Trying to convert to a Tanganyika setup

[Mokujin22]

Thanks! The male cyps are pretty sweet. Females, well they pretty much look like sardines, lol. Go for a ratio of 2M/4F.

For shellies, you can start with 4-6 and end up with a colony eventually. The Altolamps will keep their numbers in check.

Marlieri are pretty, but can be real pricks.

 

[Beliak]

Looks like the Cyps will end up costing a pretty penny too. Unless I can get a good deal on aquabid for them. 40 bucks for the 6 Marungs, heh. Maybe I can get lucky again. About what size would I want to look for to be able to sex the Cyps?

As for the Shellies, I didn't really like the idea of them at first, but after reading up on them, the idea of having free snack food for the Altos every now and then is very appeasing, hehe.

And the Regani just stood out to me because of the yellow with blue outline on your fins. Though they do get fairly large i believe, maybe I'll go back and look at the other ones.

 

[Mokujin22]

I would try to get the Cyps locally if you can, especially if you're looking at getting them at a smaller size. They are super sensitive and do not generally ship well.

 

[Beliak]

I would prefer to get them smaller. I enjoy watching my fish mature. Its part of the reason I'm in the hobby.

Do you mean from a local fish store, or a local breeder? Think the only local breeders in oregon is the Cichlid Exchange up in Portland.

 

[shellies215]

You could look into juli transcriptus, they look alot like marleiri but do not get as big. also you might like buescheri, I'm looking for those to put in my 40 gal.

 

[Beliak]

Those Buescheri look pretty cool. Definitely have to be on the look out for those as a possibility. The Transcriptus also look pretty good. A little cheaper than Regani too, might work better since they don't get as large as the Regani as well.

 

[kmngaras]

i just got these and i think they are really nice. daffodil

i love to watch these guys swim around you should think about getting some of these for the bottom. pertricols

these are one of my favorite fish i have. utinas

 

[Beliak]

I was actually looking at the Synodontis Petricolas. They are pretty cool, and the girlfriend loves catfish. Would they take the place of my Shelldwellers on the bottom of the tank? And if so, how big a group should i have in a 55?
Currently my idea for stocking is:
Top : Cyp. Lept. Utinta x6
Rocks: Neolamprologus Marunguensis x2
Altolamprologus Calvus x2 (Maybe 4)
Julidochromis *Deciding* x2 (Maybe leave them out in lieu of the second pair of Calvus
Bottom: Lamprologus Ocellatus x5 (Unless I can't have the Cats with the Shellies present?)

 

[kmngaras]

well im sure you could keep at least 10 in there and you could probably keep them with the shellies because they shellies would be guarding their shell and if you provide another cave or some place for the perticolas to stay they should be fine but im not sure because i have never kept them together before. the utintas man those fish are so nice the males do a nice dance.

 

[Beliak]

So if the occies get to about 2 inches, how large of shells am I going to need? And 4-6 shells was mention I believe.

I think I would probly stick with only 6 of the petricolas.

Are there other types of tanganyikacs I could put in the top rather than cyps? I like the cyps, but just trying to see my options.