advice to contradict or go with lfs advice???

[biggisteve]

I explained to the lfs that in my 55 i have a large blue zebra, a medium yellow top, and medium auratus only. was more but the blue zebra either killed or badly beat so i had to take them out.

I want to do somethin with the tank cuz its really boring now and heres the two thigns i was told i can do about it

1. only thing i can add to the current tank with the zebra would be about 6 small cichlids at the same time so that the zebra woudltn be so territorial but as soona s they get big i'd have the same problem.
or
2. take the zebra out and put him in my other 55 with two sydontis catfish, 1 dinosaur eel ( bichir probably marble) , 5 clown loaches. HE said the clown loaches have spikes by their eye they shoot out and no oen will mess with them at all and that the other tank mates woudlnt have a problem either.
this sounds a li'l odd to me for i've never seen a single spike from my loaches in two years but could happen i spose

so is this really the best I can do? and is option 2 suicide for the other inhabitants????

[Bantam]

clown loaches do have spines as the lfs said.

i'd also agree that clown loaches don't get messed with. i'm not sure why not though. i've kept mine with several aggressive individuals (oscars, red tailed black shark and breeding angelfish). all of whom would beat up other fish but ignore the clowns. i've never seen the clown loaches have to use their spines. maybe its something to do with the colouration of the loaches that tells other fish not to mess - like wasps.

i'd try moving the zebra.

[kzarsky]

You'd want to put in something more aggressive than the zebra. Check out the listing of malawi mbunas at link below. You'll have a hard time introducing non-mbuna species.

http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquarium/fish_list.html

I would suggest an electric yellow lab.

I have a similar tank.

75 gal

pseudotropheus saulosi
pseudotropheus crabro
Labeotropheus trewavasae
LABIDOCHROMIS CAERULEUS
Pseudotropheus socolofi
Pseudotropheus lombardoi