New to African Cichlids

[DAVIDFBT]

I don't plan on breeding, but If they do, I'll just sell them to a LFS for store credit.

 

[ibr3ak]

Right, if there are males and females in the same tank breeding is inevitable even when not expected, mbuna are some of the easier fish to breed. And if they are hybrids chances are the lfs won't except them, and in general selling hybrids is not encouraged, don't wanna sound like a hardass or discourage you from your plan, but that's the way it is.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

No, not at all, I completely understand. I guess I'll just have to euthanize them then. As I said, I didn't plan on breeding them in the first place.

 

[ws66370]

if you do not plan on breading why not just do an all male tank.....it will be a little more colorful anyways

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I'd rather have males and females that occasionally make eggs than only males that don't. Besides, the Pseudotropheus Socolofi are dimorphic, so males are different than females, and I want variety in my tank.

 

[kay-bee]

...skip on yellow labs or red zebras and get something else, yellow labs and estherae's would have a high chance of interbreeding even with enough females for each male (all mbuna/mouthbrooder could interbreed, but those two species have the highest chances reported in aquaria)....

In my experience I have NOT found this to be the case. I've kept large groups (10+) of yellow labs with moderate sized groups (6+) of red zebras for years. The only interaction I've seen is my male red zebra busting up fights between two male rival yellow labs (the alpha male red zebra doesn't like to witness any fighting he isn't involved in). A red zebra wouldn't be more prone to breed out of its species than a cobalt blue zebra.

Now red zebra/yellow lab hybrids are another story. Some of these can pass as red zebras to the untrained eye and might pursue a female yellow lab.

...Besides, the Pseudotropheus Socolofi are dimorphic, so males are different than females, and I want variety in my tank.

Socolofi's are monomorphic, perhaps you're thinking of a different species?

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Socolofi's are monomorphic, perhaps you're thinking of a different species?

Darn it.:wall: I meant Pseudotropheus Saulosi.

 

[kay-bee]

How's this? 4 Labidochromis Caereulus, 4 Pseudotropheus Socolofi, 4 Pseudotropheus Saulosi, and 4 Metriaclima Estherae.

I'd say this combo is workable especially if a verified 1m/3f gender ratio is in place, though I like Coler's suggestions.

 

[Coler]

^ yep If you can get the male female ratio I'd say you have a nice mix that has every chance of working out well.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

What about the species of fish that are monomorphic? How do I tell M/F from them?