Thinking Of Starting A Mbuna

[guidedbyechoes]

I want to go for a 75 gal quite similar to this

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMuEDC1xWMg

But without the brown and black looking cichlids and less of the yellow since they look similar enough that it might cause aggression problems and I prefer the lab.

Also no crayfish please.

Can anyone suggest any other mbuna that aren't yellow that would work with those listed in the video?

 

[adpierin11]

I have a 75 gallon tank and have the following in mine:

2 Yellow Labs, 1 Red Peac0ck, 1 OB peac0ck, 1 azureus, 1 greshakei, and 1 acei. It's an all male tank with more to come. I would suggest going to cichlid-forum. Look around there to see what you like....

I am also going to be adding a Burtoni, and a pseudotropheus polit....


Just some ideas..

 

[guidedbyechoes]

I have a 75 gallon tank and have the following in mine:

2 Yellow Labs, 1 Red Peac0ck, 1 OB peac0ck, 1 azureus, 1 greshakei, and 1 acei. It's an all male tank with more to come. I would suggest going to cichlid-forum. Look around there to see what you like....

I am also going to be adding a Burtoni, and a pseudotropheus polit....


Just some ideas..

I know the peacocks are from the same lake but don't they have different requirements since they are closer to the middle and are from a less rocky area? Unless they are tank raised then I guess that point would be moot. But what about the food requirements? Also don't you have a lot of agression with all males. I have thought about it.

 

[dthoffsett]

In the tank on youtube, the description says he keeps:
Labeotropheus trewavasae
Tropheus Macrophtalmus
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Metriaclima Estherae
Labidochromis Hongi
Labidochromis caeruleus

It's not a good idea to mix labidochromis species due to hybridization, l.caeruelus and m.estherae will also interbreed and should be avoided. Tropheus are from Lake Tanganikya and are very susceptable to bloat.

All-male tanks can be done, however, I don't recommend it to cichlid begginers as it is a bit more difficult than standard stocking. Peacocks can be mixed with mbuna, though you need to stick with the least aggressive mbuna to avoid the peacocks being killed through stress or attack, as well as feed carefully to avoid bloat in the mbuna and ensuring the peacocks nutritional needs are met.

For stocking in your tank, I'd suggest going to your lfs (or wherever you plan to get your fish), and writing down the names (preferably scientific) of all the fish you like, then post on here and we can help with stocking.

I'll also add some links I suggest checking out.
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/27706/The-Mbuna-Aquarium/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...Mbuna-Aquarium/[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/all-male_malawi.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/all-male_malawi.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/compatibility.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/compatibility.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/lake_malawi_setup.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/lake_malawi_setup.php[/URL]

 

[guidedbyechoes]

I came up with this list from the LFS

Metriaclima callainos or Metriaclima fainzilberi

Pseudotropheus saulosi

Cynotilapia axelrodi

Haplochromis sp. "Flameback"

Labidochromis chisumulae

Pundamilia nyererei (one of my favorites, looks like it was colored by a first grader)

 

[dthoffsett]

Metriaclima callainos or Metriaclima fainzilberi

Pseudotropheus saulosi

Cynotilapia axelrodi

Haplochromis sp. "Flameback"

Labidochromis chisumulae

Pundamilia nyererei

I'd skip the flameback as it's a hap and I don't recommend mixing haps and mbuna for beginner cichlid keepers. I know kj23502 has nyererei in with her mbuna, so I'd check with her and see how that is going. I'd pick 4 species off your list and get 1m/3-4f each.

 

[guidedbyechoes]

Pseudotropheus saulosi

Cynotilapia axelrodi

Labidochromis chisumulae

Pundamilia nyererei

I'd skip the flameback as it's a hap and I don't recommend mixing haps and mbuna for beginner cichlid keepers. I know kj23502 has nyererei in with her mbuna, so I'd check with her and see how that is going. I'd pick 4 species off your list and get 1m/3-4f each.

so thats what I think I'm gonna go with. after I check with kj23502 about her nyererei .

 

[dthoffsett]

Sounds good