Stocking suggestions.

[tanker]

I have a 55gal that I am thinking about switching over to Malawi Cichlids. What would be a good stocking choise?? I do plan on have a few (2-4) synodontis cats too--leaning towards petricola.
But need some suggestions for cichlid stocking.
Thx.

[NickH]

The Cichlid Recipe (http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/)

[valerie]

www.cichlid-forum.com check out this site and others and lok through the species profiles as to which fish catch your eye.Then come back and tell us,we can help better once we know what fish you like.

A few of the less aggresive mbuna are:
Labidochromis caeruleus
Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Iodotropheus sprengerae

[JSchmidt]

Ps. demasoni are quite striking in appearance and will do well in a 55. They coexist well with yellow labs, who would also do OK in a 55 if you kept the numbers reasonable.

I'd consider 9 demasoni and 4 labs, plus a quartet of petricola, to be a nice mix for a 55.

Jim

[valerie]

I would be careful about deciding on Ps.demasoni as they are one of the more aggresive Mbuna. I have heard of some males completely taking over a tank. They started off witha group of juvies and once they started to hit maturity they killed each other off one by one untill there was only 1 left.

So if you decied you want aggresive fish then demasoni might be for you but i would consier them to be a fish for the more advanced mbuna keeper.

If you like the look of the black barred blue fish(demasoni) with yellow fish(yellow labs) then try Ps.saulosi as the males are ble with black stripes and the females are a yellowy orange.

[tanker]

Thx for all the replies. NickH== nice site. Leaning towards

trio of peacocks-Aulonocaras
trio of Labidochromis==Electric Yellows
trio of Julidochromis
3-4 of Pseudotropheus Saulosi==If I can find them
4-6 Neolamprologus==shell dwellers
3-4 Synodontis petricola

This OK. Too much?? Changes???

[rich]

dont know much about the idividual species but that seems like alot of cichlids. 19?

[NickH]

I would err on the lower number side of things. Also, 1 or 2 Syno's is plenty for a 55.

[tanker]

How about:

trio of peacocks-Aulonocaras
trio of Labidochromis==Electric Yellows
trio of Julidochromis (if too much these are the ones I remove)
trio of Pseudotropheus Saulosi==If I can find them
4 of Neolamprologus==shell dwellers
3 of Synodontis petricola

still too much??

PSS---tank is 55gal--36X18X20

[NickH]

Hmmm, when one thinks of a 55, they think of the standard 4 foot (48 x 13 x 21) tank. Since you have a 3 foot tank, I'm not sure you can use the same recommendation. The reason is, you are not going to be able to create as much territory for the fish in a 3 foot tank like you could in a 4 foot tank. Maybe someone else will chime in here.

[tanker]

Originally posted by NickH
Hmmm, when one thinks of a 55, they think of the standard 4 foot (48 x 13 x 21) tank. Since you have a 3 foot tank, I'm not sure you can use the same recommendation. The reason is, you are not going to be able to create as much territory for the fish in a 3 foot tank like you could in a 4 foot tank. Maybe someone else will chime in here.

I agree that's why I posted size. I already have a 55 but it is a reef (48X15X18). This 55 was an angle fish tank when I 1st had it. Wanted the height. Which fishes should I leave out?? Can someone adjust my want list?? Thx.

[NickH]

I'm no African cichlid expert, but I would think that the Peacocks will grow too large for a 3 foot tank. I would drop those, as well as go with a single Synodontis. Start there. You can always remove more fish as they grow.

[JSchmidt]

I agree with other posters... that's WAY too many fish for a tank with that small of a footprint. The volume is important in calculating fish load, but with these fish you have to take floor space into account. You really have to stock lightly with a 3' tank.

You'll do best if you limit yourself to two species -- a trio or quartet each of the yellow labs and the saulosi would make a nice combo -- along with 3-4 petricola. (I do not agree with the previous poster who suggested only 1 or 2 of these; they do much better in larger numbers and they won't add significantly to the bioload, compared to cichlids.)

Putting more fish than that into a tank with such a small footprint is just asking for trouble.

Jim

[jimbo]

And also, try not to mix Tanganyikans with Malawian cichlids.

Jimmy

[valerie]

I agree that ia 36" tnak isn't the best for aulonocaras, they need lots of swimming room. Also i wouldnt' add shelldwellers, I tried to add some L.ocellatus to my 90g malawi tank(haps,mbuna) but they got picked on constantly, a 1-2"fish doesn't stand a chance up againts 3-5"mbuna that are wondering what these shells are doing in their tank

I'm not too sure about adding julies to your tank either.its usually best not to mix the lakes. And i have heard julies can be quite aggresive.

So since you have a 36" tank i woud stick with the yellow labs and saulosi. I would only add a max for 10 fish,plus the synos.make sure you have lots of rocks and hiding places.

[tanker]

Thx for all the replies. You people have been very helpful. Though I have been keep fish for many/many years, I have only had African Cichlids only once and then I only had Zebras (even then only for a while).

New wish list:

Trio of Electric yellows
Trio of Saulosi (again if I can find some)
1 peacock (??)
Trio of synodontis

Hows that?? What else can I add??, or is that about right??

[jimbo]

Perhaps you could add 'Rusties' Lodotropheus sprengerae instead of Peacocks.
They are known to be peaceful and look beautiful.

Jimmy

[JSchmidt]

Tanker, I think you're looking at a much more reasonable stocking level, now. I don't know about adding a peacock... don't know how they'd do with the others. You could always get a quartet of either the labs or the saulosis (or both, really). Even though labs and saulosis aren't the most boisterous of mbuna, they'll still do better in M:F rations of 1:3 than 1:2. (Alternatively, you could get one or two more petricola; they really are cute in groups!)

Have fun with your cichlids!

Jim

[valerie]

I still wouldnt' add a peacock to this tank. They need a longer tank as they are open water swimmers and need to have enough room to swim.Also peacocks have different diet requirements. They eat more protein then the saulosi. PLus most of the smaller peacocks species would probably get picked on by the saulosi and yellow labs.

I would skip the peacock and either go for 1m/3-4 f of both the saulosi and yellow labs and the synos or get a a trio of the saulosi,yellow labs and rusties plus the synos.

[dcallen]

Hello,

I agree, I think the Aulonocaras do need more swimming room than is provided in a 36" tank. I have a 70 gallon 48" long tank that I house my Auloncaras in. They do fine but as the fish grow I now wish I had opted for a larger 72" long 125 gallon tank. I have a total of 8 fish in my tank, and I seriously doubt I will add any more. For your tank I wouldn't really suggest more than 8 to 10 fish total and according to your last post that number of fish should be fine. I'm not the best at recommending species that go together well except for the Aulonocaras, but these other folks have chimed in with some good ideas. As long as you choose fish that won't get too large you should be fine. As far as Mbuna's go I really like the Yellow Labs, they are in my opinion really nice fish and it's been my experience that they are quite a bit less aggressive than other Mbuna species. I have one male Yellow Lab in my mostly Aulonocara tank and he is doing great. Whatever you choose good luck. I hope this helps.

[tanker]

Tnx for all the help/suggestions.

Looks like I just skip the peacock and just go with the rest (less bio load anyway). Not much of a rusties fan but do love cats--maybe I'll get 3-4 syndontis.

Now the fun part of setting up the tank. :)