Juwel Rio 180 For Lake Malawi Cichlids

[sweet-like-coco]

Hi everyone,


I really want to get some african cichlids as i adore their colours but I don't have that much space in my apartment. Will the Juwel Rio 180 be big enough? is there anything like the rio with a bigger capacity?

Please let me know

Thank you

 

[Timmy_Bee]

bump... i also have a Rio 180 and am wondering this myself.

As for 'a rio with a bigger capacity' - go for a bigger Rio like the 400?
If you were talking about the same footprint, am not sure, becuase i believe as Malawi are bottom dwellers, the length of the tank is most important

 

[Always Learning]

The only Mbuna you could really get in there, is some of the dwarfs. Off the top of my head, there's ones such as the Saulosi, Kinsizei, Afra Cobue and similar, Demasoni...

Be warned though, you ideally need a bigger tank, so you will have to make the most of what you have, when it comes to rock work. Plenty of rock and more caves than you can shake a stick at. Research each fish too and ask for other keepers opinions, as quite often, those listed as peaceful as far as cichlids go, are also known as little terrors too. Kingsizei is a prime example.. everywhere says they are peaceful, yet they are very territorial and aggressive with all who dare approach.

 

[bullit]

you could be not fare on the fish. as above you can get dwalf species

 

[Timmy_Bee]

guess i'll just have to get a bigger tank then

 

[Squidward]

Hi,

As has been said above, you could do with a bigger tank, though you could get away with some of the smaller species, and careful stocking/right mix of species.

My 240L was even a bit small at times!

 

[KittyKat]

15 Pseudotropheus demasoni with a LOT of rock work (40% of the volume to be taken up by rocks) would work, I think. I have kept similar in a 200 and 220 litre tank without problems, maybe I am just lucky to have fish who are not too aggressive. If possible, a 3m 12f mix would work best. They can be a pain to sex though.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

what fish mix well with the Pseudotropheus demasoni? i like the look of them, but would rather have a mixed tank
Also, how big to Kenyi get? would they (on their own) be suitable in a heavily rocked 180L?

 

[Always Learning]

No. Too aggressive also.

Demasoni go well with Yellow Labs from other peoples experience, but not tried it myself. They are nasty little so and so's though. Yellow labs get bigger than people seem to realise too, so I wouldn't have them in a 3ft tank either.