Mbuna mixed with Hap/Peacocks

[neilsarah]

How well do Mbuna mix with hap/peacocks? Somehow I completely missed this strain of fish.  . I was browsing on faves rare aquarium fish website and saw all the mbunas he has. I almost like them better than the haps and peacocks I have. Do they mesh well or does it just depend on the strain?

[lilscoots]

people usually choose one or the other hap/peacock or mbuna base on aggressiveness.  The mbuna tend to be a bit more feisty than the haps/peacoks can handle.  Some of the more aggressive haps and peacocks might work with mbuna but people usually pick one or the other.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

I agree, for the most part that is true. There are always cases of people mixing and it working out. If your gonna try it, I'd look for a more laid back mbuna IMO Acei  are usually more laid back than let's say afras. As far as peacocks from what I've read, and some one may know better than me on this, but  I think the jacobfreibergi are a little more robust as opposed to some other peacocks. You can probably make it work if you want. Just read up on what your interested in and if you have any questions on specific species mixing there is a huge wealth of knowledge on the forum. One of the biggest things to help aggression is rock work and caves.

[four_by_ken]

My attempt at it failed miserably.
 
The Mbuna picked on and bullied the Peacocks too much.  The peacocks would never have colored up like they did... maybe not even have lived.

If you are going to give it a shot... as mentioned above... look for the more peaceful of the Mbuna.  Also, be prepared to have to get rid of some Mbunas that do not work out.

[Saulosi77]

Right now I have two yellow labs in with my peacock and hap tank.  Havn't had any issues yet.  (Key words). I think it's best to add the peacocks and haps first if your going to do it.  Let them grow and get comfortable in your tank then add mbuna smaller then your peacocks to try to help keep agression down and the peacocks colored.  I have noticed a few times the yellow labs picking at one another's fins and worry that when they become adults they will be more aggressive towards their tank mates.  I think it's best to stick with mbuna or peacocks/haps to be safe.

[four_by_ken]

Yellow labs are very mild compared to others.

[Steve]

I've tried it a bit and had pretty much the same exp as others above have said, yellow labs, Acei, and also Rusties are about the only Mbuna that seem to be calm enough to mix with some peacocks. Other than those it's hard to mix them in a tank. I'm even having issues with just my OB's in with peacocks and they are not even fully Mbuna just part mbuna.

[four_by_ken]

Same here on the OB Peacock.  I had to take it out due to aggression.

Put it in my more aggressive tank... and now its holding!!!!  It was a female!  (just letting it spit as I have no idea who she bred with)

[Steve]

I had to put mine in a breeder net at the moment Ken. I'm just hoping that he'll do better in the big 265 with the more aggressive haps that he'll be with in there. He started out fine in the 55g all male peacock tank for the first few days he was in there, but now he's just become relentless with his chasing. I'll stick him in a breeder net for 24hrs for time out, and within 30 seconds of being paroled he's right back to chasing like a rabid dog.