Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => Old World => Topic started by: LoveTheFishies on September 29, 2013, 10:47:03 AM
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I'm trying to plan ahead for stocking my tanks so there aren't any major conflicts. After all the shuffling I decided to do a mbuna tank. 55 gal. Currently have some that are growing up.
What do you guys think about this mix. I'm looking for a nice color mix. Not so interested in breeding. So if a female holds, I'll have a lot of hiding places, but not pull her.
Groups of: pseudotropheus acei
pseudotropheus sp. cherry red * already have some
labidochromis sp hongii *already have some
Plus: syno's or pleco
Thanks for input
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Well your stocking may work but both pseudotropheus sp. cherry red labidochromis sp hongii are on the more aggressive end of the spectrum, especially to but put in with acei as they are some of the more meek mbuna. I attempted a community with acei mixed in with some other psedotropheus species and I had to replace as the other psedotropheus came to about breeding size they just started beating the hell out of the acei. I would suggest something like this if you want to keep the acei.
Labidochromis caeruleus Lion's Cove ''Yellow Lab''
Iodotropheus sprengerae ''Rusty''
Pseudotropheus elegans Luwala Reef ''Yellow Tail Acei''
OR keep your current list take the acei out and do Labidochromis caeruleus Lion's Cove ''Yellow Lab'' in there place as they are a bit more hardy I found even in with aggressive species.
I currently keep 12 different types of mbuna most of which you would not find at your LFS. So if you want to talk about some non bread and butter stuff let me know.
: )
Although I have them all separated into species only tanks at this point, but it all started with a similar set up as yours a 55 g tank with about 40 mbuna in it lol.
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Yellow labs are easy to get. I like the way acei look. Can acei go in a hap/peacock tank?
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Yellow labs are easy to get. I like the way acei look. Can acei go in a hap/peacock tank?
I think so. I have white tail acei in my 125 with mbuna, my Hap Moorii, and misc single male peacocks.
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Ok, so I'll put some acei in my show tank.
What would you suggest to go with the hongi and cherry red. Some Labidochromis caeruleus?
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Ok, so I'll put some acei in my show tank.
What would you suggest to go with the hongi and cherry red. Some Labidochromis caeruleus?
Cherry red and Labidochromis caeruleus can bred but I would do some Iodotropheus sprengerae ''Rusty'' with the hongi and cherry red.
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Any other suggestions. Not sure I want to do rusty's. They kind of remind me of my hongi. Heres a picture of the dominant male I have
I'm looking for a nice mix of color.
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You could do some kind of cynotilapia :)
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I was actually looking at one of the cynotilapia afra
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Depending on the size of your current fish, I am white labs at around 1". Also, have some lansticola (my avatar) at around 1" as well. Not a mbuna seen around too often.
Frontboy7 has some bigger white labs.
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I was actually looking at one of the cynotilapia afra
I know that highland tropical and pruess pet has some.
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Josh, what is the full name or nickname of the lansticola. I looked online and couldn't find it. It looks interesting. Where can I get info.
Thanks
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Josh, what is the full name or nickname of the lansticola. I looked online and couldn't find it. It looks interesting. Where can I get info.
Thanks
Metriaclima sp. lanisticola
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=900
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Thanks, those look interesting. Have to keep that in the running.
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Thanks, those look interesting. Have to keep that in the running.
They are listed as a Malawi shell dweller but get 4 to 5" full grown. Not overly aggressive. Neat fish.
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That does sound cool to have a shell dwelling fish in a mbuna tank.
I would need to do overstocking with these right?
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On a species level overstocking M. lanisticola probably isn't a good idea. If you wanted to see them use shells, having too many would get some pushed out of the shell-littered area and they might not be as happy. Overstocking on a tank level might be alright, but the same thing could happen relative to the other species you're keeping - lanisticola are rather small.
IMO, the Ps. acei aren't aggressive, but I don't think that they are wimps. The original stocking list seems fine to me with the exception that someday you might have to move the estherae to a larger tank depending on aggression. I kept a similar mix in a "too small" 29 when I first started the hobby year ago and that worked out for 2 years. After that i upgraded to a 6' tank and everyone got along.
There was the mention of mixing acei with haps. I think it'd work as well to mix them as any other mid-aggression level (or less) mbuna. It's not something that couldn't be done, but ideally I like to keep my mbuna and haps separate these days.
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I was wondering of overstocking at tank level, not any particular group.
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I was wondering of overstocking at tank level, not any particular group.
Overstocking on a tank level is ok based on the types of filtration you have and your maintenance schedule. I overstock on some to help keep the aggression down, but I also over filter those tanks.
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You can definatly overstock mbuna, I actually highly recomend it just make sure you over filter and keep up with lots of water changes.
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I try to over filter anyway. Use a canister (fluval 306), and hide a sponge (hydrosponge 3)behind things. I keep that handy in case I want to set up something like a hospital tank in a hurry.