Predatory Haps

[Steve]

Could use a little input from you guys on this. In my 265g I originally was going to go mostly peacocks with a few larger haps in it. Lately though I have been thinking more and more of doing mostly a predatory hap tank with some of the really large hap species in it and perhaps a few of the larger peacocks (if any at all). So I could use some help on what is actually out there in large predatory haps because I'm only familiar with a small amount of the better known ones myself.

So far in holding tanks for the 265 I have ..

10" Venusts
6" Dimidiochromis compressiceps
5.5" White Ahli
6" OB peacock
And a Red Empress I'm picking up from Dan at the auction next month

Some of the other haps I am planning on getting are..

Aristochromis christyi
Champsochromis caeruleus
Cyrtocara moorii
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus
Nimbochromis livingstoni
Protomelas sp."Spilonotus Tanzania
Sciaenochromis fryeri
Tramitichromis sp."Intermedius"

Are there any other larger haps out there that I should also look at? Because I should still have room for more in this tank.

[four_by_ken]

I'm listening too.

 

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

I'm not sure if this is what your looking for but a paratilapia bleekeri is a big beefy bastard. Also called the starry night cichlid, I think its actually from Madagascar. Nimbo. Polystigma is another although too many nimbochromis in one tank sometimes gets feisty, just keep your eyes open for trouble if you go that route.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

Boulengerochromis microlepis "emperor cichlid" is a really big boy if you want to go nuts. I've never seen a full grown adult but the juvies were about 12". Are you staying Malawi or are you open to Victorians and tangs?

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

To start off with:

Copadichromis Red Fin Borleyi Kandango
Nimbochromis linni
Chilotilapia rhoadesii
Protomelas taeniolatus (Likoma Is.) Tangerine Tiger
Protomelas sp. "Steveni Taiwan" (Taiwan Reef)
Placidochromis sp. "Phenochilus Tanzania"

Placidochromis milomo VC-10
Protomelas spilonotus (Mara Rocks) Sulfur Head, Haplochromis ovatus
Protomelas taeniolatus (Red) Super Red Empress
Aulonocara sp. "Stuartgranti Maleri" (Maleri Is.)
Aulonocara sp. "Lwanda"

Geophagus - Very cool looking fish, Oyers turned me on to this..

[rcombs]

what about an electric blue jack dempsey, would they be too aggressive for this tank?

[Regalblue]

Your stock list above should be pretty good. But, unless starting with adult fish, I'd recommend picking more species & overstocking. (To a point)
 The other thing you may run into is the White Knight & S. fryeri getting into it. They are the same species & while they're different colors they are still the same shape and finage.


As far as the Bleekeri & B.microlepis....  STAY AWAY!  They'll destroy the species you have listed. Stick with one lake/geographic area.

EBJD? Geos?   Again - stick with one area & don't mix them with others. 

[Ron]

I agree with Blair's advice above.

As for the mention of the emperor cichlid, the tank isn't big enough long term and it would be an irresponsible choice IMO.

I think you've missed the Buccochromis genus. There's a handful of nice species within it and you might find a handful locally.

F. rostratus is another omission that'd look nice in the tank (perhaps not as fired up as you'll find in some pictures though because it's full black breeding dress is very dependent on having females present).