Help Stocking

[arabballin]

I have had fish for about a year and a half but i recently got a 60 gallon tank that i want to fill with mbuna. But since its my first go at an mbuna tank i need stocking help. I want as many different species as possible.

Right now i know for sure i want:

Labido Caerulues

Ps. Acei

What i need help deciding is what to get from the following:

Ps. Zebra

Salousi

Demasoni

Johanni

Moorei Cichlid

and Yellow Peacocks.

I also need help with how many of each to get.

 

[dthoffsett]

What are the dimensions of your tank?
You'll probably want to stick to the stocking of a standard 55 gal of 12-16 adult fish. You can go with more species of less individuals (1m/2f), or less species of more individuals (1m/3-4f), I recommend going with the latter, you really get to see a more natural interaction with you have more individuals of a species.

labidochromis caeruleus peaceful by mbuna standards, m/f ratio doesn't matter

pseudotropheus acei also peaceful, will mostly be seen in the upper part of the tank, again m/f ratio doesn't matter.

Ps. Zebra, this "scientific" name is often given to several different species (and there is also a p.zebra)
The most common is metriaclima callainos, fairly aggressive, 1m/2+f. http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=787
The other common one is metriaclima estherae, also fairly aggressive, 1m/2+f
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1730
Here's p.zebra for comparison. http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=934

pseudotropheus saulosi, another fairly aggressive species, 1m/3+f, shouldn't be kept with yellow or blue fish to avoid aggression from dominant male.

pseudotropheus demasoni, interesting fish, should be kept either as 1 individual or 12+ due to conspecific aggression. Can be somewhat delicate as far as health. I recommend either keeping them in a species tank or with only labidochromis caeruleus as tank mates.

melanochromis johanni highly aggressive, recommend 75gal or larger due to high aggression, 1m/4+f

Moorei Cichlid (cyrtocora morii), hap, gets up to 9", not suitable for your tank.

Yellow Peacocks, I don't recommend these, they wouldn't be able to handle the aggression of the mbunas.

 

[arabballin]

my tank is 4'x18"x15"

after some help from the guys at cichlid forum i got a few suggestions and would like to run them by you all.

5 labidochromis Caerulues (yelllow labs)
5 Acei
5 Red Zebra (by the way the one i want is this one http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1730 )

or

5 Acei
5 Red Zebra
6 Saulosi

or

4 labidochromis Caerulues
4 acei
4 red zebra
4 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos ( http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/m_cyaneorhabdos.php )

What do you think?

 

[dthoffsett]

They all sound good to me, whichever combination you like best.