acei can also be agressive esp. if the tank is not big enough, as they are territorial - very territorial I had to get rid of mine b/c it was in a 30gal alone b/c it killed everyone. They reach about 4inches and are schooling fish. In general I woudnt even put anytype of mbuna in there, yellow labs can be the less agressive type that may be an alternative but I woudlnt suggest them either, or I just have bad run's with mine because I cant put anything in a tank with the one I have or he kills it, just for finding mbuna that dont kill eachother and have an equallibrium within a tank is hard, unless you know what to get and what works for you, once they balance out and everyone has a territory to claim or a hiding spot, they dont seem as agressive, but its getting them to that poing that they feel blanaced out. If anything I'd go with another type of shell dweller or possibly any of these: Placidochromis electra as it is a more placid fish and only territorial if breeding, Aulonocara are also very passive fish but grow to 5-6inchs. I can really think of anyright now off the top of my head but I'll come up with so more later. Just one quick question... does it have to be a malawi or can it be a tang, b/c adding a malawi to that tank is prob. going to be harder to find a peacefull one, as for a tang that would be much easier.
Proposed African 55g
- Thread starter guppy
- Start date
I woudnt stick any mbuna in that mix.The stappersi are gonna want to own the bottom of the tank but arent tough enough to stand up to mbuna
How about instead of the Melanochromis, 3-4 Ectodus descampsii (Johnny Jensen), or 2 pairs of Julidochromis transcriptus (C. Hall)?
Ectodus descampsii are cool dudes those would probably work much better then the mels or labs the julies I dont know too much about them but I think they are agressive at their own kind if there is to many but that could be kribs I am thinking of. Anyways mebe one Julie female and one male, but I like the Ectodus descampsii better =)
Both the comps and the calvus are reported as eating 2-3" fish, there would go the shell dwellers.
That would be correct and the comp would probably get a little to big. I think sticking with the small shell dwellers would do fine, actually why not get a pair of julies and some Ectodus descampsii along with the ones you already have listed (minus the mel.) That would actually make a pretty cool tank and have a nice mix of fish that shouldnt get that big or extremely agressive =)
