Depends if you want a tank with just one lake represented, or mixed. In my
experience, I have found the Tanganyikans to be generally less brightly
coloured, but had more personality. So I guess it's what you are going for.

- Seweryn

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Hi folks, if any of you remember, I have been setting up a 100g, 4' tank
for
africans for some time.
so now I have 5 1- 1 1/2 inch gold fish swimming around in there (no
offence
to gold fish lovers, but man, they are brainless little creatures!)
cycling
my tank. soon I will be adding my african cichlids and I have been
researching every night on the net for compatible species etc.
Unfortunately I find the info on alot of sites is quite contradictory.
Some
sites say electric blue haps are open water swimmers while some say rock
dwellers etc.

SO seeing as I trust alot of you guys, maybe you can help??

so.. I have a 4'x2'x2' tank. I have a pile of rocks that extends half way
up the height of the tank and about half way to towards the front of the
tank. so that is about a quater of the total tank space is full of caves
and
crevices. I intend on getting a few more rocks as I have read that most
mbuna/ haps will stay pretty close to the rocks.

I really want to get some species from malawi that will readily swim
around
in the open water.

At the moment I am thinking of getting the following fish (each species a
breeding group of 1-2 male and 3-5 females):

Electric blue haps
" yellow haps
Red empresses
a species of peacock
maybe blue dolphins..

I have basically chosen these fish for their color, the information on
their
personality and habits was very inconsistant.

will any of these fish swim in open water?
do the females of these species display good color?
will I get some interesting habits/personality out of these fish?

what else would you recommend if the answer is no?