Hi!
First and foremost, I wanted to say thank you to the MFK community for being such a helpful and informed bunch!!! I have been researching Malawi cichlids, particularly mbuna, and I have found such a wealth of information here. I spend A LOT of my free time combing through the old threads, and I have learned so much. So *THANK YOU*!!!
Now to business: I have a 75 gal in which I currently have a bunch of P. socolofi albino Snow White. I need to rehome a bunch (want some???) and then I want to add some more mbuna for color. Im not a fish snob but I was thinking that maybe I should get some types that are less common/more desirable, so if I have an abundance of fry, people may actually want them, or <gasp> may even buy them. Fry are cute and all, but Im not really interested in breeding as I just have the one tank, but it seems like it happens frequently. Also, would they hybridize readily even if they are of a different genus and look substantially different? If so, should I just allow the fry to be picked off?
So what are some more desirable mbuna that I can put in my tank with my Snow Whites?
I would like a nice array of colors. I like the common sorts, such as the red zebra, yellow lab, Cynotilapia sp. blue with blk stripey type, rusty, acei, so you can see Im not that picky. If its a pretty color Ill probably like it.
Also, I read that Protomelas fenestratus can be mixed with mbunas to get some action in the top of the water column. Has anyone found this to be a good arrangement?
I was also considering some Synodontus petricola-- will they be tortured or have their eyes get sucked out by the mbuna??? I've seen mixed opinions.
How many fish can I put in a 75? Again, Ive seen such differing opinions I think I prefer many smaller (4-6") fish, rather than a few biggies. I have a penguin 350 bio wheel and before I add any more fish, I will be adding a canister, (an eheim 2217, most likely) plus weekly water changes of 30-50% depending on parameters. I will likely overstock a bit to reduce aggression, but they need to be happy and healthy. I have rocks, but will be doing a full size DIY cave wall before adding more fish.
TIA for any advice or suggestions!
First and foremost, I wanted to say thank you to the MFK community for being such a helpful and informed bunch!!! I have been researching Malawi cichlids, particularly mbuna, and I have found such a wealth of information here. I spend A LOT of my free time combing through the old threads, and I have learned so much. So *THANK YOU*!!!
Now to business: I have a 75 gal in which I currently have a bunch of P. socolofi albino Snow White. I need to rehome a bunch (want some???) and then I want to add some more mbuna for color. Im not a fish snob but I was thinking that maybe I should get some types that are less common/more desirable, so if I have an abundance of fry, people may actually want them, or <gasp> may even buy them. Fry are cute and all, but Im not really interested in breeding as I just have the one tank, but it seems like it happens frequently. Also, would they hybridize readily even if they are of a different genus and look substantially different? If so, should I just allow the fry to be picked off?
So what are some more desirable mbuna that I can put in my tank with my Snow Whites?
I would like a nice array of colors. I like the common sorts, such as the red zebra, yellow lab, Cynotilapia sp. blue with blk stripey type, rusty, acei, so you can see Im not that picky. If its a pretty color Ill probably like it.
Also, I read that Protomelas fenestratus can be mixed with mbunas to get some action in the top of the water column. Has anyone found this to be a good arrangement?
I was also considering some Synodontus petricola-- will they be tortured or have their eyes get sucked out by the mbuna??? I've seen mixed opinions.
How many fish can I put in a 75? Again, Ive seen such differing opinions I think I prefer many smaller (4-6") fish, rather than a few biggies. I have a penguin 350 bio wheel and before I add any more fish, I will be adding a canister, (an eheim 2217, most likely) plus weekly water changes of 30-50% depending on parameters. I will likely overstock a bit to reduce aggression, but they need to be happy and healthy. I have rocks, but will be doing a full size DIY cave wall before adding more fish.
TIA for any advice or suggestions!
