I have a big 125 gallon tank that i got last christmas. I had it set up and i took it down due to leaking canister filters (i got it used off craigslist) anyway its a long story... Hopefully ill be setting it up soon once i figure out how to make a sump.
Anyway ill just cut to the chase...
I was originally doing research for african cichlids. I was seriously considering an all male hap and peacock show tank. Now that i think about it, i have a lot of options and its not an easy decision.
The options i am considering most are these 3 ive listed below along with the pros and cons. most of the info is based on other peoples experiences. I have done a lot of research and talked to lots of people about different types
Lake malawi Mbuna:
pros;
I love these fish, very colorful, overcrowdable (due to agression), hardy, active, they breed, I have very hard water which they thrive in.
cons.
I think its so hard to get compatible colonies with proper male to female ratios. It sure seems like a lot of purchasing of fish. I have trouble finding a good source of mbuna fish. there is hybridization issues. Cant mix with many other types of fish. The whole pack could turn on eachother, in other words, these cichlids are unpredictable. Need lots of rocks. certain species are way too agressive.
Lake malawi peacock and hap:
I am still considering an all male tank, with maybe a colony of yellow lab mbuna or acei mbuna mixed in and many synodontis catfish.
Pros;
seem much more peacful then most species of mbuna. Doesnt require as many rocks. Grow bigger than mbuna and have more stunning color in my opinion. many species are compatible with some plants in the tank. More open to different types of tank mates.
cons:
maybe not as active as mbuna, prolly not too easy to get all males. Not a good source of these fish nearby. cant keep as many in one tank as you can with mbuna (overcrowding is not required for keeping agression down as it is with mbuna)
central and south american cichlid;
I was considering this as my last option.
pros;
theres way more available and they are much cheaper. they are more compatible with more fish such as catfish, knifefish, plecos and more.
seem to be very social from what ive seen. They seem VERY hardy and live in a variety of water types. not as much messing with compatibility such as with mbuna
cons;
not as pretty as any africans. Really doesnt seem to have many cons besides the fact that i like africans look much better
Let me know some suggestions its a very hard decision because theres soooooo many to choose from
Anyway ill just cut to the chase...
I was originally doing research for african cichlids. I was seriously considering an all male hap and peacock show tank. Now that i think about it, i have a lot of options and its not an easy decision.
The options i am considering most are these 3 ive listed below along with the pros and cons. most of the info is based on other peoples experiences. I have done a lot of research and talked to lots of people about different types
Lake malawi Mbuna:
pros;
I love these fish, very colorful, overcrowdable (due to agression), hardy, active, they breed, I have very hard water which they thrive in.
cons.
I think its so hard to get compatible colonies with proper male to female ratios. It sure seems like a lot of purchasing of fish. I have trouble finding a good source of mbuna fish. there is hybridization issues. Cant mix with many other types of fish. The whole pack could turn on eachother, in other words, these cichlids are unpredictable. Need lots of rocks. certain species are way too agressive.
Lake malawi peacock and hap:
I am still considering an all male tank, with maybe a colony of yellow lab mbuna or acei mbuna mixed in and many synodontis catfish.
Pros;
seem much more peacful then most species of mbuna. Doesnt require as many rocks. Grow bigger than mbuna and have more stunning color in my opinion. many species are compatible with some plants in the tank. More open to different types of tank mates.
cons:
maybe not as active as mbuna, prolly not too easy to get all males. Not a good source of these fish nearby. cant keep as many in one tank as you can with mbuna (overcrowding is not required for keeping agression down as it is with mbuna)
central and south american cichlid;
I was considering this as my last option.
pros;
theres way more available and they are much cheaper. they are more compatible with more fish such as catfish, knifefish, plecos and more.
seem to be very social from what ive seen. They seem VERY hardy and live in a variety of water types. not as much messing with compatibility such as with mbuna
cons;
not as pretty as any africans. Really doesnt seem to have many cons besides the fact that i like africans look much better
Let me know some suggestions its a very hard decision because theres soooooo many to choose from
Maybe some but not all! Green Terrors, Jack Dempsey, any severum, salvini, all fish you can keep in a 125 together that have amazing looks!