Hey all I bought some africans for the first time for my 65 gallon tank. I bought 4 electric yellows and 3 blue dolphins also known as hap moori. They are all tiny little guys. I am having a hard time researching them and needed some info??? is my tank overstocked???? do they eat just like south americans???? water parems the same????? any other tips????
NEED HELP
- Thread starter Chago09
- Start date
The two sp. of africans you got come from lake malawi in Africa. They prefer hard alkaline water and a high Ph of about 7.6 to 8.0, but cane be in many other conditions, but the ones mentioned are best.
They yellow lab is what is called an Mbuna, and they are one of the various rock dwelling cichlids found in the lake.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=713
Hap moorii is one hap group from they lake, they spend more time in open water but like rocks to hide in when scared. These are also one of the slower growing sp. from the lake.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1061
Your tank is not overstocked now, but it will be a bit crowded when the fish get bigger. The yellow labs will get about 5''-6'' and the hap moorii's will average around 9'' but my male before I got rid of him was a solid 12''.
Also here is a good link with articles and stuff and you can also look around the site for more info.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/
They yellow lab is what is called an Mbuna, and they are one of the various rock dwelling cichlids found in the lake.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=713
Hap moorii is one hap group from they lake, they spend more time in open water but like rocks to hide in when scared. These are also one of the slower growing sp. from the lake.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1061
Your tank is not overstocked now, but it will be a bit crowded when the fish get bigger. The yellow labs will get about 5''-6'' and the hap moorii's will average around 9'' but my male before I got rid of him was a solid 12''.
Also here is a good link with articles and stuff and you can also look around the site for more info.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/
If you are willing to keep up on water changes and have good filtration, you can go with one method of keeping Africans and that is "overstocking". The normally aggressive cichlids are too numerous to really keep a territory and do any real damage defending it. I have seen many tanks with as many as 30 in a 50 gallon and 40 in a 65g and 45 in a 75g. (stocking smaller than larger fish) Surprising peaceful. --more peaceful then mine, which is now lightly stocked.
Check out some of Super G threads. He has uploaded many pictures of "overstocked" tanks that he has set up and maintains. cool
Check out some of Super G threads. He has uploaded many pictures of "overstocked" tanks that he has set up and maintains. cool