Hello everyone. I am starting up a 100 gal tank, and wanted to do an african cichlid tank. I would like to feature species from just one lake, but I do not know which lake to use. Also, I am leaning towards fish that live in caves and rocks. I would like to have a mixed tank, so I guess I would need some cichlids on the more peaceful end of the spectrum. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should get, and what is actually available in fish stores. I am trying to look things up online, and I am quickly getting overwhelmed with information. Any help with be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
New to cichlids
- Thread starter dfunk
- Start date
well im setting up a 110 at the moment and im going tangs and im finding neolamprologus nigriventris and neolamprologus leleupi and black calvus quite interesting check them out thats what i am stocking mine with
Well after some more research I think I want to do a Lake Malawi tank with some Mbunas. I know I want some labs, and was wondering what else will work best with them.
dfunk;4183715; said:
malawi mbunas make excellent starter cichlids and pets in general. Yellow labs/electic yellow cichlids are probably the most peaceful in my experience. I'd also try any variation of red zebra cichlids as they are also quite docile. pseudotropheus acei/yellow tail acei are also one of my favorites. They are more active than the ones mentioned above but are still great for beginners. This is also the cichlid species that I started with. Rusty cichlids are great as well although not as pretty IMO. bumblebee cichlids are also common at pet stores but they are omnivores and require a bit of a different diet than the ones mentioned above so it might make feeding time difficult. the key to maintaining these fish and avoiding bloat is watching the protien in the diet, it cannot be too high. I had one of my acei get the bloat because he stole some food that wasnt meant for him.
Well I think I want some yellow labs, yellow tail acei, red zebra, Cynotilapia afra (I like the Cobue or Afra Edwardi whatever they are called), Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (Maingano), and red zebras. Does that sound like it would work together, and does anyone have any other suggestions or substitutions? Also, how many of each can I have in the tank? It is 5ft long and about 1.5ft wide, with 2 filters that each do over 100 gal/hr.
you want peaceful, like caves, and are drop dead gorgeous....go with peacocks...all kinds, and even some protomelas sp....they will fit your bill, i know you want mbuna, but they are aggressive and will interbreed...but so can the peacocks i guess.
Mbuna need to be overstocked to curb aggression (will need lots of over filtration). Mbunas are "peaceful" while young, but become murderers when adults!
A lot has to do with your budget! Mbunas are on the cheaper side, while peacocks, haps are on the more expensive side!
BTW: If I remember correctly, mbuna means "rock" (since you want rock/cave cichlids).
A lot has to do with your budget! Mbunas are on the cheaper side, while peacocks, haps are on the more expensive side!
BTW: If I remember correctly, mbuna means "rock" (since you want rock/cave cichlids).
Well I am trying to stay on the cheaper side of things, and I don't mind overstocking the tank (I tend to do that anyways with whatever I have).
I am thinking of switching the Cobue with some Psedo. demasoni. I was thinking of getting 18-20 of those guys. For the others should I just do 1m-4 or 5f? I know some of them like the electric yellow labs can be hard to sex so will this be a problem if it doesn't have the 1:4 ratio of males and females?
I am thinking of switching the Cobue with some Psedo. demasoni. I was thinking of getting 18-20 of those guys. For the others should I just do 1m-4 or 5f? I know some of them like the electric yellow labs can be hard to sex so will this be a problem if it doesn't have the 1:4 ratio of males and females?