I have my fish selected...

[Snuff]

Well, I thought I was all set in figuring out what I was going to put into my new tank. My only question mark I had was about my crabro. I have him now, and I really didn't want to get rid of him, but seeing as how most of the fish I am going to be buying to put into this new tank are juvies, I am thinking he will be too aggressive. Right now, in the tank he is in, there are other larger fish to 'keep him in check.' But I have a feeling with smaller fish he may turn into the bully.

Now to my question. Mostly I have decided to stock the tank in 2s and 3s, but I would like to have one 'unique' fish if at all possible. I know that most mbuna do not do well as loners, but I was hoping that someone might be able to suggest something that could be the centerpiece of my tank. Here is what I currently have planned:

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
2 Maylandia estherae
3 Cynotilapia afra "Yellow Top"
3 Pseudotropheus zebra cobalts
And maybe 4 clown loaches

I know its not likely that I can have a fish like I am asking about, but I figured someone might know of something that I can have. If not, I will just get rid of the crabro anyways, and stick to the list above. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Exiled]

A single Pseudotropheus (of whatever species you like) might work.....Impossible to predict though.

 

[Snuff]

Ok, I took a look through some different species and I really like the saulosi. I also noticed that they look alot like demasonis. From what I read, the demasoni is more aggressive, making the saulosi more desirable to me. The only problem I have is with identifying them. When I go to the lfs, is there an easy way to distinguish the two?

 

[vantgE]

maybe instead of the loaches look into a small group of syno petricola

 

[TheeMon]

your lfs actually has these? mine are so messed up they mainly label them african cichlids or yellow lab

 

[vantgE]

saulisosi?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Snuff, while male saulosi look just like Demasoni, females are actually a pretty solid yellow/orange color. When they are juveniles they are all yellow, even the males, so they wouldn't look anything like demasoni.

The Crabro will end up larger then the rest of your mbuna, so it might make a decent centerpiece. You can leave him where he is now and move him when the new fish grow big enough to handle him. Otherwise you can choose any moderately aggressive mbuna to do what you want. As Exiled already mentioned, there are never guarantees, all you can do is try.

 

[Snuff]

Well then, based on your info, my lfs doesn't have any saulosi.

As for the crabro, I can't keep that tank, so that's not really an option. I guess he goes back to the lfs. When you say moderately aggressive, would that include a demasoni? I hate to nag with all the questions, but I just don't want to make a mistake and get something I shouldn't.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

No, Demasoni are considered extremely aggressive. Moderately aggressive tends to be the majority of Pseudotropheus species, and some Maylandia varieties--they really need to be judged on a species by species basis, and even then, it's only guessing based on the fishes tendencies.

There isn't much you can do as a centerpiece fish in a tank like this, the only real compatible fish for an aggressive tank like this are more mbuna. You can try an Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi, which is a peacock tough enough to handle your tank, but purchase him as an adult in order to establish his dominance.

 

[Snuff]

Ah, I give up. I think what is I'm trying to do is too complicated for me. Thanks for trying to help though.

 

[Snuff]

Well, I thought I was done. But one more attempt. I was wondering if a female Melanochromis joanjohnsonae would work? I haven't found a whole lot of info, but from what I do read they don't look to be very aggressive, and they really are pretty fish.