Mbuna Cichlids

[Iain Omond]

Hi,

I have a 3 foot (120 litre) freshwater tank containing 2 dwarf gouramis, 8
neon tetras and 5 swordtails. It has been running for about two months and I
was wondering if I was able to get a Cobalt Zebra or a lombardoi mbuna and
is my tank big enough? Also can they be kept alone and are my fish that I
have compatible with them?

Thanks for your help.

Iain.

[Amateur Cichlids]

"Iain Omond" > wrote in message
.uk...
> Hi,
>
> I have a 3 foot (120 litre) freshwater tank containing 2 dwarf gouramis, 8
> neon tetras and 5 swordtails. It has been running for about two months and
> I was wondering if I was able to get a Cobalt Zebra or a lombardoi mbuna
> and is my tank big enough? Also can they be kept alone and are my fish
> that I have compatible with them?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Iain.
>
>

Iain,
IMO, the answer is no to almost all your questions. They can be kept
alone however. A 120 litre tank with both the Metriaclima estherae and the
Metriaclima lombardoi would be seen as "their" territory. They would claim
the entire tank and would most likely kill anything else in the tank with
them. The water conditions should be hard and alkaline. pH should be 7.8 or
higher. If you're looking for some interesting interaction with cichlids
that would be more compatible with your fish, check out some of the dwarf
South American species.
Tim
www.fishaholics.org

[Iain]

Would a Apistogramma steindachneri be suitable for my tank and current fish
I have? How big would they grow up to? Are they aggressive?

--
Iain.

[Happy'Cam'per]

The apisto's would be a BRILLIANT choice for your existing fish. Go for it.
They don't get very big, as big as a Bolivian Ram........about 5-7cm.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

"Iain" > wrote in message
. uk...
> Would a Apistogramma steindachneri be suitable for my tank and current
fish
> I have? How big would they grow up to? Are they aggressive?
>
> --
> Iain.
>
>

[Mr Happy]

hi

I wouldn't think that is to good an idea
see

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/glombardoi.html
The Zebras are more or less the same...

High PH
Hard water
herbivores
aggressive

If you wanted to put the malawis in the tank INSTEAD OF the
current occupants, that would be fine assuming you can meet the
water reqts and heavy filtration needs. I suggest you add a fair
few more mbuna as the game is usually to have 50% more Mbuna in
a tank than you would other fish types to stop hyperdominant
fish ripping up your stock

I would go for some of the smallar tanganyikans instead, neolamp
brichardi and a pair of shell dwellers...fish that will breed
and have interesting behaviuors

The choice is yours but, a definite NO to mixing what you have
now with the malawis

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