Ready to Rock! 55gal Mbuna!

[Jerzboi]

Hey Guys!

So Next weekend is the big day, I get to hit up an auction to look for some good deals on some A. Cichlids for me 55gal soon to be Mbuna tank.

Here are the species I am interested in, let me know what you think aggression wise or any advice you feel necassary. Def appreciated

"the list"
- Labidochromis "Yellow Lab"
- Nimbochromis Venustus
- Pseudotropheus Demasoni
- Metriaclima Estherae (Red)
- Cynotilapia Afra

Current tank members
- 3 Cailco Bristlenose
- 2 False Jullie Cory
- Albino Shortfin Bristlenose

Let Me know what you think :thumbsup:

Tanks!

[blue2fyre]

Awesome! I know I had a lot of fun setting up my 55 gallon mbuna tank. As far as your list, here's a few suggestions. You ideally want 2-3 species with 5 individuals, keeping a 1 male, 4 female ratio. Careful keeping yellow labs and red zebra together because they are known to cross breed. I would pick one of these two species. Venustus get way too big for a 55 gallon so they are out. Demasoni are beautiful fish but need to be kept in larger groups to help spread out aggression. Otherwise they kill each other until only 1 is left. 12 or so demasoni with about 7 yellow labs makes a stunning display for a 55 gallon. There are a huge range of afras out there. Many are blue or have vertical black stripes. I would be worried about them getting along with demasoni because of those similarities. I could be wrong though. My white top hara gets along fine with my one demasoni. As far as your current tankmates, I think the cories may need to be moved somewhere ese. Mbuna are very aggressive and may stress them. Some people have success with plecos some don't. So those could end up working. Hope that helps :) good luck.

[Jerzboi]

Is it possible to have 2 species with 1 male to 3 females and then two single species... like have 4 yellow labs, 4 demasoni or Sacolofi and then 1 venustus?

[blue2fyre]

I have a couple single species without a problem. I have a single demasoni as a center piece fish and I have a female m. greshakei. Demasoni's do well if you have one or is you have 12. There's not a lot of in between ground with these guys. They are very aggressive and will kill each other if the numbers are too low. A lot of people do keep a center piece fish in a mbuna tank. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Now only having one raises the risk of hybrids, so you know. Like I said I have two single species in my tank and it's worked very well. I still say a Venustus gets too large for a 55 gallon, even a single speciment. Also since they are not mbuna, they prefer a different set up and have a completely different diet. Socolofi are a nice species, I am particulalry fond of the snow white ones (albinos). Not too stray from your list but have you looked an P. Acei at all? They are less aggressive like yellow labs and get a little larger. If you are looking for a nice sized mbuna that won't terrorize your tank they are a nice addition.

[Jerzboi]

Nice the acei looks alright, that is what I am looking for though. A center peice fish that is larger amoungst the minion lol

do you have any other species suggestions that were not on my list that would go well whether it is a single guy or a threesome? not very fond of the peacocks though

thanks for all the input

[blue2fyre]

You're better just sticking with mbuna. Peacocks and mbuna don't play well together. Now I know someone will call me down for this but I have seen successful set ups with a single male Sciaenochromis fryeri. They can handle the aggression the mbuna dish out. But you still run into the problem with set up and diet differences. If I didn't have my demasoni I would have one of these guys. They are STUNNING. But it's a hap so it's hit or miss. For better results you should stick with mbuna. Hmm larger mbuna that aren't psychotic maniacs...Geeze I can't think of any. Pseudotropheus crabro get pretty big but they are VERY aggressive. Most zebra types can reach 6".

[Coler]

Totally agree with blue on all of that...your best shot at a big 'un is probably a fryeri. I've seen it work and I have one myself in a mixed african tank.

Funny when I put him in first they (mostly mbuna) shredded him - every fish in the tank went for him. They must have realised he was a potential alpha fish because after being removed and fed up three times he now bosses the tank.

[Jerzboi]

dang this is rough lol

What type are the venustus then... malawi?

sorry if the questions have been repeated before I just havn seen the Q's

[Pittbull]

N. VENUSTUS honestly stay away from these fish in an Mbuna setup they specifically hunt smaller cichlids more of an ambush predator they will lie motionless on the bottom and when a smaller fish swims near GULP..

They reach 11 inches and are a Haplochromine Malawian species..

One of the fruits of our hobby is to watch and raise the fish we care for and to place a predator like this with way smaller fish even full grown adults will result in headache..

The Ahli in my opinion would be a good decision to go for and with the correct lighting will pop..

Here is a photo of mine and he does reside in my 120gal Monster fish tank no one messes with him and he adds a little electric coloring to my Lunker setup..

106482

106483

[blue2fyre]

Beautiful fish Pittbull.

[Pittbull]

Thanks Blue.. I have two of them in the 120 but they are for sell or trade.. They do look good..

[efors]

You can start with yellow labs, aceis and snow whites socolofi in that 55gal (6 or 7 juvies of each species). It will work nicely.

[Jerzboi]

You can start with yellow labs, aceis and snow whites socolofi in that 55gal (6 or 7 juvies of each species). It will work nicely.

Thanks!

Here is my current List of the fish I am currently aiming to get
Cynotilapia Afra Jalo Reef
Yellow Labs
Metriclima Pyrsonotos
Acei White Tail or Yellow Tail
Demasoni

[mr.cichlid]

pitt, very nice ahli...do you use actinic lighting in ur tank? my tank is currently running on two t5ho 10k day lighting...i think its a bit to much for cichlid tank...btw the tank is 125g...

[blue2fyre]

Looks good but you really need to trim down the list to 3 species. Have you decided on a centerpiece fish?
I would do yellow labs, acei, and the afra. Then have a single demasoni.

[efors]

I agree with the 3 species stock plan for that tank. From your list, I would pick the same 3 species chosen by blue2fyre. I'm afraid about mixing any demasoni with the afras; but maybe blue has some experience mixing them.

[Pittbull]

mr. cichlid wrote:
pitt, very nice ahli...do you use actinic lighting in ur tank? my tank is currently running on two t5ho 10k day lighting...i think its a bit to much for cichlid tank...btw the tank is 125g...

Yep i have 1 48" 10,000K coralife T8 and 1 48" true actinic coralife T8 makes my fishes color POP.. Ehh that lighting doesn't sound terrible good job on the 125 aye..

[blue2fyre]

That's true about the afras and the demasoni. I have a demasoni in with my white top haras without a problem but I may just be lucky. My haras only have a few vertical black stripes. I think the CynoAfra Jalo Reef might be ok. The stripes are the only real similarity with the demasoni. They would have to be watched closely for serious aggression. The background color and the dorsal fin are different enough. But it all comes down to the individual fish. My demasoni is mean, but he doesn't do any damage to the other fish. I'm certain there are demasoni out there that are killers.

[Jerzboi]

yeah I agree, Idk if I will have the Demasoni as my center peice fish yet. Still looking at option as far as the center peice goes. I really enjoy the Metriclima Pyrsonotos and definetly want either that as my center peice of have them as on of the 3 species besides the labs and the afras. The white top finned acei are awesome as well, but who knows how hard it is to find those...

[efors]

The yellow tail acei is a pretty fish and commonly available.

[Schneider]

[QUOTE=blue2fyre;2127464]You're better just sticking with mbuna. Peacocks and mbuna don't play well together. Now I know someone will call me down for this but I have seen successful set ups with a single male Sciaenochromis fryeri.

S. fryeri may be able to handle the aggression of mbuna but don't expect it to necessarily exhibit perfect form. Mbuna can be pesky little fin nippers! Your fryeri may have some missing scales and torn fins occasionally. Hopefully your mbuna will concentrate on battling each other rather than your fryeri.

[Schneider]

N. VENUSTUS honestly stay away from these fish in an Mbuna setup they specifically hunt smaller cichlids more of an ambush predator they will lie motionless on the bottom and when a smaller fish swims near GULP..

They reach 11 inches and are a Haplochromine Malawian species..

One of the fruits of our hobby is to watch and raise the fish we care for and to place a predator like this with way smaller fish even full grown adults will result in headache..

The Ahli in my opinion would be a good decision to go for and with the correct lighting will pop..

I have a venustas in my 180 hap/mbuna tank. They show no interest whatsoever in anything that won't fit into their mouth, so full grown mbuna would be ok so long as they aren't smaller species(3" or smaller). My mbuna show absolutely no fear of this fish. He is roughly 9" long. I do agree about the space issue though. Venustas require plenty of open swimming space to thrive. By the way S. fryeri is also a piscivore in nature. They prey on small mbuna and utaka fry. Notice how my venustas has some frays in his fins. This is my reason to avoid mixing haps with mbuna. The mbuna are more agile and will do minor damage to your haps on occasion.

[Pittbull]

Nice Venustus Schneider..

[Schneider]

Nice Venustus Schneider..

Thanks. Show us some pics of that Malawi trout when it is huge and blue.

[Pittbull]

Yeah i am thinking it may be a she its already huge, when do they color up because its already about 8 to 9"..