IDK where you are but the only vendors I would trust to do that are in Austin Texas and Atlanta Georgia.
Need help with recently purchased African Cichlids
- Thread starter d3adlydesignz
- Start date
I actually live in Indiana and the guy has been in a breeder for 10 years. Check him out on Facebook Tom's Fish Farm.
Don't know where you are in Indiana, but if near Chicago the Greater Chicago Cichlid is a great resource (gcca.net) I used to drive 2 hours from Wisconsin to their meetings, swap meets, and cichlid auctions. And would be able to get great rare cichlids not available in LFSs. And the members are often very helpful and generous with knowledge.
People from all over the US and more come to their Cichlid Classic weekend every Labor Day weekend.
People from all over the US and more come to their Cichlid Classic weekend every Labor Day weekend.
I lived in West Lafayette Indiana for a couple years. The deep well water there is rock hard, good for African cichlid. All your Africans shown are Mbuna, and the most aggressive species except for the yellow Lab. They are cute at 1 to 2 inch, and as they reach 4 to 6 inch, even a 75 gal won't be able to stop the killing field. It's a domino effect. As the population thins out by murder, the aggression will target on fewer victims and eventually, you will be lucky to have 2 to 3 fish left. At that size, you can't add new fish without immediate termination. Mbuna are disproportionally aggressive relative to their small size. I don't think you can maintain a harmonious Mbuna tank less than 125 with lot of rock work. You are not alone. Most people first experience with Africans was Mbuna because they are cheap, colorful and cute little munchkins. If they stay with Africans, they will likely and naturally move into more tolerant Peacock, Haplochromine and Tanganyikan species.
You are point on. I have done exactly what was stated walked in a lfs saw a aquarium labled mixed African Cichlids and not realizing what those pretty little Mbuna were killers, purchased about 7 ended up with 2 that doubled teamed in the massacre. I blame myself because of not doing thorough research on the species prior to purchase. I have done research on the less aggressive Haps and Peacocks and is having a totally different experience than what I had before with the Mbuna. No matter what specie of fish you want to have in your aquarium I now stress the importance of doing research prior.
I find mbuna easy to keep and have had a tank or tanks of them for more than 10 years. It is just a question of matching the fish to the tank size and their tank mates.
For a 75G this would be a very nice tank with no killers:
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus (yellow labs)
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (rusties)
1m:4f Pseudotropheus acei
1m:4f Cynotillapia zebroides (a.k.a. afra) Cobue
For a 75G this would be a very nice tank with no killers:
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus (yellow labs)
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (rusties)
1m:4f Pseudotropheus acei
1m:4f Cynotillapia zebroides (a.k.a. afra) Cobue
Your selection works, because you have the smallest and most peaceful Mbuna except for the Afra, and you have only 4 males. If you have one Kenya, one zebra, or one Auratus male that can grow to 6 inch psycho, you are waiting for eventual mass murder. Also, preselecting the sex ratio of Mbuna in your case won't be possible until the fish start breeding, meaning that you are relying on natural culling to eliminate extra males.
Agreed, except it's human culling, not natural culling. Suit the fish to the tank. All-male is something I would not recommend with mbuna. And yes with harem breeders the m:f ratio is important so we buy extra unsexed juveniles and rehome extra males as they mature and as necessary.
Above is a good beginner list. See the stocking in my signature for a trickier stocking for someone with mbuna experience and tolerance for frequent tank tear-downs that also works in a 75G. Most mbuna that mature <= 6" could work (with compatible tank mates) in a tank that size. Auratus, kenyi and most of the Melanochromis are better in 72" tanks with even more females/male.
Above is a good beginner list. See the stocking in my signature for a trickier stocking for someone with mbuna experience and tolerance for frequent tank tear-downs that also works in a 75G. Most mbuna that mature <= 6" could work (with compatible tank mates) in a tank that size. Auratus, kenyi and most of the Melanochromis are better in 72" tanks with even more females/male.
Ever since I have graduated from Mbuna, I never return but continue to keep Africans Haps, Peacocks and Tanganyikans. Haps and Peacocks are quite tolerant except during breeding time. So you can successfully keep an all male peacock and haps tank. Besides, females have no color and are worthless except for breeding. Mbuna are colorful for both sex, but aggressive at all time just to claim territory, not just during breeding time. So an all male Mubuna tank doesn't work. Interstingly, in the mammal world, predators are territorial but not herbivores. In fish, it appears to be the opposite.
Just my 2 cents, a single pair of mbuna will, easily turn into a close knit family of 50 fish in a single year.
That will get along very well. Vs store bought instant tank of many strangers.
That will get along very well. Vs store bought instant tank of many strangers.
