revamping 125g stock and looking for suggestions or ideas

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

im looking to get rid of some species in the 125 and put in some new ones. i have a few that i would like to keep as well but im stuck as to what else i could put in there that would work.
current stock list:
f.rostratus 8 @ 4-6" (want to keep til they start coloring then i'll get rid of a few)
syno. multipuntatus 10 or 11 (keeping these sweet things)
Protomelas taeniolatus 3 @ about 3"+ (would like to keep)
benga sunshine male (probably gonna move or sell)
Archocentrus Sajica  (gonna move back  to 55)

l. fuelleborni 1m/3f (probably getting rid of these)
labidochromis caeruleus 10-12 (up for sale)

picking up some venustus soon 1m/9f (always wanted some of these)

is this too much for this tank? so far its looking like rostratus and venustus as the haps in there, with the multis. i dont know if a 55 would be to small for the 3 tangerine tigers. im also looking for ideas for one mbuna species and maybe one peacock species that wont be pushed around too much by larger fish. the benga hasnt bred since i added the fuelleborni so i dont think it will do well with even more dominant fish in there. i do have some hap sp. 44 that i got at auction growing out in another tank as well as some otopharynx lithobates but i think that might be too many haps. bottom line is i have a lot of different critters that i need to slim down on. im thinking of some larger mbuna like metriaclima sp. dolphin "ndonga" or something. input or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[lilscoots]

I don't see a problem with keeping the Protomelas in there,  Personally, after seeing some larger rostratus, I wouldn't keep them in a 125 as it might prove too narrow when they reach adult size.  if your benga male is looking for another home, I might know a place he can go   You'd definitely have to choose one of the larger mbuna species and one of the more aggressive peacocks (jacobfreibergi varieties).

[African cichlid Keeper]

 Just a FYI your venustus and f.rostratus can breed together..

[jcunningham0295]

I have my Rostratus in a 125 gallon with no problem right now.  I have around 14 of them breeding all the time.  Not sure I would would mix them with Venustus.  I keep my Venustus group 2m/5f in a separate 100 gallon.  Mixing them would be trail and error.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

well that sucks... i thought they were different enough to be ok. the plan for the rostratus is to grow them out til i get them to color up. if they get too big for the tank i will sell them off as needed, but they came with a tank i bough a little while ago and getting a colored up male is something i was really looking forward too. i was planning on getting like 10 venustus from Rich tomorrow. i dont have any more tank space either. this is quite a conundrum. anyone want to buy some venustus? haha. well the rostratus and multis are the ones i like the most. everything thing else in the tank can have a price tag on it. when the rostratus get bigger are they pretty aggressive or fairly mild? i want to try and narrow down what types of mbuna or peacock i could do in there. would the sp.44 or the lithobates be ok to try in there?

[jcunningham0295]

Rostratus are mild and like to school together, but they have big mouths.  Some of mine are over 10" and I would not consider putting anything in there. It would most likely disappear.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

 the ones i have now are about 4-5" the biggest might even be 6". does that mean the multipunctatus are likely going to become a meal? i was hoping that when the rostraus get up to breeding size that the multis would have a chance to get in there and breed too. will this be a bad idea for this?

[jcunningham0295]

I don't think they could eat them since the multis do have some armor and defense, however that is a good question.  Also, gives me an idea maybe to throw my multi breeders in with my venustus group.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

Since there are 8 that aren't up to full size it leaves a lot to be desired to maximize my tank space. Would the sp. 44's be too small for that tank. They're profile says the only get to about 5". Does that make them rostratus lunch? And the lithobates only 5.5", plus I guess they're pretty peaceful. Will these probably not do well in there? If not I have some more stuff for sale. Haha

[lilscoots]

Just a FYI your venustus and f.rostratus can breed together..

All mouthbrooders can breed together.....

I would not expect rostratus and venustus to interbreed, they are quite dissimilar, the females of each species are not likely to choose the male of the other to spawn with if a more suitable male (one of their own species) is available.  I would caution against keeping any fish of the same genus or any fish where males look similar in the same tank if breeding is something you're interested in.

[African cichlid Keeper]

Just a FYI your venustus and f.rostratus can breed together..

All mouthbrooders can breed together.....

I would not expect rostratus and venustus to interbreed, they are quite dissimilar, the females of each species are not likely to choose the male of the other to spawn with if a more suitable male (one of their own species) is available.  I would caution against keeping any fish of the same genus or any fish where males look similar in the same tank if breeding is something you're interested in.

I have seen a  venustus x f.rostratus hybrid @ pruess pets.  And they told me they can.