Nimbochromis Polystigma and Venestus

[UK2004]

Hi all,

I have been out of fishkeeping for quite a few years and am glad to get back into the hobby. I kept Mbuna and lots of central american cichlids, some dwarfs, but never had any Nimbochromis, have always liked them though. What are they like for feeding once grown on, will they take those small frozen whole fish you can get and some mussels, cockles etc other frozen foods, what about brineshrimp and cichlid pellets. I am looking at getting the Rena Aqualife 200 by 50cm tank and stocking up 3 females and a male Venestus and perhaps couple of Polystigma, few other Mbuna and a couple of L numbered plecs.

Would be glad to hear people's experiences with these fish, I like them a lot, always look lovely when grown on!

 

[Malawinut]

I stink at conversions so I'm just gonna use US gallon measurements. For adults, IME, a 125g is the minimum size I would do (six foot long). You are on the right track with the 1m to 3f ratio since these "haps" are on the more aggressive side. I often keep Nimbochromis species with mbuna. I'm watching a male N. venustus duke it out right now with a mean Labeotropheus trewavasae I wouldn't do two species of Nimbos in the same tank. Number one reason is risk of hybridization. The other is that sometimes another similar male might turn up the aggression level to a lethal level. As far as food goes, they are predatory fish so high protein diets. I've never used frozen fish, but I shy away from buying live feeders due to the risk of disease. Mine love shrimp pellets and freeze-dried krill.

 

[Scotty]

Welcome back into this addictive hobby.
If you are looking to have the two different fish in the same tank I would recommend you have atleast 2 females for each male. I keep a number of wild caught mbuna species together and have not had problems with cross-breeding as the males have their own females.
I agree that you need to look at a 1,2m tank for these fish as they are quite a bit bigger than the mbuna. With them alone in a tank you could quite easily feed them a protein based food. Not so if you mix in some mbuna as their staple diet is algae therefore they have extremely long digestive tracts and too much protein creates the dreeded Malawi bloat.

 

[Honda12]

Those are both really great fish. I have kept both in the same tank and had no problems with the males fighting. I had 3 male polystigmas and two male venustus and they all left each other alone. I had an all male hap tank though and there were no females for them to get all excited about so they were fine.

I still think that you could get away with keeping both in the same tank with females as long as the tank is big enough.

As far as the food they like anything meaty, I fed frozen smelt along with pellets and the loved that. I would also give quarintined feeders or mbuna fry to them and that is something to watch.

Well have fun getting back into to hobby.

 

[croc 2-3]

I'd go polystigma in one tank or single sex(ie. males or females) only of both species. to avoid hybrids as previously stated. I personally am a livingstoni man myself. though if I get the tank space i would get the other 2 species of nimbos. I was out for awhile also just got back in 04' with a few small tanks to start 50s & 75s first.

 

[willysfish]

I made the mistake of buying 6 babys as they grow up you can tell males from female I'm down to 3. 1 large male & 2 females The large male killed the rest. Let me know how it goes.