what can i put in with Mbuna

[new2natives]

so i am new to cichlids
i have a 55, and 6 small cichlids, topping out at about 1 1/2"
2 labs
2 albino p. socolofi
2 kennyi

i have heard the kennyi will probably get pretty aggressive, so i may be finding him a new home ...

anyhow my question is, what other types of cichlids can i add? or can i only keep them with other "mbuna's" ?

 

[mike dunagan]

only other mbuna...

 

[snoopy65]

You could increase your labs and socolofi to at least 1 M / 3 F. I would get rid of the Kenyi. Once it becomes sexually mature, if it is male, it will rip the yellow labs to shreds due to the same coloration (male kenyi turn yellow). In a mbuna tank all you want is mbuna. They are harem breeders so you always want 1 male to 3 or 4 female.

 

[mahemaheman85]

thats not necessarily true i have 5 jewels in my mbuna tank and they get along great, in fact they even spawned acouple days ago

 

[Dracor]

I have a couple Julie Regani's in my 125 Mbuna tank, but you can always add some pleco's to the tank. But there is a whole heck of a lot of Mbuna you can pick and choose from to color up your tank if that's what you are wanting too.

This is what is in my 125 and very colorful and some are breeding!
Julidochromis reganiLabidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow) Lions Cove IILabidochromis Sp. PearlmuttMetriaclima callainos (Blue Cobalt Zebra) Pseudotropheus SaulosiMelanochromis JohaniiMetriaclima estherae (OB) OB ZebraLabeotropheus trewavasae (Mpanga)Metriaclima estherae (Red) Red ZebraMelanochromis cyaneorhabdos mainganopseudotropheus hybrid

 

[gswarri0rfan]

I have a couple Julie Regani's in my 125 Mbuna tank, but you can always add some pleco's to the tank. But there is a whole heck of a lot of Mbuna you can pick and choose from to color up your tank if that's what you are wanting too.

The Julies from lake tanganyika (regani, ornatus, marlieri) seem to be able to hold themselves against mbunas. They are also nice addition to your tank since they have a different shape than mbunas. I have tried julie marlieri with labs and snow whites and the mixture worked. I agree with taking the kenyi out. You should avoid auratus (especially males) and demasoni cichlid as well. I find labs to be rather laid back compared to other mbunas.

I strongly suggest Acei cichlids. Their purple color complements the yellow labs very well.

 

[navygirl76]

i would ditch the kenyi- i may be prejudiced to them though lol. i had a female that beat everything in my tank into submission and chased them all nonstop all day. she had to go-and i will never own another kenyi ever again lol. .

your kenyi's temperment may be different though..

but i would ditch them and add some saulosi and a few more socofoli..