What combination Mbuna?

[bashley]

Does anyone have a good combination of Mbuna Cighlids that have plenty of colour, and that would get on well in a 75 gall 4ft tank. I like the look of the Lemons and blues, but I am not sure which I should put togeather without having a tank full of fighters. Are Jewels ok to put into a Mbuna tank? Do Electric Yellows and Cobalt Blues get along?

 

[Scotty]

Hi bashley, You want to look for Cyn. afra's and the Ps elongatus species for good colour. Try and see if you can get either wild caught's or F1's as their colour will be true to what is in the lake. Include caeruleus and callainos(cobalt) as these are two that are plain colours. The first two species mentioned males give a brilliant show of colour when they are a little territorial. I have a Cyn afra lion's cove and he doesn't resort back to his dull colour at all. Either stock a male with 3-4 females, two maybe three species, or overstock so as to avoid any real major aggression. I have 35 fish in a 110litre and 180litre tank. Aggression is quite subdued as no male can really dominate an area. Have some pic's posted in my gallery. If you can find a Placidochromis johstonii solo, male, then look to buying as their colouring is magnificent.

 

[Ash]

I have a Blue and Black johanii with my yellow and black atarus (sp) those two seem to be getting there thing on.... hopeing for babies ^__^ with them I have colbalt blue zebra, a powdered blue mbuna, and another fish but I am not positive as to what it is, I also had a labidochormis with them, but he caught some weird worm so I moved him.. they all get along fine, they all have thier personal hiding spots and dont fight but ocasionally chase eachother around.

 

[SinisterKisses]

I disagree - afras are just as territorial as any other mbuna. Also, its only the dominant male that will have lots of colour - pretty much all afra females are drab brown or grey coloured. I like your original plan of labs and cobalts. Both males and females have great colours, and both are fairly peaceful fish. They mix well. You could also consider a colony of demasoni, very gorgeous little fish - but only if you're willing to have at least 12 demasoni in your tank. Dems tend to ignore other tankmates, but are rather aggressive towards each other, so a large number of them is the only way to go.

 

[HarpoGarza]

I disagree - afras are just as territorial as any other mbuna. Also, its only the dominant male that will have lots of colour - pretty much all afra females are drab brown or grey coloured. QUOTE]

Yeah, what he said. I only have one male afra, and he runs the tank. He's turning blue, slowly, and is surrounded by females. The red zebras live in fear of him.

 

[Scotty]

The males of most Malawi's are far more colourful than their female counterparts. If you don't want to breed you could look at a tank of the various males that are available but their might be quite a bit of aggression shown unless you overstock and also create quite a lot of hiding places. I would suggest you try and buy fish of the same size so that there isn't an immediate show of territorial aggression. Never introduce a single fish into an established tank, talking from experience of the loss of fish, as the others will stress it to the point that it will just die.
Take a look at the pic's I have posted and you will see the wild caughts are living quite happily together. They are breeding quite well and the aggression shown is purely the odd bit of chasing around the tank. This mainly done byt the big zebra gold male and the chilumba male.
Labidchromis maigano are a nice variation to a tank. Something similar to the johannii.
Ultimately the choice of fish is yours based on what is available.

 

[avaneaton2000]

 

[bashley]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am starting to understand how to match up different fish, by reading about others experiences. Even if some people dont agree with others opinions, but I guess everyones situations are different, and what works for one, may not work for others, but I guess this is just the nature of this great hobby.

 

[jimk]

Electric yellow Labidichromis are among the most peaceful of the Malawi cichlids. If you can find the Labidichromis species"Likoma Clown" they will add the blue color. Most mbuna will fight for territory. You could add your blue with Haps, like the Electric Blue, or with Peacocks, like a Nimbochromis or Red Empress. Also, the Copadachromis species, like the Red fin Borleyi will add a more subdued blue. A lot of these fish are not mbuna, but they are more peaceful and still from Malawi.

 

[Scotty]

Here in South Africa the mbuna's cost around 35-50% of the price of the peacocks. You get some really great looking peacocks but they also tend to become aggressive when breeding. Try and find AD Konings book on Malawi cichlid's. Price, in the USA, is around $69 and can be bought from Amazon. They also have one advertised for $62.95 which I don't think is as good as the first book I mentioned. This book has more than enough photo's that will help you decide what it is you want. Post pic's once you are established.