can you help

[snwhawk]

Ok purchased 3 african cichlids today and that is all I know about them - they are african cichlids. One of them is orange and black marbled with white spots on all his fins, the other is black and orange striped, and the other one is a very very pale blue in color (almost looking white in the right light) he has white spots on his tail fin and a spec of shiny blue on his cheek - if you look real real closely it almost looks as though he has some striping going on but is hardly noticeable, also he has black trimming all his fins. They are gorgeous and very active - but I am very curious to find out exactly what they are.

 

[sylvia]

The first two sound like they would be red zebras. There are many fish that fit the blue's description though. Do you have pictures? Also, the ones with white spots are probably males.

 

[Ferris]

Sounds like all 3 are zebras to me, they are very often just sold as "Malawi mix" or "Assorted Cichlids"

 

[snwhawk]

ok think i figured them out - ob peacock, powder blue (socolofi), and a bumblebee. Now next ? I have is - the powder blue and bumblebee are both mbunas, and the ob peacock is not - will this pose a problem? the peacock is constantly harrassed by the bumblebee and I am getting a little nervous that he wont hold his own in the tank. If the problem lies in him not being a mbuna than I may go and exchange him for a fishmate compatible with the other two- if the problem is that the bumblebee is just to aggressive i will go and exchange him for another- any advice?

 

[Ferris]

A socolofi and a crabro (bumblebee) should be fine together, I had these 2 in a tank for over a year with no probs. Is the OB definately a Peacock and not a Zebra? If it is a Peacock, there is an element of risk but I wouldn't panic, see how they get along. Mbuna can chase anything and everything, especially other Mbuna, if the agression continues, then I would suggest take the OB back but give it time and see if things settle down.

Also Mbuna generally do better when the tank is slightly overstocked because any fish being chased can get lost in the crowd. Make sure you've got plenty of hiding places in the tank aswell. There will probably always be a Tank Boss, it looks like your Crabro is making an early claim!

 

[freddyk]

Start off your research by reading the pinned artical on mbuna. The OB is probably not a good idea in an mbuna setup, and even if he isn't killed or maimed it will probably never be comfortable with such active and aggressive tankmates. These fish need overcrowded conditions with fish of similar temperment, and a decent sized tank. They also need a staple food of spirulina.