Wanting to mix a largish New World with Mbuna...

[glenbo]

I have been thinking about mixing either a Texas or a Black Jack Dempsey or a Polleni with my Mbuna tank (which already contains a Convict and a Red jewel,Bristlenose and Clown Loach) or maybe even a Green Terror (just sold one actually..and miss him!)

I know people don't liek to mix them and I know the reasons why....water parameters...dietary..etc

I'm talking aggression wise...

I can get a Juvi of any of the 3 fish mentioned for pretty cheap (under £5) and wouldnt mind 'trying it out' how would it go down? and which would be the best choice? I'm thinking the Black JD.

I want like a large center piece New World.

Will any of these 3 at Adult size be able to eat a fully grown Mbuna?

If i keep the tank nice and crowded,I assume I can stop aggression.

Which shall I try out? if it gets bad I have a hospital tank and i will rehome....its been so far so good with my Con and Jewel.

My main concern would be whether these fish will be able to take a battering from a Demasoni while young as mine bosses my tank...the Con and jewel have learnt to stay out of his way

 

[glenbo]

bump

 

[bull230k]

by far i'm no fish expert and seems like nobody would recommend doing this, but it has worked for me right now

i have a 100 g mixed tank. it is a juvie growout though although a few are growing pretty fast.... flowerhorn, jaguar, carpinte, midas, salvini... just to name a few of the new world cichlids. im using the mbuna in there like what other people are using silver dollars or tinfoil barbs.. as distractors of aggression. so far they are ok with the flowerhorn being the biggest at 5 inches.. although he is by far the most dominent.

i'm sure the SA/CA cichlids will be growing pretty fast and need to be moved. I have a 75 g and 150 g when i need to do that.

but to answer your question it has worked for me so far, but again they are still small.

 

[caribemob]

its cool till the brutes get bigger and then you will see those africans chewed on like jerky head first

 

[siebertn]

I have also tried it but it was the Africans who killed the big Americans.

 

[holbert64]

i have a big dempsy in with 2 kenyi 2 bumblebee 1johnni 1green severm for about a year no problems

 

[caribemob]

I have also tried it but it was the Africans who killed the big Americans.

not a umbee, or dovii

 

[siebertn]

not a umbee, or dovii

Nothing that big

 

[blacktip]

In order to answer your question a couple more bits of information are needed.

1. How big is the tank?
2. How big are the mbuna, convict and jewel?
3. How big will the juvi CA be?

 

[Adhlc]

If you're selfish enough not to care about the individual needs of each fish, such as diet and proper water parameters - go for it.