Will this fish mix get along

"Christopher Kollmann" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I'm starting a 55 gallon Mbuna tank. After doing some research,
especially on www.cichlid-forum.com, I was thinking of stocking the
following mix of fish:

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
4 Pseudotropheus socolofi
3 Synodontis multipunctatus

Will these fish get along together? Is this stocking level good? The
tank is heavily decorated with rocks, with many hiding places. Any
other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Chris Kollmann


Chris,
As Netmax stated, most of the Mbuna do better in a 75 gallon tank. If
you're going with a 55 gallon, consider some of the smaller Mbuna instead of
the Pseudotropheus species. Even the dwarf species of Mbuna can be a bit
aggressive for a 55. You may be better off with Cynotilapia or Iodotropheus
species. Another option would be to mix some Aulonocara with the yellow
labids. Many of the Labidochromis species, like the caeruleus are
insectivores. They eat a mix of algae and insects from the biocover. This
allows them to have a more varied diet where most of the other Mbuna species
need a diet primarily vegetarian in nature.
A note on the P. socolofi. Netmax mentioned them as dwarf Mbuna. In the
wild these fish obtain lengths of about three inches. Most of the P.
socolofi in the trade right now are tank raised. In tanks, these fish have
been recorded up to lengths of six inches or more. Not exactly a dwarf Mbuna
at that size. Also, when purchasing P. socolofi, be certain you're getting
the right fish. They are found in the wild in a couple locations along side
Metriaclima aurora and visibly look identical. It's easy to catch small M.
aurora and mistake them for P. socolofi.
As for dither fish, I've moved away from them in my tanks now. Once the
fish are used to you, they're out enough to not have to worry about it. If
you build up the rock work enough in the tank, the fish will cover the
entire range. If you stick with Mbuna and do 6 L. caeruleus, (1m/2f) and do
say 6 Cynotilapia afra (2m/4f) with lots of rock work, the tank will be
alive with activity.
Just my thoughts.
Tim (aka AmateurCichlids)
www.fishaholics.org

Excuse my dumbness, I'm still relatively new to fish, but what are dither
fish? Thanks.

Sarah

"Amateur Cichlids" wrote in message
m...

"Christopher Kollmann" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I'm starting a 55 gallon Mbuna tank. After doing some research,
especially on www.cichlid-forum.com, I was thinking of stocking the
following mix of fish:

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
4 Pseudotropheus socolofi
3 Synodontis multipunctatus

Will these fish get along together? Is this stocking level good? The
tank is heavily decorated with rocks, with many hiding places. Any
other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Chris Kollmann


Chris,
As Netmax stated, most of the Mbuna do better in a 75 gallon tank. If
you're going with a 55 gallon, consider some of the smaller Mbuna instead
of the Pseudotropheus species. Even the dwarf species of Mbuna can be a
bit aggressive for a 55. You may be better off with Cynotilapia or
Iodotropheus species. Another option would be to mix some Aulonocara with
the yellow labids. Many of the Labidochromis species, like the caeruleus
are insectivores. They eat a mix of algae and insects from the biocover.
This allows them to have a more varied diet where most of the other Mbuna
species need a diet primarily vegetarian in nature.
A note on the P. socolofi. Netmax mentioned them as dwarf Mbuna. In the
wild these fish obtain lengths of about three inches. Most of the P.
socolofi in the trade right now are tank raised. In tanks, these fish have
been recorded up to lengths of six inches or more. Not exactly a dwarf
Mbuna at that size. Also, when purchasing P. socolofi, be certain you're
getting the right fish. They are found in the wild in a couple locations
along side Metriaclima aurora and visibly look identical. It's easy to
catch small M. aurora and mistake them for P. socolofi.
As for dither fish, I've moved away from them in my tanks now. Once the
fish are used to you, they're out enough to not have to worry about it. If
you build up the rock work enough in the tank, the fish will cover the
entire range. If you stick with Mbuna and do 6 L. caeruleus, (1m/2f) and
do say 6 Cynotilapia afra (2m/4f) with lots of rock work, the tank will be
alive with activity.
Just my thoughts.
Tim (aka AmateurCichlids)
www.fishaholics.org

Quoth ,

Chris,
As Netmax stated, most of the Mbuna do better in a 75 gallon tank. If
you're going with a 55 gallon, consider some of the smaller Mbuna instead of
the Pseudotropheus species. Even the dwarf species of Mbuna can be a bit
aggressive for a 55. You may be better off with Cynotilapia or Iodotropheus
species. Another option would be to mix some Aulonocara with the yellow
labids. Many of the Labidochromis species, like the caeruleus are
insectivores. They eat a mix of algae and insects from the biocover. This
allows them to have a more varied diet where most of the other Mbuna species
need a diet primarily vegetarian in nature.
A note on the P. socolofi. Netmax mentioned them as dwarf Mbuna. In the
wild these fish obtain lengths of about three inches. Most of the P.
socolofi in the trade right now are tank raised. In tanks, these fish have
been recorded up to lengths of six inches or more. Not exactly a dwarf Mbuna
at that size. Also, when purchasing P. socolofi, be certain you're getting
the right fish. They are found in the wild in a couple locations along side
Metriaclima aurora and visibly look identical. It's easy to catch small M.
aurora and mistake them for P. socolofi.
As for dither fish, I've moved away from them in my tanks now. Once the
fish are used to you, they're out enough to not have to worry about it. If
you build up the rock work enough in the tank, the fish will cover the
entire range. If you stick with Mbuna and do 6 L. caeruleus, (1m/2f) and do
say 6 Cynotilapia afra (2m/4f) with lots of rock work, the tank will be
alive with activity.
Just my thoughts.
Tim (aka AmateurCichlids)
www.fishaholics.org

Interesting. Thank you for the information. I had not realized that
socolofi got that big. Boy, it seems like everything I read about
cichlids is later contradicted by someone else (seen today on
cichlidtank.com: Pseudotropheus demasoni described as "moderately
peaceful," which is not what I've read at all). Maybe C. afra is the
way to go, if I can find them around here. I know you recommended
against Pseudotropheus, but what about Pseudotropheus acei? From what
I've read, they are supposedly fairly peaceful, but I'm beginning to
wonder about the accuracy of my sources. Do you think they would be a
good fit for this tank?

Thanks for all your help.

Chris

--
Chris Kollmann

"Christopher Kollmann" wrote in message
.. .
Interesting. Thank you for the information. I had not realized that
socolofi got that big. Boy, it seems like everything I read about
cichlids is later contradicted by someone else (seen today on
cichlidtank.com: Pseudotropheus demasoni described as "moderately
peaceful," which is not what I've read at all). Maybe C. afra is the
way to go, if I can find them around here. I know you recommended
against Pseudotropheus, but what about Pseudotropheus acei? From what
I've read, they are supposedly fairly peaceful, but I'm beginning to
wonder about the accuracy of my sources. Do you think they would be a
good fit for this tank?

Thanks for all your help.

Chris

Chris,
As for the differing opinions, you'll find them not only online, but
also in some of the more trusted books out there. From reading online, in
books and personal experience, P. demasoni are anything but peaceful. They
are very pretty though. For the P. socolofi and their ability to get larger
than normal in tanks, that comes from Ad Konings and "Malawi Cichlids in
their natural habitat".
The P. acei if you get the species from Ngara are fairly peaceful. That
much I agree with.
They are found in the lake in a sandy area where a lot of trees are fallen
in the water or overhang the water. They form a large community there as
opposed to guarding a specific area. They were the most peaceful
Pseudotropheus I've owned. I can't speak for some of the other acei species
I've seen, because I've never owned them. I don't know how any of the acei
will react in a 55 gallon. Mine were in a 75 when I had them. There's also
the Iodotropheus sprengerae to consider.
Tim
www.fishaholics.org

Quoth ,

Chris,
As for the differing opinions, you'll find them not only online, but
also in some of the more trusted books out there. From reading online, in
books and personal experience, P. demasoni are anything but peaceful. They
are very pretty though. For the P. socolofi and their ability to get larger
than normal in tanks, that comes from Ad Konings and "Malawi Cichlids in
their natural habitat".
The P. acei if you get the species from Ngara are fairly peaceful. That
much I agree with.
They are found in the lake in a sandy area where a lot of trees are fallen
in the water or overhang the water. They form a large community there as
opposed to guarding a specific area. They were the most peaceful
Pseudotropheus I've owned. I can't speak for some of the other acei species
I've seen, because I've never owned them. I don't know how any of the acei
will react in a 55 gallon. Mine were in a 75 when I had them. There's also
the Iodotropheus sprengerae to consider.

OK, you've convinced me to go with L. caerelus, C. afra and S.
multipunctatus. My LFS has the caerelus and multipunctatus (although
the catfish are $50 each!) in stock, and will be getting some afras soon
(now I have to decide *which* afra to get, boy, there are a lot of
them).

LFS guy is recommending overstocking the tank, he claims I should end up
with 20-30 cichlids in a 55 gallon, added 8-12 at a time. Is that a
good idea? The tank is a 55 gallon, with crushed coral and a lot of
rock work, filtered by an Eheim 2126.

Thanks,
Chris
--
Chris Kollmann

"Christopher Kollmann" wrote in message
.. .


LFS guy is recommending overstocking the tank, he claims I should end up
with 20-30 cichlids in a 55 gallon, added 8-12 at a time. Is that a
good idea? The tank is a 55 gallon, with crushed coral and a lot of
rock work, filtered by an Eheim 2126.

Thanks,
Chris
--


Although overstocking is a common method of aggression control, 30 cichlids
in a 55 is too many fish. IMO. I'd stick with 6-8 of each. With the yellow
labids, I'd only do a single male. With the Cynotilapia, I'd do two males
with four to six females. Research the C. afras carefully, as some of them
can be quite aggressive. Depending on where you're located, Pam Chin
typically has C. afra juveniles and hangs out on the forum at
cichlid-forum.com
Tim