Beginner cichlid stocking

[mee-mee]

I wouldn't keep Yellow Labs with Blue Ram though, that's sort of a risky combination. I'd either go with an mbuna tank (using Yellow Labs, with Acei also maybe) or a community tank with some Blue Rams, not the two together. For an Mbuna tank the only fish that could be classified as a cleaner that I've seen work out most of the time are Synodontis Catfish. For the community with Blue Rams you could use any community cleaner. I wouldn't get a fish just to be a cleaner though, maintenence is better than using a fish (and nicer to the fish).

we had a syno occelifer for about 2 years, until he kept wearing out his fins on the rocks, we had to take him back to the lfs and he is really beautiful, we didnt want to take the chance of something like that happening again..so I just look at him everytime we are up at forest lake...and I still call him spot... he was an awesome cleaner....especially of unwanted fry....:huh:

 

[Michwol42795]

It is usually highly recommended that you keep african cichlids with south american cichlids...totally different water biotopes....GBR's are very sensitive to water, just like Michwol said 'if you are willing to keep up with water changes"...as for an african cichlid tank, water changes are usually required once a week or twice a month...we do water changes every week for our 80, and the cichlids are very healthy....except for the new flameback (he was abused by the other cichlids in his original tank at the lfs)....so you could go with either the gbr's or an african cichlid tank...good luck...

For reference, I do small water changes roughly every other day on my tank with GBR. I do this in an effort to keep water quality as consistent as possible, but I think large weekly changes would be fine.

 

[blue2fyre]

Labs are pretty docile for mbuna but they are not community fish. Mbuna are fantastic! They are active and colorful. If you plan ahead and stock well they make for a great display tank. They are very aggressive so it's best to keep them with other mbuna and like Mich said, some syno cats. I keep mine with Synodontis lucipinnis, which is a really cute little catfish.

A great beginner mbuna set up is Yellow labs(Labidochromis caeruleus), acei (Pseudotropheus acei) and rusties(Iodotropheus sprengerae). These are less aggressive mbuna species.
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous I always recommend the demasoni/ yellow lab combo.
Get about 12-15 Pseudotropheus with 7-10 labs(Labidochromis caeruleus). Demasoni are very aggressive but by keeping them in larger numbers they don't end up killing each other.

There are many other mbuna species out there so if you go this route we can help with stocking.

 

[mee-mee]

we also tried to keep german gold rams....so now we just have angels and black ruby barbs in our 45,,,I moved the hengelis to my 10....:duh:


I had to edit my other post....i meant to say you shouldnt keep gbrs with african cichlids...ooopppsss

 

[CichPhreak]

I agree with blue2fyre's recommendations for beginner Mbuna types. I had a 75 with those and one or two others for a total of about 22-24. Make sure that if you do go with Mbunas to add a good number of rocks and if you are lucky they will breed as some of mine did.

 

[toddnbecka]

I have about a dozen juvie chanchito's remaining, should be able to sort out an established pair shortly. I've been selling them as they pair off, and another new pair will likely show themselves since there's desirable territory available again.
Males max out at 5", females 3", and they're mellow enough to keep with anything too large to eat (that won't beat the snot out of them.) Even a spawning pair isn't a problem for other fish in a mixed tank. They only claim a small territory, and really don't defend their eggs very well from other fish. I'll be listing the next pair on aquabid. If you're interested in some let me know.
They're from Uruguay, a cooler region of SA, and don't need a heater in the tank. They're fine at warmer temps though, and don't require a winter cooldown like the Gymnogeophagus species from that region. My adult pair are currently sharing a 75 with a group of Malawi peacocks, a Victorian ruby green male, a group of Synodontis multi's, and a handful of BN juvies. Also a featherfin Syno and a couple of whiptails in the tank. I'll be receiving 2 pairs of Gymnogeophagus Catalan tomorrow, and looking to pick up 6 Norte next week. Either would mix well with the chanchito's. Add some black skirt tetras and a catfish or two, and you have a nicely stocked 75.
Here's a couple pics of the chanchito's.
Male

Female

 

[mee-mee]

awesome pix of your fishies todd...cool shots...