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wgb113

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I will be setting up a 55 gallon tank sometime in the next month. The tank will feature a lot of rockwork and no plants. I've got everything picked out as far as equipment goes so I've just got to decide on fish.

I plan to do a Malawi Cichlid tank but can't decide whether to have 2-3 species with groups of each or to have numerous species with only single specimens of each.

Here are the species my Local Fish Store has:

Placidochromis Electra
Placido. Phenochilus

Aulonacara Sp. "Ruby Red"
Aulon. Sp. "Sanga"
Aulon. Stuartgranti "Chipoka Sunshine"
Aulon. Mbenji
Aulon. Sp. "Maleri"
Aulon. Eureka Albino
Aulon. Baenschi "Electric Yellow"
Aulon. Flavescens "Usisya"
Aulon. Mamalela
Aulon. Sp. ASSORTED

Cynotilapia Afra "Red Top Moamba"

Labidochromis Caeruleus "Yellow Lab"

Melanochromis Maingano
Melano. Johanni
Melano. Auratus
Melano. Fuscus

Psuedotropheus Demansoni
Psuedo. Soccolofi
Pseudo. Zebra
Pseudo. Sp. "Cobalt Blue"
Pseudo. Paktari
Pseudo. Flavus

Protomelas Similis
Proto. Taeniolatus "Red Empress"
Proto. Steveni "Tangerine Tiger"
Proto. Fenestratus "Taiwan Reef"

Nimbochromis Livingstoni
Nimbo. Venustus

Fossochromis Rostratus

Chilotilapia Rhoadesii

Cyrtocara Moorii

Labeo Trewavasae

Mylochromis

This is what they had their tanks labeled so don't blame me if they're wrong! :D

What species will get too large for my aquarium? Which species are too aggressive? Which aren't compatible with which?

I know it's a lot to ask of others but that's why there's forums like these right?

I love the Peacocks but from what I've read they shouldn't be mixed with Mbuna and require a lot of open space to swim in. I've also heard, from Freddy I believe, that it is possible to keep one single specimen of Aulonacara with Mbuna and other active Malawi Cichlids.

I await your responses and suggestions.

Thank you in advance,
Bill
 
I would go with one species of Aulonocara, get one male and 2 or 3 females. Then I would get a bunch of Yellow Labs and Cynotilapia Afra, maybe 5 of each species. Labs are relatively peaceful like the Peacocks. Afras are more aggressive, but if you overcrowd a little it shouldnt be bad.
 
Wow!! That is some fish store, i wish i hade a store aroung here with that varity of africians.
I think AC is bang on. They would make a outstanding addition to your 55g.
 
Wow, selection indeed, what an LFS! :wub:

Ac's idea should work fine, but this is just one of many options of course. The trio of Aulonocara is good if you are interested in breeding, but if not I'd as soon skip the plain females.

My question for you is, what do you like? You've listed a lot of fish, but perhaps you can narrow down that list by choosing your favourates.

For now you can cross off the Nimbochromis, Chilotilapia Rhoadesii, and Fossochromis Rostratus, they are all too big.
 
Funny thing happened after submitting this thread. I spent all of that time taking pictures of the fish with my digital camera and jotting down the names. As I continued to stroll through the stores tank room I went from the Malawi cichlids to the Tanganyikan cichlids. They looked pretty cool, especially the shell dwellers, Alto. Comps. and Juli's.

I've since changed my mind completely and decided to do a Tanganyikan Community setup!

Most of the time I'm over at the other, cichlid-specific forum, but I'll keep you lot posted on my tank's progress as well.

And yes, I'm very lucky to have such a great LFS, though it is 45 minutes away! If anyone lives/visits the Lancaster County area of Pennsylvania you owe yourself a visit to That Fish Place.

Bill
 
Exiled,

I know! :D I'm afraid it's true though. The Malawi Mbuna seem to get enough attention, plus I have kept them before. After some research I just decided to hop on over to the other lake! :p

I'm still using your rockwork as an inspiration, just likely not quite as much as I've got to leave swimming room for one species and sand surface area w/ shells for the shell dwellers. That's one of the things that I liked about the Tangs, the different species will occupy different parts of the tanks rather than hug the rocks.

Still love the Mbuna's and your tank! I'll be sure to post pics of mine when it's done, maybe even while it's in progress.

Thanks for all of your help!

Bill
 
Please be careful what tangs you buy as it is harder to set their environment as they do not like to be overcrowded!! Malawi's are much better as you can get more in the space you have!
Click to expand...

True, but not everyone needs to cram their tanks wall to wall with fish ;)
 
True, but not everyone needs to cram their tanks wall to wall with fish
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! I like the "less is more" approach to fish stocking. That's not to say I'll only keep a pair of shell dwellers in a 55 gallon tank but I'd rather keep the number of fish low so that they'll behave more naturally.

Bill
 
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