ok i introduced a yellow lab an a other cichlid that i forgot the name too into a tank with a jd an a poly sen an a albino poly sen. is ther really a warning about puttin ca cichlids with africans or is that just a rule not to mix them? cause mine are swimmin with the jd an not really botherin each other besides when i feed them.
question
- Thread starter ymolina
- Start date
yea i know about the water but like in terms of aggression i heard that africans are supposed to be more aggressive but mine are swimmin with the jd like ther buddies. its makin me want to get them a orange cichlid from the assorted cichlid tank from the lfs.
They'll be nice and sweet while juvies, then they'll want to establish territories and a pecking order, which is another reason why mixing new world with africans is not advised, different temperament and a different way of interpreting aggression.
The diet is different as well, you want low protein foods for africans to avoid the bloat.
With locally tank raised fish the ph usually isn't that important though, as long as it's stable.
The diet is different as well, you want low protein foods for africans to avoid the bloat.
With locally tank raised fish the ph usually isn't that important though, as long as it's stable.
Your common SA/CA's cichlid are no match for most African rift lake cichlids. In my early years of fish keeping I was somewhat successful keeping both types together in the same tank. The relentless aggression of the African is just too much for the SA/CA cichlid. I can't think of a single SA that would be able to co-exist with something like a run of the mill mbuna like a kenyi, let alone something ultra aggresive like a Pseudotropeus demasoni, even at 3 times the size.
As posted, the dietary requirements are much different and the rift lake guys prefer a much more alkaline water chemistry.
As posted, the dietary requirements are much different and the rift lake guys prefer a much more alkaline water chemistry.
Early on I had a Red Devil live for about a year with some Africans...........once the Devil got twice the size of the afro's by by africans. FYI the yellow lab will stand no chance @ any size against a pissed Dempsey.
Mixing cichlids like this is like mixing latex and oil based paint. You have the two cans, you need the color that if mixed they would give you... why not try it. You have heard 1000x that it won't work, but you try it anyway, and discover.... it doesn't work.
It doesn't work when you mix CA and African cichlids either. Some people just have to learn for them selves and can't learn from the mistakes of others.
It doesn't work when you mix CA and African cichlids either. Some people just have to learn for them selves and can't learn from the mistakes of others.
it isn't a rule set in stone, but in general, mbuna and neotropicals shouldn't be mixed due to either diet or aggression level/difference. Personally, I believe you can mix some Africans with CA/SA cichlids, but it would be some haps, not so much with mbuna
as in food yes i have different foods for all my fish. tropical fish flakes for the gouramis an stuff like that. cichlid staple an cichlid gold for the parrot cichlid, jd, an africans, an bloodworms, krill, an plankton for my bichirs.