Mbunas with Peacocks
- Thread starter Bassjedi
- Start date
The only mbuna recommended to keep with Peacocks, are Yellow Labs. Anything else is much too aggressive to exist with the more peaceable, laid back peacocks, and will often stress them to the point of death. Mbuna are also a much faster, almost hyper-active fish, which make the Peacocks uneasy and again, stressed...plus, they'll have a harder time competing for food.
I have 2 OB Peacocks and a Sunshine Peacock in with 3 yellow labs, 1 Male Auratus, 1 Bumblebee, 2 Kenyi hybrids, 1 Giraffe Hap and 1 Pindani. Other than a few nipped fins here and there, no major problems to speak of. But thing may likely change as they grow.
Basically what I'm saying is, Ive done it, but i wont reccommend it.
It's Ok when the fish are small. But as they grow, you will see more and more evidence of Sinisterkisses' statement above.
Basically what I'm saying is, Ive done it, but i wont reccommend it.
It's Ok when the fish are small. But as they grow, you will see more and more evidence of Sinisterkisses' statement above.
The size of the tank will make a big impact. I wouldn't do it with less than a 55g, but a 75g would be much better. I've done peacock/mbuna mixes quite often. Often coloration seems to have a big impact on aggression. IME, some of the species that I wouldn't do the "mix" with are Ps. lombardoi (kenyii) and 100% M. auratus (should be renamed Melanochromis a..holus). Here's a list of species that tend to be less aggressive that I've either had or currently have housed with peacocks in HEAVILY rocked/PVCed tanks:
Labidochromis caeruleus (yellow lab) and L. sp. "Perlmutt" (bad luck w/ L. sp. "Hongi"
Pseudotropheus saulosi, Ps. hajomaylandia (greberi), Ps. sp. "Acei"
Ps. livinstonii (shell dweller) was housed with sand and almost no rocks.
The vast majority of mbuna will probably grow to be too aggressive for peacocks. People house them together all the time and have success, but people try it alot and end up with dead fish. There is no definite answer just percentages of risk and your willingness to gamble.
FYI, OB peacocks are hybrids that have been crossed with mbuna (as with alot of the garbage OB haps on places like aquabid). That is why they are more aggressive and have little problem, usually, being housed with mbuna.
IME, haps and peacocks mix together much better you just need a BIGGER tank.
I wouldnt do it. I ve tried it, didnt work out well. Yellow labs are ok but I also had a bad experience with those as well or mine just happen to be particularly agressive. Anyways I ve kept peacocks and haps together (not ob cross breeds) and they all did fine. Anywho I wouldnt try it mbuna are way to agressive and peacocks are more chilled back then the mbuna. The mbuna will bully around your peacocks. Ontop of that what sinister already said I would also agree with.
I've kept plenty with lots of different mixes.
There'll be casualties when you're dealing with these aggressive little things, but if they're well fed and kept together from the begining, they'll usuallly be ok.
It funny because after I've kept so many cichlids, everything seems to work, even though the books wouldn't recomend it.
There'll be casualties when you're dealing with these aggressive little things, but if they're well fed and kept together from the begining, they'll usuallly be ok.
It funny because after I've kept so many cichlids, everything seems to work, even though the books wouldn't recomend it.
Maybe I should have done more homework---I have a couple peacocks mixed in my 125g mbuna tank. They are fine so far. Maybe because they are the largest, most dominate in the tank, for now. I will keep an eye open for problems.
Second thought: This could a great excuse to start a new tank!!
Second thought: This could a great excuse to start a new tank!!
Fish head, now you are talking. Took you a long time to realise you had a good reason to get another tank set up.
Peacocks are not at all aggressive and they tend to be a lot softer than the mbuna. With yours being the bigger fish you might be lucky for a time period, but once the mbuna grow they wil start to rule. Lab. caruleus are fairly docile but lombardoi and auratus are not. I have some fairly large male auratus and they tend to chase most fish. Let us see your tanks once the new on is running.
My advice..don't get the kenyii and the arutus..both are nasty buggers. They are worthless to me, I pd 6.99 for a 2" and I couldn't find someone to take them for a buck at 4".
Try afras instead.
Yellow Labs, perlmutts are mellow fish, they make great tankmates to peacocks.
Try afras instead.
Yellow Labs, perlmutts are mellow fish, they make great tankmates to peacocks.