Alright got some questions...

[gatorman543]

are the any oddballs like BGKs, Killifish, Peacock Eels, Spotted Climbing Perch or stuff like that that would get along with Mbuna Chiclids like Eletric Blue and Yellow Chiclids and peacock chiclids

 

[Fruitbat]

If you're keeping your mbunas in the relatively hard, alkaline water that they prefer then your options are going to be a bit limited. There are some Mastacembelid eels (African relatives of the Asian peacock eel) that are native to the African Rift Lakes and so will be able to tolerate the water conditions. Like many of the Mastacembelid eels, however, they do get quite large as adults (up to 36 inches or a bit more for some species). They're also pretty tough to find at your local pet store, though they might be able to special-order some for you.

There are also quite a few Synodontis catfish that are native to the Rift Lakes that will enjoy hard, alkaline water. A little research should give you some of the specific types.

Most of the other fish you mentioned in your question prefer slightly acid to slightly alkaline water and won't do as well in a tank specifically set up for mbunas.

Can you provide any information regarding the pH and hardness of the water in your mbuna tank?

-Joe

 

[gatorman543]

i do not own a test kit my self but take a water sample down to my LFS once a month and he tests it for me. Next time i go i will provide you with this information, last time my Ph came back as 7.3, and i haven't changed the hardness of the water or anything like that because it is just tap water treated with aqua safe then it is pumped into my tank. So then are my oddball options more open. or do i need to change something

 

[rixy]

i have a fire eel approx 11".when i kept cichlids one off them bit my eel in the head .bye bye cichlids

 

[Fruitbat]

If your pH is 7.3 then you haven't done anything to your tank to set it up specifically for mbunas. Most of the African Rift Lake cichlids come from water with high pH (8.5 or above) and very high hardness. Many people who specialize in Rift Lake cichlids use limestone rock (Texas Holey Rock, for example) and even use crushed coral in their substrate to increase the pH and hardness.

Fortunately, most Rift Lake cichlids are able to tolerate average water conditions though they don't usually exhibit their best coloration or breed as actively. Since you're keeping your mbunas at close to neutral pH then the types of fish you can put with them increases. Do keep in mind that mbunas are territorial and aggressive and anything that shares a tank with them should be able to take care of itself.

-Joe

 

[gatorman543]

so what fish are we talking about kind of oddballs would be able to hold their own aganist these fish. By the way my chiclids so no signs of aggresion toward each other in fact they swim around in a huge group

 

[Fishy411]

maybe a larger bichir but it depends on temperament.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

I think its best to keep the african cichlids alone. Maybe a pleco or something. How big is the tank? And i noticed you said peacock cichlids, do you mean those african cichlids or the large peacock bass?