Mbuna cichlid tank mates

[Connershawzz]

I had someone offer me $150 for 13 of my mbuna cichlids. I spent about $120 on them. And of course my fish store just got in 4 ornate bichir. So I’m trying to decide if that will be worth it. I’d have a few mbuna left over after the sale , the more “relaxed” ones , which are all the babies of my mbuna about 2”.

Thoughts?

 

[gwand]

I think your tank is exciting as is. You have a wonderful, variegated array of fish. The tank is a stunner.

 

[Magnum Man]

your mbuna, can be hard to find tank mates for, entering the "dither" fish topic there...

Bichirs are a love hate relationship... most will eat pellets if they get hungry enough, but typically won't thrive unless they can eat live foods... that opens the risk for disease introduction... my 12 inch Dezi Bichir, ate an 8 inch pleco... I would would have never guessed that possible, the head on an 8 inch common pleco is huge

 

[GaryE]

Reading you here, you've struck me as a fishkeeper with skills. In the tanks of skilled aquarists, an ornate bichir is a 50-60cm fish. I hope that's a huge tank.
The mbuna would become food along the road to tank busting.

Bichirs are popular now, but I've handled the big ones, and they are pure power and strength. Quite impressive. I wouldn't keep them in a tank though. They are the latest beautiful big one sold to be killed by their owners while they're still young. Some survive, just like pacus, red tailed cats, peacock bass and most oscars. Most die in too small tanks.