Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => Old World => Topic started by: jwalser18 on June 03, 2013, 05:52:56 PM
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I'm looking to this weekend COMPLETELY convert my tank to a cichlid only tank. I was thinking of doing monsters/oddballs, but my heart belongs with the cichlids.. so this brings me to my next few questions:
- How many? of what? does gender matter? (I want something that is colorful, yet easy enough to have little complications.)
- I was told mbuna would be the way to go? If so.. what does this mean? Can I combine others? I guess what species go well together? How to know what's good?
- LAST (sorry this is a lot) any breeders I should look into in the battle creek (49017) area to buy from?
Sorry I'm asking so many questions.. I just don't want to rush this and it's overwhelming. LOTS AND LOTS of latin terms def throwing me off.
appreciate any tips!
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There are old world cichlids (mbuna, haps, peacocks, tanganyikan sp. victorians) and New World species (big, bland, blah looking things :P). Which interest you more?
A lot of the answers to your questions will depend on what you're thinking of keeping.
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oh, def old world :) (I thought I posted in old world ;p)
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AQ advisor can help tailor tank if you have a general idea. You put in tank size, filtration, and fish species and numbers. It can let you know if they are compatible.
http://www.aqadvisor.com/
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I'm aware of the site, but thank you though :) the problem is I don't even know what fish come from what lakes, what are compatible, how much overstocked does it need to be, etc. if that makes sense?
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Also, I have 2 cascade 300 HOB filters 2 air wands, and will be picking up a powerhead this weekend when it all happens/.
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Cichlidae.com is a good resource for determining where fish are from.
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What size tank? Give us some colors that you would like to have in your tank and we may be able to make some good suggestions!
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55 gallon tank :) sorry thought I had that in there
nice blue's/yellow's orange? white?
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Blue: Sulphur Head Peacock
Yellow: Benga Sunshine Peacock
Orange: Aulonocara Jacobfriebergi Eureka Red
White: White Knight Ahli
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Might wanna look into fixing your caps lock before spending money on fish. :P
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Might wanna look into fixing your caps lock before spending money on fish. :P
I was excited :D
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Blue: Sulphur Head Peacock
Yellow: Benga Sunshine Peacock
Orange: Aulonocara Jacobfriebergi Eureka Red
White: White Knight Ahli
are any of these common? also, could i do 3 of each? would they have to be sexed?
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Iodotropheus sprengerae
Labidochromis caeruleus
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
4 of each okay? unsexed?
reference:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php
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No, Acei will be too big for a 55 & they are more of an open water Mbuna, compared to Labs & Rusties
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what could I replace the acei with?
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what could I replace the acei with?
cynotilapia afra
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cynotilapia afra (coblue)
iodotropheus sprengerae
labidochromis caeruleus
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
4 of (3) of those.. I think.. hopefully? will work unsexed?
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All those except the Afra are monomorphic
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whats that mean? google didnt help.
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Males & females look the same. (Females may be a bit duller)
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why is that bad?
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I just want about 12 fish, that can live together peacefully that are colorful I'm not to worried about them breeding, but I plan on purchasing them all small and just want to make sure that the sex doesn't matter.
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why is that bad?
I think he is saying that it's good. Even the females will have some color. Not always the case.
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oh okay sweet! I'm excited to get this thing going this weekend!
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Why not just get 15-20 yellow Labs, toss a big amount of lacerock in the tank & call it a day?
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Well that's kind of boring.
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Well that's kind of boring.
Why? No blue? He wants Malawi, so he wants boring. :P
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i want the blue, and orange.. and obvi yellow. I think i'm just gonna go to preuss this weekend and have them walk me though it and give me the fundamentals.
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They are crazy busy on weekends and don't have as much time.
I would recommend a weekday.
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1 day off a week.. 12 hour days :/
but, i plan on being there the moment they open :D
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Buy some books. I'd recommend the Malawi Cichlids Barron's book, it's $10 & has a bunch of beginner info & decent species profiles.
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Most of the ones i listed are pretty common, the white knights might be a little harder to find, but if you post on here that you're looking for all of those you should be able to find them no problem. I would worry a little bit with the rusties because they are so passive, but you could give it a try. 4 of each would be fine, as long as there's no conflicting colors or they'll fight for dominance and one will lose color
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And i would try to sex the fish before buying, so that males of the same species dont fight. your best bet is to do 1m/3f of each species that you pick. with the monomorphic species, you will have to vent them to tell if they are male or female, look it up on youtube. it's pretty simple
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And i would try to sex the fish before buying, so that males of the same species dont fight. your best bet is to do 1m/3f of each species that you pick. with the monomorphic species, you will have to vent them to tell if they are male or female, look it up on youtube. it's pretty simple
is this crucial for all malawi/mbuna's?
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It's not critical, but it would be in your best interest. If they are two males of the same or similar species, they will compete for dominance. Whichever one wins keeps his colors and gets all the females, whichever loses loses all color and gets no females. Basically, it will cause all kinds of havoc in your tank.
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i want the blue, and orange.. and obvi yellow.
Blue - Demasoni are black with blue stripes. But you'd need 15-20. You could try to find some Maingano.
Orange - Red Zebras
Yellow - Yellow Labs
Another option could be a dozen Saulosi (blue males golden yellow females) and some Red Zebras.
You wouldn't want to breed out of either of these tanks though.
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I just want about 12 fish, that can live together peacefully that are colorful I'm not to worried about them breeding, but I plan on purchasing them all small and just want to make sure that the sex doesn't matter.
Then you want a all male peacock tank. My 55 gallon has 10 peacock all get a long perfect and soon they are going in to a 90 gallon. :D
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I just want about 12 fish, that can live together peacefully that are colorful I'm not to worried about them breeding, but I plan on purchasing them all small and just want to make sure that the sex doesn't matter.
Then you want a all male peacock tank. My 55 gallon has 10 peacock all get a long perfect and soon they are going in to a 90 gallon. :D
+1 I think that would be best also.
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i want the blue, and orange.. and obvi yellow.
Blue - Demasoni are black with blue stripes. But you'd need 15-20. You could try to find some Maingano.
Orange - Red Zebras
Yellow - Yellow Labs
Another option could be a dozen Saulosi (blue males golden yellow females) and some Red Zebras.
You wouldn't want to breed out of either of these tanks though.
i'll have to look into that! I don't want to cramp peacocks/haps into a 55.. seems they get to big
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Some peacocks would be fine and a couple of the smaller haps. As long as u keep up on your maintenance
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i want the blue, and orange.. and obvi yellow.
Blue - Demasoni are black with blue stripes. But you'd need 15-20. You could try to find some Maingano.
Orange - Red Zebras
Yellow - Yellow Labs
Another option could be a dozen Saulosi (blue males golden yellow females) and some Red Zebras.
You wouldn't want to breed out of either of these tanks though.
i'll have to look into that! I don't want to cramp peacocks/haps into a 55.. seems they get to big
Haps - Yes, Peacocks - No (OBs & Jacobfreibergi being an exception )
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thank you everyone who has been helping! so far I'm looking at doing
5-yellow labs
5-saulosi
5-rusty
this should be fine correct? I'm going to try and get only 1 male of each!
Thank you everyone who has been helping me! again, I appreciate all of the knowledge that's on this forum
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Sounds like a nice tank to me!
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I'm hoping so! I can't wait until saturday! It's like being a kid on christmas, lol.
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I know the feeling. ;D