Agressive Kenyi! Who should go?

palmbreeze

palmbreeze

Fish are friends...not food!
Jul 26, 2005
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Ohio
I have a 55G aquarium with two red zebras, two yellow-tailed violet cichlids, and two kenyi. (One of those Kenyi may be a Blue Mbuna). The kenyi was being awful agressive so I went to sell him back, but come to find out he was a dad! So I kept him. I have three baby fish! :) I divided the dad and babies from everyone else.

Now the baby fish are fending for themselves. I want to take the divider out, but the papa kenyi fish is still very agressive. I am afraid all the other fish will die if I don't sell him. I'm not sure what to do. Should I sell the kenyi? What about the other Kenyi/Blue Mbuna? That fish would be the only one of its species and it can be pretty agressive as well. I was thinking of selling them both and getting another yellow-tailed. Then when the babies grow I'll need a place for them! I'm confused! :huh:

Or could I get a couple new fish in place of the kenyi? What kind? I'm not sure how many fish to get and of what kind if I sell the kenyi.
 
Personally, I wouldn't keep kenny or zebras in a 55... recipe for disaster, IME. The kennyi are especially ill-suited for such a small tank. The male kennyi are very aggressive, but the females hold their own, too.

I'd be finding a home for all the kennyi, pronto.

HTH,
Jim
 
For another point of view...in my opinion, I think you are way understocked. A 55 gallon is more than fine to accomodate mbuna. I have kept mbuna for over 20 years with no problems when I overstock. Keep in mind I over filter and do large, weekly water changes. In fact, in the March 2005 issue of Practical Fishkeeping, Mary Bailey, the "foremost cichlid writer in the U.K.", discusses this very question regarding a 58 gallon tank. She stated that the tank SHOULD be stocked with 25-30 mbuna. She uses a ratio of 20"-24" of mbuna per square foot of tank bottom. I have had no problems using this general ratio in tanks as small as 30 gallons, with smaller mbuna species. I have also discussed this very point with other leading cichlid experts and breeders over the years, and they also agree that over stocking is the way to go. Good luck whichever decision you decide on!!
 
Please find a new home for the Kenyi right away. You may keep the babies. But soon you will need to find a home for them too.

A 55G tank is too small for aggresive mbunas. You need to watch carefully and periodically remove the fish once they reach maturity. :(

The alternative is to get a six footer. In my book that's the minimum for africaaners. The dwarves are the exception. A 55G would be great for dwarf tanganikans like leulupi's. :)

Good luck,
 
I agree, kenyi are too aggressive for that size tank. Overstocking should really only be done in a 75 gallon + tank, with more room for error and 'chasing' space. You are keeping kenyi (m. lombardoi) with P. acei (your "yellow tailed" cichlids) which isnt a good mix, since they are very different in temperments.

I suggest going for a peaceful tank, or aggressive. Either way, you will need to do some re-stocking of your tank.

:)
-Diana
 
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