Stocking 160 Gallon Mbuna

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M

Mbooker

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 23, 2017
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Hi

I'm in the process of setting up my first large tank, and planning on stocking with Mbuna cichlids. 160 gallon tank, 60Lx28.5Wx22.5H. I will be running with a 50 gallon sump with Eheim 1262 pump running 900gph.

I'm thinking aragonite substrate to keep pH levels correct, and have a large amount of rock I will be using in the tank as well.

I'd like to stock a few larger groups of mbuna, probably 4-5 types of at least 10 each. I'm looking for a good mix of color, and would like to keep the risk of crossbreeding to a minimum.

So far I'm planning on:

Red Zebra (maylandia estherea)
Yellow Lab (labidochromis caeruleus)
Electric Blue (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos)

I'm open to suggestion on other possible species, or possible problems with these.

Thanks in advance.
 
Swapping either the labs or zebras for something else would help prevent crossbreeding. These 2 for some reason do it very easily.
 
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What about some type of pseudotropheus. I've heard crabro can have some aggression issues, any other types recommended.

I've also been looking at cynotilapia afra.
 
I'm not a fan of the crabro. They get very large, mean, and not very attractive as they get bigger. Any cynotilapia would work. Socolofi would also be a good choice.
 
Personally I would stick with the zebra, or even an OB red zebra, and let the rest of the fish eat any fry produced from potential crossing, but if cross breeding is a serious issue and you want to use this tank for breeding then my next addition to the labs and cyanos would be a group of acei. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1460

Nice color, fairly laid back behaviour wise, monomorphic so both sex display vibrant coloration, and they get larger than the other 2 species you have selected.
 
I do like the acai, and thats an interesting idea keeping the zebras to control fry. I hadn't considered that before.
 
The reality is that if you seriously want to breed mbuna, then you ought to consider setting up individual breeding tanks. All mbuna have the potential to cross, especially if the dom male in the tank becomes hyper dominant. Clearly one increases the odds when mixing certain species, but if this is primarily just a display tank as long as you don't leave any uber small spaces for fry to hide long term, chances are they will all get gobbled up shortly after one of the females spits. Even fish classified as strict herbivores will eat small fry if/when the opportunity presents itself.
 
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