55gal Crossroads

[nattybrack]

I have a 55gal. and have not been overly satisfied with my fish choices in the past. Mostly because of an initial set up of mixed aggresive & non-aggressive cichlids with mbunas and haps. Let's blame it on Newbie exciteditis. Well, I'd like to get my tank in order to have more of a natural system. As such, I'm looking for suggestions for colorful, interesting, not very aggressive, not too big fish (only a 55gal). I'd also like to get a pair or pairs for possible breeding. . I currently have...

Kenyi - 2"
Red Finned borleyi - 2"
Melanchromis Johani (Elec. Blue Johani) - 1.5"
Red Zebra - 2"
Green Spotted Puffer - 1.5" (girlfriend's fish, can't be donated)

Many questions...
Should I pair this down, so I have either mbuna's or Haps?
Which is a more colorful or interesting or??? of the 2?
Fish Suggestions (colorful, not too aggressive, not too big, pairs(?))?

Lot's of questions... but I'm kinda at a crossroads. Appreciate the ideas, info and advise.

FYI's:
OK with Special ordering fish
Feeding: Tetra Color Bits, Spirulna Flake, Cichlid pellets, algae wafers, frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, and some emerald mixture (veggies etc..)
Specific Gravity - 1.005
Temp - 80
PH - 7.6 - 7.8
LFS gladly accepts fish donations

 

[scholar]

Well, To day you are lucky!

Because I have a 55G tank with Mbuna's. I also went through all of the african's species profile here and two other sites before settling on the optimum list!

The best combo is electric yellows and saulosi's with some fillers. Since you already have aggressive fish zebra and johani and kenyii. You can keep them and then as they get aggressive. they got to go. Hopefully they are female and on the docile side of their psychie. A female Kenyii (purple) would be nice. Though I would trade the zebra's right away. The color is just too dull and they get really big for a 55G. The color of female saulosi's is a much better one. The others can stay untill they become troublesome. Borely's shoud be ok.

The puffers normally have teeth and get huge and DEVOR all of the other fish whole. Unless she has already ripped them apart. Unless this fellow is dwarf. I do not know if dwarves have teeth or not.

Saulosi - 1m,3f, male is blue with black bars, female tangerene, max length 3 inches
Electric yellows - 1m, 3, max length 4 inches
Cotton stripe pleco (from Petsmart) , max length 3 inches, to clean the tank

The saulosi and yellows give you yellow, tangerine, bkue and black colors and babies. yellows are the smartest mbuna I have seen.
Good luck,

 

[nattybrack]

Tried looking up the Cotton Stripe Pleco and was unable to find it. Does it go by another name or do you have a site I could visit to see it?

As far as the Electric Yellow and Saulosi, I like 'em, they are definitiely good looking fish.

Question though on #'s... After your suggested setup is complete I will have: 4 Saulosi (1m, 3f), 4 Elec. Yellow (1m, 3f), 1 pleco, + 5 of my current fish = 14 Fish in a 55 gal. Is this overstocked? If so, will 2 f instead of 3 be OK?

 

[scholar]

I have seen it in Petsmart. They normally print the scientific name also. I recommend to trade or give away the zebras. then you will be down to 12. It is the max I would keep in a 55G. However they are smallish. So you will be ok for awhile. Eventually, if the Kenyii or Johhani are male. They will mess things up and you may want to trade them then.

55g is on the small side for umbunas. That's why the 3 females. They have a hard time to tun away or hide. Also only the smaller and milder umbunas can be kebt. this excludes zebras. The other two may turn out to be ok, depending on sex and temperment.

Good luck,

 

[nattybrack]

The kenyi is a female. so hopefully that will work, and the Zebra thus far seems to be OK with everyone but I'll keep my eye on that situation.

Just went online to:
www.neptuneaquatics.com had Saulosi
www.finnyas.com had Electric Yellow

Hopefully it will become a reality.

Still working on the Pleco, I've seen a Royal Pleco at PetCo and a Synodonitis I think eupterus. I'll keep on checking though.

Many thanks.

 

[kzarsky]

I wouldn't keep more than one male of any subspecies in that tank.....If you get multiple males they'll kill each other off.

 

[nattybrack]

The way I understood it was that with 3 females to each male, the male's aggression would be spread so that no single fish would receive the majority of their aggression. Is it possible that the relationship between male's would also benefit from this allocation of aggression and therefore not pose any mortal threats?