New to Mbuna, need help and advice!

[sunshinehippy]

Hi there,
I have purchased a 55G long tank to house Malawi Mbuna. I know a fair bit about SA/CA cichlids but have no experience about the compatibility of Africans; this will be my first ever attempt! So, after a bit of research I was thinking about a combination of these species:

Cynotilapia
Labidochromis
Lodotropheus
Metriaclima sp. zebra

Would these work together? Can you give me any other suggestions or suggestions within this species for a very colourful display?

Thanks!

 

[Blue2Fyre]

In a 55 gallon I have found it's best to pick 3 species and stick with them. One of the best beginner stockings in Yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus), Rusties ( Iodotropheus sprengerae), and Acei (Pseudotropheus acei). these fish are less aggressive than most mbuna, are easy to find and make a nice display tank.

The names you have chosen are just genus names. There are many individual species under each of those names. I['m also guessing by the last one you mean red zebras (Metriaclima estherae), though there are many other zebra types.

If you really want to stick to those genus then I would suggest:
Cynotilapia sp "white top hara" (they don't have the dull females that many other cyno species have),Labidochromis caeruleus, and Iodotropheus sprengerae. Get 5 of each with 1 male per group. Add in a few syno cats and you'll have a nice set up.

I will also throw out there another very nice display tank that is a little different than the names you have.
12 Pseudotropheus demasoni
7 Labidochromis caeruleus

I love love LOVE this set up for a 55 gallon. Neither of these fish get very large and they are very colorful. Demasoni are pretty aggressive but with 12 individuals it spreads out the aggression quite a bit so they don't end up killing each other.

 

[fox3]

The zebras can get pretty aggressive as they mature. I have 1m 2f and the male pretty much beats them up constantly along with anything else that shares the tank with it. Then he spawns with anything that swims and is female. The two females are ok with the tankmates except for each other with each one owning half of a 6'tank.

Then we have one male in another tank that is just ok minding its own business and spends all day excavating what I daily put back in place. We are going to keep this one and find a home for the others.

 

[bayst]

I concur that the zebras can be big and pushy. You might want to skip them, or be ready to rehome the aggro ones or only keep females and don't keep any of their fry (all would be hybrid.)

Ash54876 has great stocking suggestions! Either of those arrangements would be beautiful.

Also, look into Pseudotropheus saulosi. They stay smaller which is more appropriate for your tank. The boys are a nice blue barred fish, and the girls are bright yellow, so it's a very colorful dimorphic species.

This might be something useful to look at:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

GL! Keep us posted-- new tanks are always fun!

 

[sunshinehippy]

Thanks for all your help and advice guys. I am now going to throw a spanner in the works and say that after further research I really like the idea of a peacock tank. Are there any mbuna that can live harmoniously with these; from what I have read I might get away with labs? Would stocking 8-10 sound sensible?

Also, do they need the rock caves like mbuna do or will a scattering of rocks standing upright be OK? I have ordered a malawi rock background for the tank so there will be a nice rocky theme anyway.

Cheers!

 

[Blue2Fyre]

I think labs would be ok with peacocks. Otherwise I can't help much since I have only kept mbuna