Overstocking Malawis

[icefish]

I've seen a lot of mentions of overstocking tanks as a means to reduce aggression (with a side benefit of getting more fish).

For Malawi cichlids, what would be the magic overstocking ratio? Assume a 55 gallon tank. Is is based on adult size in inches/gallon?

Also should stocking be done with younger fish so the grow into an overstocking situation (and also establish territories early on) or should adult fish be added to a tank to bring it to an overstocked situation?

Thanks.

[jimbo]

Overstocking is a way of reducing “aggression” but it doesn’t mean they won’t fight.
When a tank is crowded the chaser will soon lose track of the one he’s after because he’s too much distracted by the others. The males will not be able(or very difficult) to establish a territory and therefore have nothing to defend. (Except perhaps for the topdog in your tank.) I have no experience with an overstocked tank but it seems to me they will be stressed for most of the time, just getting out of each others way.
For as far they will or can show their natural behavior in a tank, I’m pretty sure they won’t in an overstocked tank. In a 55 that will probably reached with 22 juveniles of 4-6 months old or 15 adults.
Besides these disadvantages, you have to be careful selecting your fish.
An aggressive specie will stay aggressive, overstocked or not. You may have the side benefit of more fish to look at, but he will have the benefit of more fish to nib on.

Jimmy

[icefish]

Originally posted by jimbo
In a 55 that will probably reached with 22 juveniles of 4-6 months old or 15 adults.

Are you saying 15 (5-6") adults is fully stocked, or overstocked?

[Verse914]

Hes saying 15 adults max, but this also depends on what kind of Malawis your talking about. If your talking about mbuna, then that would work, but if your talking about Aulonocara or other haps from Lake Malawi, then 15 adults would be way too much.

[icefish]

If your talking about mbuna, then that would work, but if your talking about Aulonocara or other haps from Lake Malawi, then 15 adults would be way too much.

Why? Is it because Mbuna are more aggressive, Peacocks and Haps are more dainty (or more aggressive), or what?

Thanks.

[Verse914]

peacocks and haps like the swimming room and arent as aggressive as mbuna. Most people like to overcrowd mbuna to hold the aggression down.

[jimbo]

Originally posted by icefish


Why? Is it because Mbuna are more aggressive, Peacocks and Haps are more dainty (or more aggressive), or what?

Thanks.

There's no point in overstocking a tank with Aulonocaras and/or Haps.
They are far less aggressive (if not at all) than Mbunas and overstocking them, will only give the opposite effect.

An other point you have to keep in mind with overstocking is filter-capacity. More fish, more food, more waste, results in more and havy filtration. Something like 500g p/h is the least you're gonna need for a 55g tank. Be prepared to perform masive water-changes twice, instead of once a week if your filtercapacity is like 250g p/h.......you don't want your malawi cichlids to succumb from ammonia or nitrite poisoning.

Good luck,
Jimmy

[icefish]

Jimbo,

Where in the NL are you? I'm going to the Hague next Friday.

[jimbo]

I'm in Zoetermeer, that's 15 minutes before 5 pm and 45 minutes after 5 pm east of The Hague, or Den Haag as we say it.

If you can find the time you should visit "Verduijn Cichlids" in Zevenhuizen (Oud Verlaat). that's only 30 minutes from the Hague.

Where are you staying in the Hague?

Jimmy

[icefish]

I'm staying at the Dorint right by the Congres Centrum. Is Verduijn Cichlids a shop?

[scholar]

You need a big tank to do overstocking. Because ina 55 gallon tank. The aggressor can always find the victim! I say at least a six footer.