I have a 29 gallon tank and I was hoping to be able to get two different species in it, I have read that a Yellow lab species tank is OK, but is it possible to house Yellow Lab(s) and Acei(s) in the tank for any period of time? Im talking like 6 mos or longer, possible forever. I am planning on eventually getting a 55 or possible a 75 gallon tank, but just not right yet. I love these two species together and I was hoping that it would be possible, even in a very small numbers like maybe 2 yellow labs and 1 Acei would be OK for this size tank for a good amount of time. I ask this question mainly because I have been unable to locate any information about how fast an Acei grows or if that would adversley effect it being kept by it self with a couple of labs.
Acei and Yellow Lab in a small tank... How long?
- Thread starter jdemmons
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I'd say 3 months tops...I'd say start with 2 female and 1 male Yellow lab babies (if possible) and raise them for a few months to get used to Mbuna behavior with very little risk and then move them to a cycled 75 and add a set of 4 Pseud. Acei (3/1 ratio f/m) that same week with the lights of and rearrange the rocks as you float the baggies....
i'd agree with chief .. couple of months at the outside. certainly NOT forever. a 75 gallon tank would be ideal since its depth (front to back dimension) allows for the degree of rockwork it takes to make Mbuna happy.
in my experience, while one male and two females may work for a few months, the minimum long term ratio is three females to one male if you expect to have any degree of success and a 4:1 ratio is better.
in my experience, while one male and two females may work for a few months, the minimum long term ratio is three females to one male if you expect to have any degree of success and a 4:1 ratio is better.
I've had my Acei for about 5 months now. They were about an inch, maybe an inch and a half, tops when I got them. They're now about 3 inches long, possibly 3 1/2. Of all the mbuna in my tank, they're some of the least aggressive, along with my yellow labs who have barely gained an inch since I got them 4 months ago. I'd say you could probably go 5-6 months unless you start seeing aggression issues. Just make sure you have a lot of rocks. My labs and Acei were happy (breeding) in my 55, FWIW.
I wouldn't keep them in there any longer than a few months, greatly depending on how large they are when you get them.
-Diana
-Diana