What is the best looking Cichlid?

[couger247]

I have two pretty good looking cichlids. A bumblebee and a kenyia(that is what petsmart called it). I am looking for a young, very brightly colored cichlid to get in the tank. Any suggestions? :1zhelp:


:topic:
the ones i have are young and small so not very able to defend themselves but they have good hiding spots and more to come. just thought that might help. :topic:

[Rallysman]

African or Central\South American?

[couger247]

african

[Csinclair]

Is you kenyia yellow or blue? If it is yellow, buy a blue one. If its blue, you already own the best looking african.

Of course, this thread is subject to everyones individual opinion.

[sweetlowride]

Strawberry peacocks are really nice (pink one), Or Eureka Red Peacocks are really bright and colorful.

How are your bumblebee cichlids? There known to be really territorial and extremly aggressive. The males are killers. The Kenyi Cichlid is one of the most aggressive and territorial Cichlid available, Growing large and often taking over the tank. The Females are a beautiful blue and the females are yellow. I kept Kenyi in my 55 gallon and ended up taking them out and placing them into another less populated tank because they would constantly pick on the other fish. Hopefully yours are more calm.

[blue2fyre]

Please don't put peacocks with a bumblebee and Kenyi, the peacocks will be either stressed to death or outright killed.

Bumblebees get really large and can wipe out a tank if they feel like it. I would rehome this one or take him back to the petstore. I would also take back the Kenyi since they are also very aggressive once they mature.


I think the most attractive mbuna out there that can handle a lot of aggression is the demasoni. They need to be in large groups to keep them from killing each other off. You could do a group of 12 demasoni and 6-7 yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus). This always makes a stunning display.
Here's a picture(not mine)
Demasoni:
http://www.akvaryum.com/benimsitem/foto/balikyemi/demasoni.jpg

I have one in my mbuna tank and he doesn't take crap from anyone but he is so beautiful. They only get about 3-4" long.

Here's a picture of a yellow lab (also not mine)

http://www.nsellier.fr/BlogNS/public/Aquarium/yellow-lab-lg.jpg

[fishnnn]

I've got two yellow labs, two blue Kenyi, and an ahli. All very small in a 75 Gal. but so far so good. They seem to be getting along with the pair of convicts as well.

[BoCoMo]

Funny you should ask! I just posted 13 of my top pics on my photo thread here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2199129&posted=1#post2199129

[sweetlowride]

I have Strawberry peacocks, Eureka red peacocks, Electric yellow labs, Blue Ahli all living together in a 55 gallon with absolutely no problems. Like I said before in my first reply that the Bumblebee and Kenyi are killers but I didnt want to tell you to return the cichlids as I didnt know how attached to your fish you are. Like Blue2fyre said the are not sutable tank mates for most of the African Cichlids.

Beware of the Demasoni also They range from being mild mannered to ferocious! males can easily wipe out every fish in the tank, Although usually uncommon. I have a friend who breeds them and the males can be brutal to the females often killing them.

Its too bad your LFS sold you those fish, Likely not telling you about there terrible temperament. If it were me I would Start over with a less aggressive species of Cichlid

[blue2fyre]

That's why it's best to only keep one demasoni or large numbers of them to disperse the aggression. Demasoni are usually just aggressive with each other and tend to not kill other tank mates.

[rickmathew]

All the Cichlid are looking really amazing. I liked them. Thanks for sharign such nice pictures.

[couger247]

they actually leave each other alone but they will run the other away from their caves.

[TheShifty's]

Before I got serious about it, I started with the good ole' PetSmart "Various African Cichlids..." 1 Yellow Lab, 1 Orange w/gold stripes (forgot the name, but she's a Mbuna) 1 Pseudotropheus Socofoli. Now I have 5 Peacocks whom are starting to color. Got those very small. 3 Kenyi's, 2 Victorian Flamebacks, and 1 Dwarf Mbuna. Going to add a couple Sexofacitious (sp) and Christmas Fulu's.... And hope like heck the Victorians breed... *LOL*

[TheShifty's]

...Forgot one. Raphael cat... In that tank as well. Maybe moved to another tank but we'll see. Kenyi has buddied up with him in the "House of Raphie." Raphie doesn't mind until Kenyi (named Sprit) starts digging, then he kicks her out.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I have a mixed variety of 22 of just about all your common A. Cichlids. My favorite is my Electric Blue male that is getting big now 6", followed by my two bright yellow Bumblebee's which are also comparative large 5.5" . The bumblebees are most active but thankfully spend mot of the time chasing each other race tracking around the 244 tank. The peace keeper is my 5" Blue Kenyi who doesn't seem to tolerate any fighting unless you have his permission. The red Zebra's seem to school together, while my labs seem to stay in the reef until feeding time and even then are cautious not to stray becasue the big Yellow Lab 5" I have with black neck ties doesn't want to see the other Labs out in the open. All this while my school of 5 misfit Tetra Minors leisurely swim out in the open all day without a care in the world, way too fast for any of the community A. Cichlids to even attempt a nip.

[TheShifty's]

*Snaps a slalute to the CWO4* FT2/SS Here. I have to admit I laughed at your story of the Matriarch/Patriarch of your tank. My Angel is the same way in the community tank. If the smaller kids get to boisterous, then she steps in and dresses them down. *LOL*

[blue2fyre]

they actually leave each other alone but they will run the other away from their caves.


Just give it time. Once they mature the true aggressive nature will show. First of all what size tank do you have? If it's smaller (55 gallon) then you will be dealing with a lot of aggression. Bumblebees and kenyis do better in larger tanks (such as a 6'tank). I still think it's way too aggressive of a species for a beginner. I wish they didn't even sell these guys in stores.

I'm not trying to be rude I'm just trying to help you set up a successful tank. The best way to have a balanced mbuna tank is to research the fish you want to keep BEFORE buying them. That way you avoid the murdering species and can have a nice looking tank with lots of color and activity.

I started out with mixing a lot of different species in my 55 and once they hit maturity it was an all out war. There was constant fighting and chasing and it was no fun to watch. I got rid of the aggressors, picked 3 species to stick with and got a group of 5 per species. Now I have a very interesting and relaxing tank.

[CWO4GUNNER]

The only aggression I see in my 6' (244g tank) is inter species. The bumblebee chases the one other bumblebee, the Kenyi chases the other 3 Kenyi, so on and so forth. But no matter who chases who it all end at the edge of the reef and the pursuer gives up chase for quite a while. But I don't see any other species against species aggression. Only time i do is when I introduce a ne fish, like a pack of dogs they all want a sniff of the new dog it seems like. Other then that if a fish is sick, unless I can get the sick fish out in time which is very hard in this large tank, the sick fish gets recycled, only had one apparently already sick from VetSmart.

VetSmart told me that the best way to keep A. Cichlid aggression down is to keep them in a smaller crowded tank, whey they get along so well in their small 10 gallons they told me. I dont believe that though, as inherently having crowed overstocked fish is a bad thing and the bigger the tank with fewer fish is always the better and healthier in my book.

[blue2fyre]

It's also a 244g tank I'm certain that helps keep down aggression. Typically Kenyi and bummblebees are some of the most aggressive mbuna out there.

It seems you have a system that is working for you. Most people overstock mbuna tanks to keep the aggression dispersed. It works very well when fish are kept in no less than a 4' tank. A 3' tank can work but it's iffy. Where this fish come from they live in high density populations so I feel a slightly overstocked tank does them no injustice.

[couger247]

I have a cousin in Gadsden State's fishery program, he is helping me get started and he actually thought that this might be a good matchup even with a Peacock.
Thanks for all the feed back though I value all your opinions.

[CWO4GUNNER]

*Snaps a slalute to the CWO4* FT2/SS Here. I have to admit I laughed at your story of the Matriarch/Patriarch of your tank. My Angel is the same way in the community tank. If the smaller kids get to boisterous, then she steps in and dresses them down. *LOL*

Hand Salutes too...Very Good shipmate, carry on...

Yeah I'm new at these A. Cichlids but I must say they are the easiest fish I have ever kept. No bottom feeders needed cause they field-day the tank every other day, they take care of the dead, take no prisoners, brawlers, and almost never have a sick call LOL.

[TheShifty's]

I'm pretty new at them too, Gunner. They remind me of my Fast Boat crew, that's for sure. I just traded my 29 biocube for a Fluval FX/5 canister. On a 55 gal tank, I had to squeeze her back some but she's working quite well. My goal is to have Cichlids from all three lakes. I won't lie though. I'm hoping the Victorian Flamebacks and the Christmas Fulu's, spawn. Quite a demand for Victorians here.

Tell the helm steady as she goes, Gunner, cause this next 48 isn't going to miss, and Ivan don't stand a chance....

[chadly831]

i always loved my electric blue jack dempsey deff worth the money

[june131977]

I have about 25 different a.cichlids in a 90g had two demasoni and they were put in the tank all at the same time however as soon as they hit the water they squared off against my two dubosi and the both of the demasonis fins were gone before i could even get them out of the tank. best fish i have i would say in the electric blue ahli

[chadly831]

i would have to say it is an electric blue jack dempsey