I've recently moved and my new water is not working out for my previously planted tank. I would like to convert the tank to a Lake Malawi setup as my water parameters are similar. The tank is a 40 gallon breeder and my water parameters are pH 8.2, kH 14, and gH of 8. I know next to nothing about cichlids. I was thinking of setting up a rockwork tank and stocking it with Yellow Labs.. possibly 6-8. I understand they get to be 5 inches or so and these would be juveniles. I've read that they are a good started cichlid. What do you guys think?
40G planted to be converted to Malawi setup....
- Thread starter Godslayer
- Start date
Six to eight yellow labs would be a good stocking level for that sized tank. Yellow labs are excellent starter mbuna.
Jim
Jim
Hey thanks for your reply. I also wanted to put some blue cichlids of some type in addition to the yellow labs. Maybe 4-6 each, totalling 10-12 fish for the tank. It will have extensive rockwork and a sand substrate. What can you suggest? Also I have read that they need to have a ratio of 1:3 m:f. How do I go about sexing them?
I wouldn't put more than 6 African cichlids, total, in a 40. You could add some Pseudotropheus saulosi; they're a pretty blue fish. A trio or quartet of labs (1M & 2-3F) and a quartet of saulosi (same gender split) would be about all you'd want to add.
I don't know about saulosi, but yellow labs really must be vented to be sexed correctly. Some people claim to be able to sex labs by appearance, but I've never seen any evidence that there are visible gender differences.
Jim
I don't know about saulosi, but yellow labs really must be vented to be sexed correctly. Some people claim to be able to sex labs by appearance, but I've never seen any evidence that there are visible gender differences.
Jim
I agree that 6 fish is a good number for a 40g. If you get Ps.saulosi a group of 1m/5f would work nicely. They are less agressive and the males are a beautiful blue with black bars and the females are a yellowy orange color. That way it looks like you have to kinds of fish but really its only 1.
Considering what I've read states that labs are almost impossible to sex, how would I go about selecting a single male and several females? Is it just pick and guess? If I'm lucky I'll get an acceptable split. Maybe find a store that will let me trade back if there are problems?
yup and yup.
In a tank full of juvies, select the largest, assuming they are male...and the smallest, assuming they are female.
good luck
In a tank full of juvies, select the largest, assuming they are male...and the smallest, assuming they are female.
good luck