Malawi cichlids are notoriously aggressive and should not be housed with other fish types, despite any examples you may have seen where other species have been forced to live with them in the confines of an aquarium. Some species of Malawi cichlid are less aggressive than others, but this lower level of aggression is still greater than what loaches should have to constantly live with, and which they would have no real escape from. As the cichlids reach sexual maturity, the aggression level heightens, and sensitive species such as loaches will not cope well with being exposed to this for any great length of time. They will be barely surviving in a permanently stressed out state, and are likely to succumb to whitespot or even physical injury. This even applies to the feistier loach species such as the Tiger Botia, whose aggression level, whilst considered high for a loach species, is no match for the relentless belligerence of Malawi cichlids.
Usually we suggest that loaches should not be kept with cichlids. Even when the tank parameters are similar, they are not the same. If you think about it in a broader way, when you keep cichlids you have to give them the right conditions for them to thrive. We think the same way about loaches - that is, their needs should be provided for and that's what dictates which other fish you put in with them. Both cichlids and loaches should be considered the primary fish for your tank, and never as secondary.
I ma trying to find pearsei and fenestratus marble cichlids as these are stunning and quiet mellow. I can't seem to get them in Ireland thoe and have no idea where and how to get them shipped. That was my plan. Although I have 20 trimac fry I'm probably better off growing them out and selling until I find the end game I really want. Thanks for the replyWell, long term I'm not sure a trimac will live with the loaches. They get big and mean and may pick on/beat the clowns. But right off the bat, adding 2 of just about any species of cichlid is a bad idea. One will be dominant and eventually pick on the other, and with only one other in the tank all the abuse is directed to that one subdominant fish. What's your intended end game for the tank? Without more info, I'd say add at least three small juvies at the same time to help minimize aggression issues for a while.
I ma trying to find pearsei and fenestratus marble cichlids as these are stunning and quiet mellow. I can't seem to get them in Ireland thoe and have no idea where and how to get them shipped. That was my plan. Although I have 20 trimac fry I'm probably better off growing them out and selling until I find the end game I really want. Thanks for the reply

Il be getting an upgrade of a 1200 ltr tank. I'm trying hard to find bocourti and pearsei as I live in Ireland and I don't think you can ship them from the USA. Would pearsei and bocourti be a better mix with clown loach as that's my dream set up. If I do find pearsei and bocourti. I will probably grow the trimac in a separate tank and sell them.For just 2 pearsei alone, an 800 L tank would be temporary at best (maybe about 2 years). Although they are less aggressive, than the 2 other cichlid species, when they feel crowded get edgy, and at 2 years they would make an 800L tank look like a kids fish bowl.
I have kept all 3 cichlids you mention, and do not think of either fenestratus, or trimaculatus as " community types.
With the non-cichlid tank mates a sort of detente may be possible for a while, but I would only think that size tank as viable for a pair, no other fish, (especially the crowd mentioned).
My trimaculatus pair would tolerate no other fish, in their similar size tank even as sub adults.
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And fenestratus were not much less intolerant when I kept them.
I'd like to be proven wrong, so i case you do either of 3 versions, be sure to report back results.


