Aulonocara

Cypherman

Cypherman

All about Aulonocara!
Apr 3, 2002
169
0
0
Buffalo, NY
Hey,

I've got a spare 75 and I want to set it up with some Aulonocara, Sciaienochromis, Copadichromas, and other open water type Malawians. Can you recommend me a mixture of species and numbers that would nicely stock a rocky, planted 75? I currently have a nice 2 inch S. ahi white blaze and a Aulonocara sp. with a blue head and yellow/red body. No mbuna, BTW...I want to minimize aggression. How bad are the aforementioned species, BTW?

Other favorites:

Aulonocara baenschi
Copadichromis mloto (midnight)
Protomelas taeniolatus
Labidiochromis pearlmutt (mbuna, yes, but I hear labs are mild)
Dimidiochromis compressiceps

I plan on growing them all up from 2-4 inchers. Thanks in advance. Also I hear they're mild on plants, is this true? Want some vals and other hard water tolerant plants.
 
Sounds like you did your research already. Yes they are ok with plants. A couple more species would be Borleyi, Cyrtocara moorii or you can also mix a species or 2 of Victorian Haps. Do you want an all male tank or are you trying to have females also and breed some species. The only thing I can think of that might be troublesome down the line is the Compressiceps. The reason why I say this is when you have a 10 inch male you always have to add adult fish bigger then 4 inches to the tank down the line. You can also add Electric yellows since they can be kept on a Hap diet and are peaceful enough.
 
Hm...I've thought about females...Will the males need females to reach their full color potential or will the other fish provide enough stimulus? Maybe I can just add a few random females and if they breed they can feed the tank since I dont plan on raising fry (hybrid fry, for that matter). Hm....That's right, 10 in. Scratch compressiceps then. Not too fond of most moori (plus they get a little big)...I want to stay in the 4-6 inch range for the most part so I can max out on fish.

Yea I did some research on them so I think i can make a good setup but what about numbers if all of the fish are in the 4-6 inch range? I've read a lot of breeding reports that you take, say, 6 female and 2 male fryeri or aulonocara and put them into a 55, so could I do 9 male and 4 female fish? Thanks again.
 
I think you should have 4 different peacocks
and 1 male of Fryeri, Red Empress,Borleyi or Mloto and maybe a couple of labs. I would go for max 10 cichlids and 1 or 2 plecos and maybe a couple of Synodontis catfish
 
What about dithers? Rainbowfish, perhaps? BTW, what's the standard hap diet? Mbuna like plants but what about these guys?
 
No need for dither fish in an african cichlid tank. They still require veggies in there diet. i feed mine 2 times daily with spirulina pellets and brine shrimp flake mix and the sometimes live brine shrimp and also tetra color bits daily. They also ate chopped spinach,peas and zucchini before. Just a good variety is best
 
I have a 90gal african peacock/hap tank. my current fish are

1 Aulonocara eureka(male)
1 taiwan reef(protomelas "taiwan")
1 red empress(protomelas taeniolatus)
1 rusty(Iodotropheus Sprengerae)
2 lab. "pearlmutt(1 male/1 female)-these are my fav.
1 hap. electra
1 rubbernose pleco(soon to be switched with a violet pleco)

I am planning on adding a couple more fish.I'm thinking more peacocks, maybe more female labs. and some electric yellows.

Have fun choosing:D
 
10 sounds good...Here's a tentative list:

Aulonocara sp ."rainbow" (whatever my fish is)
Sciaenochromis fryeri "white blaze"
Aulonocara stuartgranti "ngara"
Copadichromis azureus
A. eureka or jacobfreibergi albino
Labidochromis caeruleus
Placidochromis electra

I cant think of anything else that might strike my fancy...Too many choices :eek: Can I get some more recommendations...Maybe something other than red, blue or yellow? Nice tank BTW Valerie! Are the electras nice fish? They look very impressive...
 
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there are many different species to choose from that will work with aulonocara. You just dont want to go with several different aulonocara as they will easily crossbreed. I keep my females in a separate tank, separate from each other. My peacocks have shown awesome color without and females in the tank. Take a look at my 75 gallon peacock and hap tank on my website below.

heres a link of some of my fish that I posted a few weeks ago... http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7830
 
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