid did not fair well in a tank with any rift lake cichlids. Though IME, they don't fair well in a tank with any aggressive CA either. IME venestus gets large and aggressive......I didn't have long term success keeping them with aggressive CA such as RD. Though I've seen venestus and other haps successfully kept with other CA in large tanks. Peacocks didn't do well in my mixed tanks.......though mostly because of aggressive mbuna. IMO and IME, yellow labs are probably the safer bet on that list for a rift lake cichlid. But like any other cichlid tank there are many variables and no way of predicting the future.

 

[Vancouver_98683]

If I had that tall tank. A discus or wild angels theme would be awesome! That's a nice pick up on that.

 

[dmopar74]

i have a plan, thanks to a generous mfk'er!

 

[petspoiler]

i have a plan, thanks to a generous mfk'er!

.....and? Lol. post it.

 

[tiger15]

I see absolutely no issue mixing fish from old and new world as long as their water requirements are similar. Don't generatlize that all new world cichlids need soft and acidic water. Only Amazonian basin fish do. Majority CA and non-Amazon basin SA came from hard water and are potentially good tankmates with African lake cichlids. I said "potential" because overly nasty or big picivorous species should not be housed together

There is some difference in body language between African and CA/SA, but the difference is actually an advantage for cohabitation because they don't see each others as competitor. The biggest difference between Africans and CA/SA is size. CA/SA tend to be much bigger, but Africans more nasty pound for pound which give the smaller fish a chance to stand their ground.

Speaking from experience, I always keep a mix CA/SA/Africans tanks. The CA/SA I picked are the large mildly aggressive Viejas species and Green Terror, and the Africans I picked are moderaely aggressive haps and Tanganyikan. I avoid psychotic Mbuna and piscivorous Amphilophus species that will lunch on the Africans. I provided a lot of rock for the diminutive Tangs to hide, and open spaces for CA/SA and haps to browse. Typically, the CA/SA are the center pieces to provide a size impact, while the smaller Africans provide color and close up interaction activities. Mixing CA/SA and Africans provides diversity in size, body shape and color and the best of two worlds.

 

[tiger15]

Here is a youtube of my 125 gal mixed CA/SA/African tank. Who says you can't mix old and new world cichlids.

http://youtu.be/rpZDYCsZ_fM