Starting a 90g african tank

[Blue2Fyre]

I only have albino socolofi so I can't comment on their aggression. I've heard that the regular colored socolofis are more aggressive than the albinos. Mine only fight with each other. I do know that if you have enough of each species, (5 or so) they'll pretty much ONLY bicker among their own species. I've kept all of the species listed except regular colored socolofi and I have found that to be true. You may want to stock the red zebras heavier than the rest since they can be really mean. The afras are spunky but not too aggressive. I have a trio of Afr chewere and they mostly leave everyone alone.

 

[Gourami Swami]

cool, ill probly get more zebras then to counteract their aggression

 

[immunknyc]

Yah I agree with scorocoman, They are pretty nice together but I also agree with the labs getting picked on. I like Yellow labs with less agressives like rusty's etc. I have had many a sad yellow lab. Some huddled against the outer edges of the tank horizontally , osteriching themselves. THOUGH LABS do seem to be more aggressive as babies.

 

[Blue2Fyre]

We aren't talking super aggressive species here IMO. Just some zebra types and socolofi. I have a single yellow lab in with more aggressive species and he doesn't even have a fin nip. Plus many people keep labs with demasoni and you can't get much more aggressive than that.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Another question I have is how fast on average do mbuna grow? ive kept africans before but got them all at about the 3" mark. I just picked up a group of 9 yellow labs all no more than 1.5" long. Im feeding them Omega one cichlid flakes and will be doing a 20% water change every week

 

[paulW]

Yes I have the Same issue and ideas Im having a hard time deciding to go with tangs or mbunas. I have a Jag with a pleco that out grew my 55 they are in a 125 now. But I would like to have the 55 still up and running. I am under the impression that the Tang set up is not as aggressive as the mbunas. Any ideas On this or for stocking ideas. Right now I have a couple comps and calvus babies in there. 1 julie, 2 blue zebras, and yellow lab in there also. I seem to be okay for they are all like 1.5 inches atm. Should I just stick with tangs for size and temperment. forgot to mention one that i thought was a second julie is auratus. I know they are very aggressive, thought it was a pair of julies but not again 1 is a julie other is auratus. Shoudl i stick with tangs for a 55 with the calvus im definitely keeping the calvus.

If you want to keep the calvus, you probably need to get rid of the blue zebras and Auratus. I have not tried to mix those, but my guess is that in time, the larger Mbuna will be a problem. Julies and most Mbuna is definitely not a good mix either. The yellow lab would probably be ok to keep, but I really can't guarantee it.

 

[why_spyder]

I was planning on going with smaller less agressive species like yellow labs, socolofi, salousi, or zebras.
If i buy these fish small, i was thinking 1-2 inches, would adding a group of maybe 10 at a time be a good idea? I will also have a 10" gibbiceps pleco in the tank and thats it.

I would go with 4-5 species for a 90g simply because it is just a tall 4' tank. For the most part, height of a tank doesn't really benefit mbuna in regards to territory. Unless you plan on going vertical with a lot of caves you probably won't utilize the upper strata.

I think you should go with these species:

Labidochromis caeruleus*
Metriaclima estherae* (Red X Red)
Pseudotropheus saulosi
Cynotilapia sp. "Hara"
Psuedotropheus acei (would make good use of the upper strata)

* If you plan to salvage fry from this tank I would not mix these two species as they, for some odd reason, have a higher tendency to hybridize.

I would fishless cycle the tank then add all of your fish at once. Otherwise 10 at a time should be fine. Just keep an eye on parameters. Rearrange the decore whenever you add a new fish.

+1

As long as you keep the water parameters in check, I don't see why adding 8-10 of that sized mbuna to the tank would hurt - especially if it is well cycled.

Another question I have is how fast on average do mbuna grow? ... Im feeding them Omega one cichlid flakes and will be doing a 20% water change every week

Grow is highly dependant on water quality (filtration AND water change regimen), diet, and genetics. I would do a larger volume of a water at changing time if you want to give the fish a better shot at growing faster.