Poll - Please Vote !

[Harbrook]

Hi, As my previous post have already said, i am in the process of setting up a 180 ltr (49gl?) 3ft tank (juwel rio 180)... I will be using Sand and most proberly ocean rock, with abundent caves and dwellings..

I am a new beginner to the hobby, and would ask you to answer my poll as to which combination of fish is best suited to me... (by the way i am looking to have a blue/yellow combination if suitable)

As soon as i find out fish to stock i will then start to reseach how many i will need, adn M/F ratios etc..

Many thanks for your time and help

 

[kj23502]

These are pseudotropheus "acei" and are peaceful, compared to other mbuna! I think it'd be a great choice too!

metriaclima callainos

pseudotropheus socolofi

I think these others may work....know for sure that the acei will. I'm just not sure about the 3ft tank for the other two options I gave. Hopefully, someone else will comment on those to clarify for us!

 

[kribensis12]

Yellow Lab/ Demansoni combo would look nice!

 

[kj23502]

Yellow Lab/ Demansoni combo would look nice!

I totally agree, however his tank size is very limiting. Here's a clip from Malawi cichlid homepage.
No matter its relatively small size (final size about 6–8 cm) this fish has a lot of temperament. Unless you intend to keep at least 12 individuals (preferably 1-2 males and at least 10 females) don’t add that little fish in your tank. It’s extremely aggressive and able to kill every other fish which has a color combination resembling his (a great variety of blue bars with different hues). Males and females show the same colours from the first months of their life. Thus, sexing them is anything but easy. A hint: Males (as with many other cichlids) will get a larger final size and theirs pelvic and dorsal fins are more pointed. But this is not the rule nor is it always easy to tell. After all, what does "pointed" mean ? Alternatively, the only fool proof way to tell them apart is venting but this requires some experience.

Males and females fight in the same way and intensity between each other but the Alpha male (or the dominant male) will soon make his supremacy known to the others. Every fish in the tank (especially the other males) will avoid fights with him. The Alpha male will soon choose one of the females in order to mate. During this procedure every other male in the tank will be chased ferociously and - if the tank is not large enough - beat them to death. Hiding places are extremely important if you want to minimize casualties. A heavy rockwork with a lot of hiding places and - if possible - green algae will be extremely appreciated since this fish belongs to the Mbuna flock and loves staying near the rocks biting algae all day long

 

[WaterBender1995]

if your looking for a CALM, BLUE/YELLOW combo then look no further then a ACEI/LAB mix. IMEO

buy in juvenile groups, let them grow and mature, you'll begin to see dominant males pop up, weed out the less dominant and leave the females. you're wanting a 1 to 4 ratio.

demasoni are just sooo agressive! w/ Dems it's either 1 or 12 LOL

 

[Ferris]

Labidochromis Caeruleus and Pseudotropheus Acei would also get my vote for the most likely trouble-free tank.

 

[Harbrook]

Labidochromis Caeruleus and Pseudotropheus Acei would also get my vote for the most likely trouble-free tank.

i will add you combo to the poll!!!

will i need WOOD for the tank if i go with the Acei's, i can see that they feed of the wood in the lake?

thanks for all your advice

 

[kj23502]

No you won't need to add any wood. Real wood would probably lower the PH, which is a BAD thing in african cichlid tank!

Rocks will be fine. They'll feed on the algea from them!

 

[Harbrook]

Would you not agree that if i was going with the Acei / Lab combo, that i would need a 4ft tank..... if those Aceis can grow up to 6" then are you sure that they would be happy in 180ltr, 101cm tank?

im really grateful for your time and help.

Darren.

 

[kj23502]

In general the bigger the tank you can get, the better off the fish would be!! What is the depth front to back?

 

[wslinky]

I have the Acei/Lab currently and I think it looks awesome, the Yellow on the fins of the Acei is almost the exact same as the color of the labs. Both species are also very peacful which makes it a much easier grouping for a beginner.

Here is a picture

 

[cuprajake]

id go for mangiano and yellow labs myself

imagine a few labs in there too

or a saulosi species tank???

jake