Mbuna 55g stocking

[nwbearcat1998]

Hi, i a cichlid newbie and getting my 55g stocked.

Here are my thoughts on the stocking of my 55g cichlid tank. Looking for thoughts and suggestions.

I'm planning on having 6 of each of the following: Hongi, Acei, Yellow lab and obliquidens I already have three of each species. Definitely one male Hongi and one male obliquiden and two females of those species. Not sure about sex of yellow lab or Acei yet.

Would two males to 4 female of each specifies be an okay pairing?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi, i a cichlid newbie and getting my 55g stocked.

Here are my thoughts on the stocking of my 55g cichlid tank. Looking for thoughts and suggestions.

I'm planning on having 6 of each of the following: Hongi, Acei, Yellow lab and obliquidens I already have three of each species. Definitely one male Hongi and one male obliquiden and two females of those species. Not sure about sex of yellow lab or Acei yet.

Would two males to 4 female of each specifies be an okay pairing?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

Welcome aboard

james99

 

[james99]

I would only do 3 species. The acei will end up too big for a 55. 1m/4f will work, 2 males will end up with the dominant one beating up the other, 3 males work, but not in a smaller tank. I'm not sure if you'd run into cross breeding with 2 labidochromis species.

 

[nwbearcat1998]

How many would you suggest stocking? If I get rid of the Acei maybe I'll do 2 males and 6 females of each.

 

[james99]

15 total fish. 2 males will likely not work, one will dominate the other.

 

[nwbearcat1998]

What realistically can happen with the Acei in there as well? Will they end up killing the other species.

I have no idea what I'd do with the three I have now.

 

[james99]

They just get too large for a 55 gallon tank. I used to have a few that were at least 7", most people don't keep anything over 5-6" in a tank that size. Not to mention having multiple 7" fish plus the other groups at the numbers you want will make a very overstocked tank which leads to it's on problems.

I know alot of people say that overstocking is the way to go with mbuna, but there's find line between overstocking for aggression and overstocking just to have more fish.