Need Help

[Herefishyfishyfishsy]

I'm going to be setting up an African Cichlid species tank. There are going to be around 6 yellow labs. It's a 29gallon bowfront tank. I'd like some kind of catfish to clean up the algae as labs aren't as big of grazers as other mbunas. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've had spotted Raphaels in the past, I never really noticed them eating algae, but really liked them. Could I have some with the other fish I want, plus one or so to eat algae? Sorry for the rambling, but I want to do it right the first time, so questions, questions, questions!

 

[bunjiweb]

A group of 3 synodontis multipunctatus, petricola or any other lake syno. Also plecs do well wich cichlids. If you are going for the smaller african lake cichlids (neolamprologus or labidochromis etc.), then you have more scope. Things like porthole cats, larger corydora species etc. But if you are going for less but larger species (like pseudotropheus or haplochromis) stick to the medium synos or plecs.

Also loaches work well with cichlids.

Ben

 

[vantgE]

I think in a 29 gallon tank, your are a little limited with african cichlids, you could keep synodontis petricola, but I think a 29 is a little small for mbuna such as yellow labs, most 29's I believ have the same footprint as a 20, so I would asume to small most catfish, and most africans, if you move up just a bit too a 30gallon you get way more options such as yellow labs, you could still keep certain tangykian cichlids instead

 

[Herefishyfishyfishsy]

Hey everybody! Thanks for your help. I'm going to see if any of my lfs have synodontis multipunctatus or petricola. They're so cute.

 

[bunjiweb]

Petricola will do fine in a 29G deffinately. The ones you find in 99% of fish shops are the "dwarf" variety who only grow to about 3". Syno. Multipuncatus grow bigger, to about 5-6" although it takes a while for them to grow to this size soyou should be ok! Just remember get a group of 3 then they will be active and you can appreciate them much more.

Other Synos which are suited to a 29G are as follows..

Syno. Brichardi (if you can find them)
Syno. Contractus / Nigriventris (Upsidedown cats)
Syno. Pulcher (stay very small, could possibly get 5 of these in a 29G)

Ben

 

[freddyk]

Multipunctatus get to 8" long, do best in groups, and would be a very poor choice for this tank. Ditto Brichardi.

 

[bunjiweb]

Well according to books i have Brichardi only grow to 15cm (6") in most aquariums, 20cm (8") in big tanks.

You are correct about multis, although i have never seen them bigger than 6", although i'd love to!

Ben

 

[freddyk]

I've seen them, they're nice - and constantly swam the length of the 6 foot tank they were kept in - give them big tanks, they'll use it!

I have noticed the commonly accepted growth potential for the multis in generic books and on the web is about 5-6" - go figure. I take all info on the web with a grain of salt or three.

 

[bunjiweb]

I dont take much of my info from the web anymore (except for planet catfish), i use a variety of books to assertain what length/requirements a fish have... I currently use:

Baensch Aquarium Atlas Photo Index / Vol1&2
Burgess' Atlas Of Freshwater and Marine Catfishes
Bede's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes

I find that the combination of these 3 gives me lots of info on the fish i need to find..

Ben

 

[reg2k2]

One thing: Synos aren't big on algae---or are they?

Certain plecos might be a better choice. 'Course, could always pick up an algae-scrubber.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Are corys that great at eating algae, Ben? Aren't they more scavengers picking up loose bits from the bottom? If Nature did design them to keep my tank clean- could you just pop round and have a word with mine, please?

Have been thinking of putting a guppy in there to do a clean-up job (now those guys really do eat algae, unless on flat surface), but don't like to shift them backwards and forwards as I have different ph levels in the two tanks.

 

[freddyk]

None of these catfish will eat algae. Synodontis are predetors and scavangers.

 

[CFC]

Actually several species of Synodontis will rasp algea from rocks and wood within the aquarium as part of their diet, though being omnivors they do also require some meaty fare in their diet as well. Algea shouldnt really be a problem in a Malaiwi set up as mbuna will eat more algea than any plec leaving the only algea removal to do being to wipe the front glass clean with a algea scraper once in a while.

 

[Herefishyfishyfishsy]

Thanks everyone for all the help. I'll be sure and post pics when I get the tank set up, although it'll be a couple of months. I'm moving in 2 months and don't want to get a tank just set up and then move, so I have to wait. Darn!