Need help sorting out my tank

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Venustus

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2009
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North Jersey
I've ran into an unforeseen problem while trying to be very careful in creating the right community of Malawi Cichlids. Despite all the research so far, I came across something that might seem common sense but wasn't something I was considering while choosing the cichlids :screwy:. Carnivores and herbivores. They shouldn't be in the same tank because of differences in their diets. Luckily, all but one fish are carnivores even though I wasn't even paying attention to that little yet very important detail.

So here's the problem: The theme in my tank is all the fish are blue and yellow. The only fish that's an herbivore is my P. sp acei but I absolutely love this little guy. He looks great and doesn't bother anyone. I don't want to give him back and New Life Spectrum offers a cichlid formula which boasts a balance for carnivores, herbivores and omnivores without compromising diets and coloration. Should I give the acei back to have an all carnivore tank?? Or should I use the NLS formula so I can keep him?? Please :help2:
 
I've ran into an unforeseen problem while trying to be very careful in creating the right community of Malawi Cichlids. Despite all the research so far, I came across something that might seem common sense but wasn't something I was considering while choosing the cichlids :screwy:. Carnivores and herbivores. They shouldn't be in the same tank because of differences in their diets. Luckily, all but one fish are carnivores even though I wasn't even paying attention to that little yet very important detail.

So here's the problem: The theme in my tank is all the fish are blue and yellow. The only fish that's an herbivore is my P. sp acei but I absolutely love this little guy. He looks great and doesn't bother anyone. I don't want to give him back and New Life Spectrum offers a cichlid formula which boasts a balance for carnivores, herbivores and omnivores without compromising diets and coloration. Should I give the acei back to have an all carnivore tank?? Or should I use the NLS formula so I can keep him?? Please :help2:
 
What are the blue and yellow fish?

I have got herbivores and carnivores in my tank and they are fine. I feed a mix of Sera Veg diet which has got spirulina and other plant matter in it and a local product called Cichlid gold that has krill and plant matter in it.

All of my fish are thriving and growing like crazy.
 
Ps. acei aren't herbivores - like many mbuna they are omnivores (read as many mbuna are opportunistic feeders). Because of their natural habitat (predominantly open water) they feed on zoo- and phyto-plankton like Cynotilapia. As long as they aren't being fed on by the carnivores, they should be fine (assuming you have appropriate tank size).

A good food for you would probably be New Life Spectrum - simple and easy to use, and works fine for all Malawians. The great thing about Malawians is that even a good spirulina-based flake would be fine for the carnivores... but the cichlid formula of NLS should be a bit better with your situation.
 
In the tank I have a P. acei, L. caeruleus, S. psammophilus (2), A. stuartgranti, C. azureus, C. moorii, M. estherae and a huge Green Terror.

The Red Zebra and Green Terror don't really belong in the setup but they are part of the old skool class. I used to have a crazy mix before I really started researching and I don't know what to do with those 2.
 
It realy depends on what else is in the tank. If they are other mbuna, peacocks or haps then NLS should be just fine.
 
I answered your other thread but I see on this one you posted what else you have in the tank. For future reference the red zebra, and yellow lab are also mbuna and have the same diet as Ps acei.
 
Nice thanks for the help everyone! Sometimes you can get too absorbed into all the information. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with my Green Terror.
 
hey, if they're getting along, why fix what's not broken? just make sure you have a backup plan if something does go wrong...
 
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