African Cichlid Questions

[FishFanatic13]

I have a 55 gallon tank which im gunna be setting up in the winter sometime for african cichlids from lake malawi. I dont want to breed them just have and to watchthem grow from small to big. how many should i have and which ones should i have? do i need females with males even if i dont want to breed them?

 

[Rbishop]

All male peacocks.

 

[tarheels910]

You could do an assortment. Research is the key. First find out if you want mbuna, peacocks, or haps.

 

[jm1212]

rockwork is essential.

 

[Barbie]

Pseudotropheus saulosi are a very neat little malawi cichlid that isn't AS aggressive, has blue/black stripe and orange fish in one colony, stays 3" or a bit more, and has a ton of variation in the group. While your prime directive isn't breeding, the fish are going to breed anyway, unless you can specifically pick out only males for the tank. With P. saulosi, you wouldn't have to remove fry, but if you did have survivors, they're usually very easy to market.

If you go with an all male tank, you can spread the aggression by overstocking a bit and have a very colorful display tank, also. Depending on the type of tank you do, the rock work can definitely help the fish live through problems. In an overstocked tank, the rockwork isn't as necessary, due to the fish not being able to find the fish repeatedly to torment.

Barbie

 

[tarheels910]

Pseudotropheus saulosi are a very neat little malawi cichlid that isn't AS aggressive, has blue/black stripe and orange fish in one colony, stays 3" or a bit more, and has a ton of variation in the group. While your prime directive isn't breeding, the fish are going to breed anyway, unless you can specifically pick out only males for the tank. With P. saulosi, you wouldn't have to remove fry, but if you did have survivors, they're usually very easy to market.

If you go with an all male tank, you can spread the aggression by overstocking a bit and have a very colorful display tank, also. Depending on the type of tank you do, the rock work can definitely help the fish live through problems. In an overstocked tank, the rockwork isn't as necessary, due to the fish not being able to find the fish repeatedly to torment.

Barbie

Rockwork IS essential in ANY african tank. Also, Saulosi can be VERY agressive, trust me.

 

[FishFanatic13]

Thanks to all your help guys i look foward to starting my tank in the few months to come...ill put pictures up with all my progress

 

[Barbie]

I raised P. saulosi for years, hence the AS in the sentence . I know exactly how aggressive they are and they can't begin to hold a candle to P. demasoni, pound for pound. I've seen three different all male Malawi display tanks with almost no decor that worked very nicely. The fish had nothing to hide in, just some tall plants to race around and break up sight lines. It makes for an amazing display. I'm not sure I'd try it in anything less than a 100 gallon tank though, personally.

Barbie