37g African Tank

[skiltrip]

since i've lost my firemouth, i'm considering making my tank just africans. it's a 37g.

the tank will start with

1 yellow lab
1 syno multipunct cat
and maybe the pleco if i keep it

how many africans can i/should i keep in this tank to keep aggression down?

and what are some good suggestions to go along with yellow labs? (cause i'd like to maybe get more of these)

 

[Ferris]

Definately get some more labs, they do much better in groups of around 5. In that size tank i would go for 1 more species and Pseudotropheus Saulosi would be ideal as they stay small and work well with labs, again a small group of 4 or 5 would be ideal. Your syno would be fine with both species, the plec would depend on which species it is and also whether it will outgrow your tank.

 

[skiltrip]

Definately get some more labs, they do much better in groups of around 5. In that size tank i would go for 1 more species and Pseudotropheus Saulosi would be ideal as they stay small and work well with labs, again a small group of 4 or 5 would be ideal. Your syno would be fine with both species, the plec would depend on which species it is and also whether it will outgrow your tank.

when adding labs, do i need to get 4 more the same size as my current one, or is it ok if they are younger/smaller?

 

[Ferris]

Younger/smaller should be fine if you add them all at once, especially with labs who have a mild temperament by Mbuna standards. Try and avoid adding single fish to Mbuna tanks as all the aggression will be directed at the 1 newcomer.

 

[skiltrip]

Younger/smaller should be fine if you add them all at once, especially with labs who have a mild temperament by Mbuna standards. Try and avoid adding single fish to Mbuna tanks as all the aggression will be directed at the 1 newcomer.

would it be best to get the 4 labs, and 5 other type all at once? i assume that would serve in the same way to diffuse aggression.

by the way, is there a common name, or other names for Pseudotropheus Saulosi ?

 

[Ferris]

Adding them all at once is fine and should really help with the aggression.

I have never seen Saulosi labeled as anything else, although i'm sure there are plenty of fish shops who have made up names for them.

Here's a link with some pictures and info, the males and females are a completely different colour but equally stunning.

Saulosi

 

[skiltrip]

Adding them all at once is fine and should really help with the aggression.

I have never seen Saulosi labeled as anything else, although i'm sure there are plenty of fish shops who have made up names for them.

Here's a link with some pictures and info, the males and females are a completely different colour but equally stunning.

Saulosi

very nice! hopefully my LFS will have some of these, though i don't think i've seen them there.

in the event that i can't get my hands on the Saulosis do you have any other suggestions as far as other africans?

 

[Ferris]

Sure, any of these should be compatibile with labs:

Pseudotropheus Acei
Iodotropheus Sperengerae (rustys)
Maylandia Callainos (cobalt/blue zebra)
Pseudotropheus Socolofi (blue or albino)
Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)

There are plenty of others that may be compatibile but are more aggressive so there would be more risk involved.

 

[skiltrip]

Thanks for all the advice... Just wanted to point out and make sure you know my 37g is 30" wide, 12" deep, 22" high. It's essentially the footprint of a 29g but higher. Not sure if you knew that, if not, would your suggestions on species/numbers be the same?

Either way, I don't want to get rid of my Yellow Lab. I'd like two species if i can pull it off. Just wanna know what kinda numbers i should be doing with that size tank. i'd like to overstock slightly to lessen aggression, and i'll be doing some extensive rockwork in there as well. I plan on building up as many caves, caverns, hiding spots as possible. thanks!

 

[dthoffsett]

In that case I would avoid p. acei since they get to around 7 inches, and the m. callainos, as that foot print would be too small for the subdominant fish to get away. M. callainos are a bit boisterous. Somedays even my 75gal isn't large enough. Good luck! And we definately want to see pics when you're stocked.

 

[Ferris]

Yeah, i would definately look at the Saulosi as they stay really small or maybe the Sperengerae, better suited to your tank size/shape.

 

[skiltrip]

Yeah, i would definately look at the Saulosi as they stay really small or maybe the Sperengerae, better suited to your tank size/shape.

Would you still suggest the same numbers as before?

5 labs
5 Saulosi (or sperengerae)

 

[dthoffsett]

I think as long as you don't get a rogue male, 5 of each would be just fine.

 

[skiltrip]

I think as long as you don't get a rogue male, 5 of each would be just fine.

here's hoping no rogue males end up in my batch

is there any way at all to sex them? i'm curious to know if the one i have is a male or female.

 

[dthoffsett]

The only sure way to sex labs are to vent them, and even then it's easy to confuse them. With practice, and once they are sexually mature (2-2.5 inches), you can guess pretty reliably, although subdominate males are easily confused with females.

Here is a confirmed dominant male @ around 4 inches, males are generally larger, with longer ventral fins (the 2 front fins on the bottom). In my experience, the males tend to be an even more vibrant yellow than the females.

Here is a group including the dom. male, and 2 females, notice how much larger the male is, and with darker markings.

Again, sexing them this way is by no means foolproof.

When you go to pick out more labs, try not to get any that have black markings anywhere but on their fins, some males will get a black "beard" when ready to breed (all the time ), but it is really a sign of poor genetics and they are to be avoided.