what bottom feeder in a mbuna

[VictorSmalls]

Im putting together a small mbuna tank and I am wondering what you guys have used as a bottom feeder other than the normal clown loach that everyone puts in a africian tank.

Tank is a 20G, sooner or later it will be moved up to my other 75G

[valerie]

A 20g is very small for a mbuna tank. So i wouldnt' add any bottom dwellers untill you move up to a 75g. What sort of mbuna are you keeping in the 20g?

When you move up to the 75g i would add a group of syno. petricola or multipunctatus. Get atleast 3 as they like to be in group snad the more or them there is the better a chance they will not be scared to come out during the day. Hopeuflly soon i will be adding 3 syno.petricola to my 90g african tank.

But i wouldnt' add them untill you get the 75g. The 20g isn't really big enough even for the mbuna.

[VictorSmalls]

Melanochromis joanjohnsonae
Labidochromis caeruleus
Maylandia callainos

one of each, right now only keeping the Melanochromis joanjohnsonae in the tank.

[JSchmidt]

I agree, I wouldn't add any more fish to a 20. I'd be particularly worried about a Melanchromis in a 20... even mildmannered labs should have more space.

Sorry, I don't think a 20 is appropriate for any mbuna...

Jim

[jeffro426]

Either a Rubber or Bristlenosed pleco would be a good choice for mbuna...given that you put them in a bigger tank. Your extremely limited on what you can put in a 20 gallon so i would try for a bigger tank or different fish. I keep 6 mbuna and a rubber pleco in my 55 and it just about right.