I've Got Two Africans...looking For More Ideas

[Eviltoon]

I thought that I was going to be spending most of my time in the New World Cichlid sub-forum believing I had a New World tank...but I have recently been told that these two are Africans. They were in a tank with 2 Jack Dempsey’s and a pleco. Well things had to change as the yellow Metriaclima Lombardoi continued to torment the Dempsey’s ruthlessly. So I have got the Demspey’s and pleco out in a different tank and now would like opinions of numbers and types of tank mates for these two. The Melanochromis Johanni is a beautiful fish that seems get along with the Kenyi. But I am concerned about what Mbuna’s are going to be comfortable with this yellow, very aggressive bully (although I just love his personality), and how many Africans can fit in a 180 ltre tank?

Any thoughts would be welcome

 

[rocknurworld2006]

I thought that I was going to be spending most of my time in the New World Cichlid sub-forum believing I had a New World tank...but I have recently been told that these two are Africans. They were in a tank with 2 Jack Dempsey’s and a pleco. Well things had to change as the yellow Metriaclima Lombardoi continued to torment the Dempsey’s ruthlessly. So I have got the Demspey’s and pleco out in a different tank and now would like opinions of numbers and types of tank mates for these two. The Melanochromis Johanni is a beautiful fish that seems get along with the Kenyi. But I am concerned about what Mbuna’s are going to be comfortable with this yellow, very aggressive bully (although I just love his personality), and how many Africans can fit in a 180 ltre tank?

Any thoughts would be welcome

melanachromis johanni are not aggrressive malawis compared to alot of them!

 

[darrel69]

As you now know, Lombardoi's are top of the list when it comes to aggression. Is your tank 4feet long ?

 

[Eviltoon]

As you now know, Lombardoi's are top of the list when it comes to aggression. Is your tank 4feet long ?

Yes it is. Quite narrow though and 18.5" high

 

[BORDER]

Johannii are considered the least agressive of the melonochromis breed , i had 2 in my tank with demasoni / labs / crabro and they ruled it..

constantly chasing the others so i returned them to LFS. since then the tank has become alot nicer place..

 

[Mark123]

Johannii are considered the least agressive of the melonochromis breed , i had 2 in my tank with demasoni / labs / crabro and they ruled it..

constantly chasing the others so i returned them to LFS. since then the tank has become alot nicer place..

I wouldnt say that

 

[BORDER]

im just explaining the experience i had with johannii

they were the most agressive fish by a long way in my tank even though people say they are the least agressive of the melo's

from what i gather fish do definately seem to have personalities, and i think the agression levels are particular to the fish themselves not the species as a whole..

i have 2 demasoni's in a 3ft tank , and people suggest 12 of these is a good number, and mine seem to get on swimmingly..( lol )

alot of people would say that the fish i have togther would cause major agression levels, but honestly...there just isnt any ..only the melo's were the trouble makers..

but thats not to say...they are all like that and that they wont get on great in a diff tank with other fish...

Just saying it how i have experienced it

 

[kj23502]

Ok, I'm new to cichlids but am setting up a 125gallon or about 473 liters. They said I could have 30-35 fish in there so I divided the aquarium size, buy the number of fish and came up w/bout 4 fish per gallon. That would mean, that according to that calc, you could have about 11 fish. Keep in mind that I'm keeping small Mbuna. Most of their adult sizes are 4-6inches (or about 10cm to 15cm). It will be interesting to see what the more experienced keepers think of my comparison and if it's a number that'll be alright. GOOD LUCK!!

KJ

 

[Eviltoon]

Ok, I'm new to cichlids but am setting up a 125gallon or about 473 liters. They said I could have 30-35 fish in there so I divided the aquarium size, buy the number of fish and came up w/bout 4 fish per gallon. That would mean, that according to that calc, you could have about 11 fish. Keep in mind that I'm keeping small Mbuna. Most of their adult sizes are 4-6inches (or about 10cm to 15cm). It will be interesting to see what the more experienced keepers think of my comparison and if it's a number that'll be alright. GOOD LUCK!!

KJ

Hello KJ & BORDER, thanks for your insight

that's is an interesting bit of information, and it is surprising to see those kinds of numbers KJ. I have recently added 3 more Africans to the tank

NIMBOCHROMIS VENUSTUS
Labidochromis caeruleus
and what I thought was a female Metriaclima Lombardoi. Now i am not so sure as the colouring is more greenish and brown rather than blue...but my they look identical otherwise.

The addition of these fish has greatly curbed the aggressive behaviour of the lombardoi...in fact they all seem to be getting along very well. Interesting to note that the Jack Dempsey has begun showing his more dominant nature now, and is certainly not getting picked on any more...actually it's quite the reverse. So I now have 7 cichlids in the tank, 5 Africans and 2 JD's and a pleco. They all have lots of hidey holes to go in and out of, but I notice now they prefer swimming more in the open amongst each other. Interesting change.

 

[Davo86]

Are you planning on keeping the africans and american fish together long term? The conditions required for each are soo different that one type will not thrive in your tank, and IMO when they mature you could easily end up with a few casualties due to the different prederences and attitudes of the two types.
Malawis need overstocking to reduce aggression whilst with american cichlids it is the total opposite,

I would personally move the JD's and pleco to another tank, and then look at keeping between 12-15 africans in your current set up

 

[Eviltoon]

Are you planning on keeping the africans and american fish together long term? The conditions required for each are soo different that one type will not thrive in your tank, and IMO when they mature you could easily end up with a few casualties due to the different prederences and attitudes of the two types.
Malawis need overstocking to reduce aggression whilst with american cichlids it is the total opposite,

I would personally move the JD's and pleco to another tank, and then look at keeping between 12-15 africans in your current set up

Hello Davo86...
Yes I am currently in the process of saving up for a nice 120 gal tank for the JD's. So far they are doing okay with the Africans...but I am looking to give them their own home in couple of months.

 

[caboose_122]

nimbochromis venustus is a large haplochromine that gets around 12 inches, the metriaclima lambardoi (also known as kenyi) that you got that is turning greenish brown it just probably just geting its male colouration and if it is you are probably going to be having some problems in the future, melanochromis johannii is considever one of the least agressive of the melanochromis species but is still extreemely agressive. and labidochromis caeruleus is an excellent fish and can be tank mates with just about any mbuna.

alex

 

[Eviltoon]

nimbochromis venustus is a large haplochromine that gets around 12 inches,

Yes, I've been reading up on this little guy. Very striking fish...but I am thinking that not too far in the future I'll be looking for a new tank...a twelve inch African!!! OUch. Right now he is only just over an inch.

the metriaclima lambardoi (also known as kenyi) that you got that is turning greenish brown it just probably just geting its male colouration and if it is you are probably going to be having some problems in the future.

I certainly hope you are wrong there...and I am hoping it is maybe turning blue ...I am not sure I want to see the damage two male kenyi's will do in this tank...

thanks a lot for your reply.

 

[caboose_122]

metriaclima lambardoi starts blue then if its male goes brown/orange females stay blue.