I Know I Have Already Asked So Bare With Me Ferris!

[nukeonekitty]

So I have decided I want clown loaches in my mbuna tank. Here is the list 85 gallon- 5x Synodontis nigrita 4x Metriaclima estherae 3x Labidochromis caeruleus 3x Labeotropheus trewavasae "Zimbawe" 2x Melanochromis Johanni 1x Maylandia greshakei 1x Nimbochromis Polystigma 1x Psuedotropheus sp. Acei 1x Pseudotropheus socolofi 1x Melanochromis chipokae 1x Pseudotropheus lombardoi

I will be taking all melanochromis fish back. Does everyone else seem peaceful enough?

 

[The-Wolf]

personally I wouldn't do it because
clowns need different parameters than malawis

clowns do best in pH 6.5 - 7.0, softer water with a maximum GH: 12
Temperature: 78F to 83F (25-30C)

keeping clowns in a higher pH or the malawis in a lower pH is not recomended for either fish

 

[nukeonekitty]

My pH is 7.5 which is rather good for both fish. A tiny bit low for mbuna, but perfect for loaches. Unless of course the profile I am looking at are b.s.

 

[Ferris]

I think your tank size is good despite it's narrowness - You would probably get away with a Ph of 7.5 for both Mbuna and CL's. The problem as i see it is feeding - CL's need meaty protein which can prove fatal to some of your Herbivore Mbuna and not good as a regular diet for the Omnivores.

If you can successfully solve this problem - it can be done. CL's can cope with the aggression if they are big enough - preferrably bigger than the Mbuna and bear in mind that they are extremely slow growers but the feeding issue is very real. Mbuna will eat anything you put in the tank including food intended for the CL's and they will probably get to it before the CL's. You could play it safe and feed veggies only to the entire tank but that is not good for the CL's - they need a mixture including things like bloodworm, which is a definate no-no for most Mbuna.

I know people have done it but i have never seen a definitive answer on the feeding problem. I also know of more people who have tried it and eventually re-homed the CL's because of this issue.

 

[nukeonekitty]

eh then maybe I should re think it. Too bad I didn't think of this at first, I could've done carnivore/omnivore mbuna... oh well! I might be getting some fishies today so I am excited!

 

[Gatorbait]

I'm curious what sizes your Mbuna are and why you're taking the chipokae back? Is he too aggresive or do you just not like him etc?

 

[nukeonekitty]

Most of my mbuna are about 2-3 inches. I just don't trust my chipokae. With all the horror stories, plus how she is starting to act scare me.

 

[Gatorbait]

Yea, unfortunately, It would be a safe bet that all those horror stories you've heard are probably true.

How was she starting to act?

I'm not asking to give you advice or tell you you are doing anything wrong or anything like that. chipokae's are 1 of my favorite fish so I like hearing and learning as much as I can from others about their behaviour.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Mine was getting territorial to the point that she wanted like a quarter of the 90 gal tank to be just hers. At feeding she was attacking the syno cats and smaller fish. I just don't want my investment to be murdered by one fish...

 

[fishfishfish]

very smart.im avoiding fish like auratus and chipokea for that same reason.even though my euro would probly get pissed and kill it.haha

 

[Ferris]

Chipkoae are also one of my favourites but they are simply THE most aggressive Mbuna species there is. Wonderful fish but as they reach adulthood they turn into absolute psychopaths for want of a better phrase - they make Auratus look like guppys.

 

[nukeonekitty]

All melanchromis are beutiful, but seem to be rather dominant! I think I am going to keep one of my johannis.

 

[Gatorbait]

Chipkoae are also one of my favourites but they are simply THE most aggressive Mbuna species there is. Wonderful fish but as they reach adulthood they turn into absolute psychopaths for want of a better phrase - they make Auratus look like guppys.

I agree. Whenever I hear people say that auratus are the meanest I can always tell they've never had a chipokae.

So far I've had good luck with all the ones I've had with just a couple exceptions. They always end up ruling the tank but once the dominant fish they don't mess with anyone for the most part and they won't even let others fight. Once they see two others fight, they'll swim over real fast and get in between one and stare them down and it just ends. I actually use chipokae's for policing my Mbuna tanks.

Mine was getting territorial to the point that she wanted like a quarter of the 90 gal tank to be just hers. At feeding she was attacking the syno cats and smaller fish. I just don't want my investment to be murdered by one fish...

Thanks for the update, nukeonekitty. I figured as much but I like hearing as many experiences as I can about them.

 

[Ferris]

They always end up ruling the tank but once the dominant fish they don't mess with anyone for the most part and they won't even let others fight. Once they see two others fight, they'll swim over real fast and get in between one and stare them down and it just ends. I actually use chipokae's for policing my Mbuna tanks

That's exactly what i have done in the past but the last one i had (a male) suddenly turned savage after around 3 years. Literally started taking chunks out of the other fish and killed a male Auratus. No change in tankmates, environment or anything - just a mid-life crisis i think.

Needless to say i had to return him to the LFS and he was still there weeks later (the staff are very good and tell people the truth about temperament etc). I was actually glad when he was finally sold as i was getting sick of seeing this stunning fish that i couldn't have anyomore.

 

[Gatorbait]

They always end up ruling the tank but once the dominant fish they don't mess with anyone for the most part and they won't even let others fight. Once they see two others fight, they'll swim over real fast and get in between one and stare them down and it just ends. I actually use chipokae's for policing my Mbuna tanks

That's exactly what i have done in the past but the last one i had (a male) suddenly turned savage after around 3 years. Literally started taking chunks out of the other fish and killed a male Auratus. No change in tankmates, environment or anything - just a mid-life crisis i think.

Needless to say i had to return him to the LFS and he was still there weeks later (the staff are very good and tell people the truth about temperament etc). I was actually glad when he was finally sold as i was getting sick of seeing this stunning fish that i couldn't have anyomore.

lol Yea, I know what you mean. At one time I had quite a few 55g and 75g tanks set up as Mbuna tanks. Almost all had a (just 1 in each) chipokae in them and were successful but there were 3 chipokae's that hit their psycho stage while in a bad mood. 2 were males and 1 was a female.

They showed no signs beforehand of anything out of the ordinary. I had left for 2 days and when I came back there was total carnage in that tank. Deaths and tattered/ripped fins galore. I still remember the sick feeling in my stomach I had when I first saw it. I felt so sorry for the fish. Like you, there were no changes to water params, temp etc but only 2 days without food. I love chipokae's but also deep down fear them when having them in a tank.

Unlike you tho, I've never been successful keeping an auratus with a chipokae. I'ev put the auratus in there first, sometimes for a month beforehand and made sure he was bigger and the king of the tank but over a couple months the chipokae always worked it's way up the ladder. The problem I had was the auratus wouldn't back down to the chipokae so eventually the auratus was killed every time so I stopped trying. lol