Stocking Advice Needed

[Ava333]

I'm resealing my 6' long, 125 gallon and I would love some input on my stocking list. I'm going back with Mbuna, Peacocks, and a few Haps. This is not conventional but I love the variety. I've tried to pick some of the least aggressive Mbuna I could find. I'm currently growing 2 colonies of Met. Greshakei Albino and 2 colonies of Rustys. So, I have 2 to 3 months to figure this out. Any input will be appreciated. (I want to stay between 30 and 45 fish.) I have a Fluval FX5 for a 300 gallon tank and a  Biowheele. The Peacocks and Haps will be added first and will be the largest in the tank.
Mbuna:
1. Met. Greshakei Aldino 3m/4f (already have)
2. Rustys 3m/3f (already have)
3. Met. Membe Deep 3m/4f (already have)
4. Cyno. Chinyankwazi 3m/4f
5. Met. Elongatus Chailosi 3m/4f
Peacocks/Haps: (Trying for 3 black, 3 orange, 3 untypical.)
1. Copadichromis sp Midnight Maloto
2. Eureka Red Albino Peacocks
3. Aulonocara Niassae

[Ava333]

When I stocked this tank the first time, I ended up with the following:
1. Met. Membe Deep
2. Yellow Labs
3. Met. Greshakei Albino
4. Rustys
5. Greshakei hybrids of some type (x2 males)
6. Strawberry Peacocks
7. sulfur head peacock
8. Blue aulonocara of some type
9.  sunshine peacock
The Albino Greshakei male, hybrid Greshakei, Membe Deep Male, and Sunshine Peacock male all shared control of the tank. Each of the 5 had their own area and didn't seem to mind the other fish in their areas. The Membe and Grashakei just wouldn't share their dug-out holes except with the girls.

This time around, I'm worried that I might not have the correct mix of Mbuna/Peacocks/Haps...? Or do I have too many species of Mbuna with that aren't as mellow as the Yellow Labs, even though I've researched a lot...?

[kodyboy]

Are you doing an all male mbuna tank with some male peacocks or colonies of peacocks?

[Ava333]

I'm planning on male/female colonies for the Mbuna with plenty of females. I think I'm going to stock 1m/2f on the peacocks and haps. I'm pretty sure they will chase the Mbuna females if I don't; nature is nature. I have no plans on keeping fry though.

[kodyboy]

In that case yellow labs, rusties, afra (zebroides?) hara,  Msobo deep, white labs, and demaisoni (I have only found them aggressive among themselves) would all prove to be fairly peaceful groupings as long you have lots of females for the males.  I am not sure whether an all male peacock/hap grouping or colonies would work better.  All male  peacocks/haps would be more colorful but you might be correct in the female chasing and cause conflicts with hybrid peacocks often being quite territorial.  I have found the jacobfrebergi peacocks (and OB/dragons blood hybrids) able to live with mbuna easily.

[Ava333]

Thank you for the info. I'll research those species and see if it might work out better by giving up the Cynotilapia Chinyankwazi or Met. Elongatus Chailosi for one of them. (Except for the Msobo Deep as they might fight with my Membe Deep.)

[kodyboy]

I think most cyanotilapia are mildly aggressive but I have found C. Hara less so than others. Elongates are more aggressive than the species that I mentioned. I would definitely pick either the membe deep or the msobo as they would most likely fight.

[Ava333]

I'm hoping to find a species that is yellow with black bars. Have you or anyone had any experience with Cynotilapia Lions Cove "Lion"? Or a mildly aggressive Mbuna that fits that description?

[kodyboy]

Metriaclima gold kwanga (gold zebra) males are awesome
Metriaclima sp. Mbweca males nice females decent
Possibly female pseudotropheus crabo (bumblebee) even females can be tough but maybe a group of females would work

[Ava333]

I'm scared the crabo won't work with the peacocks but I'll research the others. Thank you.

[kodyboy]

Crabo normally wouldn't but maybe a female group would be OK, but I am not sure.
I had a gold zebra with peacocks before in a 90 and all was well. I never had the m. Mebeca before but the males and females look nice.

[kodyboy]

The M. Mbweca is a former cyanotilapia so probably the least aggressive of the bunch.

[kodyboy]

Another fish that may work is julidichromis ornatus which is a horizontally barred black and yellow fish. They are fairly peaceful and should work with less aggressive Mbundu and peacocks/haps.

[Ava333]

Thank you Kodyboy for all the help! I think I've settled on the following:
Mbuna:
1. Met. Greshakei Albino
2. Met. Membe Deep
3. Iodotropheus Sprengera (Rustys)
4. Met. Chinyankwazi
5. Cynotilapia Mbweca
I have a LFS with a great reputation. I'll probably pick most of my Peacocks/Haps from his stock and the rest from Dave's Rare Fish. I have a few more questions but I'll start a new thread after some research! Thanks again Kodyboy!

[kodyboy]

The list looks good all the metriaclima look different so they should not fight too much but you do risk hybridization with the females.  The rusties and mbweca should be fine.
You are welcome:) I hope all goes well. Post some pics when the tank gets up and running.