Cichlid Compatability Problem
- Thread starter Bigguppy
- Start date
you have an unfortunate mix of fish. you're going to have continuing problems or worse, unless you understand the behaviour of African Mbuna specifically, and Malawi cichlids in general. these are polygamous mouth brooders ... males will try to spawn with as many females as possible and do this as often as possible and constantly. thus they will relentlessly chase females of any similar species in this effort. moreover, if you have more than a single male, you'll have continuing territorial aggression. these fish should be kept in a sexual ratio of one male to 4 females in order to dilute their 'normal' sexual aggression and ellicit normal behaviour among males.
a single Frontosa is not nearly aggressive enough to compete with Mbuna and will ultimately become stressed and may become diseased or die.
Tropheus need to be kept in groups of 10-15 to do well. as with Frontosa, they simply cannot compete with the significantly more active and aggressive Mbuna.
likewise the Cyrtocara moorii and other Haplochromines.
finally, the chemistry of Tanganyikan cichlids is different from Malawi cichlids. for the former, pH 8.5-9.4, Hardness 240-320 ppm. for Malawi species, pH 7.6-8.6 and hardness of 160-280 ppm. these different species don't do well in the same tank.
a single Frontosa is not nearly aggressive enough to compete with Mbuna and will ultimately become stressed and may become diseased or die.
Tropheus need to be kept in groups of 10-15 to do well. as with Frontosa, they simply cannot compete with the significantly more active and aggressive Mbuna.
likewise the Cyrtocara moorii and other Haplochromines.
finally, the chemistry of Tanganyikan cichlids is different from Malawi cichlids. for the former, pH 8.5-9.4, Hardness 240-320 ppm. for Malawi species, pH 7.6-8.6 and hardness of 160-280 ppm. these different species don't do well in the same tank.
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When I kept chiclids I would have to remove ALL of them, re-arrange the tank decorations and plants then put them ALL in at once. The only chiclid that would never get along doing this was my red devil. I had 2 oscars, a pike chiclid, a convict, a pike chiclid, a blue zebra, electric yellow, 3 tiger barbs, and a firemouth. It's something you can try but I also wouldn't gaurantee it.
Oh yeah I put them all in the same container of water and dumped them in all at once, having the new fish in the bucket first.
As for what to remove and such....depends on what fish you like the most. I was very attached to my oscars and pike.
Hope you can figure something out. I'd ask around chiclid forums as well however.
Oh yeah I put them all in the same container of water and dumped them in all at once, having the new fish in the bucket first.
As for what to remove and such....depends on what fish you like the most. I was very attached to my oscars and pike.
Hope you can figure something out. I'd ask around chiclid forums as well however.