I have a 75 gallon aquarium that has 5 yellow lab cichlids in it (1.5"-2"). What other mbuna species are good to keep with labs. And How many would you suggest putting in?
What are good cichlids to put with yellow labs?
- Thread starter lasvegasnights21
- Start date
In that tank you can probaly keep some with some varisous psudetropheus species like deamonsi socolofi acei saulsoi but these are more aggressive than your labs. You could probaly get some other labiochromis species too. Just watch out for getting ifsh that look like yellow labs becuase you will probaly end up with some dead fish.
I'd go with milder types, and the input on avoiding similar looking fish is a good point. Not only will that help reduce aggression from the male thinking there is another male challenging it, it will also as well help to avoid hybridization if the females have a similar look too.
Keep in mind, your Labidochromis Caeruleus would best be in a harem setting where you have 1 male and 3-4 females. Most Mbuna I know do well in this type of set up.
Milder types that come off the top of my head, Pseudotropheus Acei, and the Saulosi too. The types like Demasoni, Red Zebra's, Johanni, possibly even Kenyi I would avoid. While you have ample space in a 75, these types are quite nasty many times and a Yellow really isn't quite of the same mind set. They aren't weak, they just don't seem to carry the same vigor to get into it as the others do.
There's probably a ton of other options, just not on the top of my head. I see no reason why a Peacock can't be an option. In my 75 and 180, this has worked quite well for me as well as adding some nice color and size. If that doesn't appeal to you, a milder type Hap may work as well, such as say, Protomelas Steveni "Taiwan Reef" which I breed. This species is quite mild. The Super Red Empress is a nice choice, or Copadchromis Boryeli too might be another choice. These are just common types in the hobby. Scianochromis Fryeri or Ahli are also comming Electric Blues many people keep. If you do some profile searching on the net, you might find something someone hasn't yet thought of too, so independant research on your end helps.
You also have some Victorian options out there too, and a big blessing with the Vics are that the water chemistry differences between Malawi and Victoria aren't quite as off kilter as Tangyangika is. This opens the door for mixing a bit. Many Vics have wonderous colors, as well as Victoria itself is under going bad changes right now. You might find in additon to the color appeal in this aspect, you might get a species endangered, critically endangered or extinct in it's natural habitat. Not only do you get the joy of watching them in your tank, but you'd be helping preseve a species too. Temperments vary as well on Vics, but mixing with Mbuna USUALLY isn't that hard to do, especially with you having the Labs.
Keep in mind, your Labidochromis Caeruleus would best be in a harem setting where you have 1 male and 3-4 females. Most Mbuna I know do well in this type of set up.
Milder types that come off the top of my head, Pseudotropheus Acei, and the Saulosi too. The types like Demasoni, Red Zebra's, Johanni, possibly even Kenyi I would avoid. While you have ample space in a 75, these types are quite nasty many times and a Yellow really isn't quite of the same mind set. They aren't weak, they just don't seem to carry the same vigor to get into it as the others do.
There's probably a ton of other options, just not on the top of my head. I see no reason why a Peacock can't be an option. In my 75 and 180, this has worked quite well for me as well as adding some nice color and size. If that doesn't appeal to you, a milder type Hap may work as well, such as say, Protomelas Steveni "Taiwan Reef" which I breed. This species is quite mild. The Super Red Empress is a nice choice, or Copadchromis Boryeli too might be another choice. These are just common types in the hobby. Scianochromis Fryeri or Ahli are also comming Electric Blues many people keep. If you do some profile searching on the net, you might find something someone hasn't yet thought of too, so independant research on your end helps.
You also have some Victorian options out there too, and a big blessing with the Vics are that the water chemistry differences between Malawi and Victoria aren't quite as off kilter as Tangyangika is. This opens the door for mixing a bit. Many Vics have wonderous colors, as well as Victoria itself is under going bad changes right now. You might find in additon to the color appeal in this aspect, you might get a species endangered, critically endangered or extinct in it's natural habitat. Not only do you get the joy of watching them in your tank, but you'd be helping preseve a species too. Temperments vary as well on Vics, but mixing with Mbuna USUALLY isn't that hard to do, especially with you having the Labs.