Does anyone keep Cyrtocara Moorii with Mbuna?

[Istanbul_Kop]

I really want a Mbuna tank, but I also really like Cyrtocara moorii (Blue Dolphin).

I'm wondering what is the general feeling about keeping these with Mbuna?

I was thinking about something like this:

Pseudotropheus Demasoni
Metriaclima Greshakei
Labidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow Lab)
Iodotropheus sprengerae (Rustys)

Possibly taking out the Metriaclima Greshakei.

Any advice or experience appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Pittbull]

Hello Kop how goes your end of the world i hope great, ahh the Moori they are a nice fish that gets pretty big, and a tank full of these beauties looks great, the only thing i could say is watch the demasoni and metriaclima they tend to be a little moody in all but in a large setup should be fine with that list, but will coexsist with the rusty's and yellow labs nicely..

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

All well Pittbul, thanks for asking.

I love Mooris shape, which is why I want them.

Regarding the Mbuna, what I'm basically trying to do is get a good colour selection.

I was thinking of taking the Demasoni and Yellow Labs out of my list for a larger group of Saulosi, but then I feel I wouldn't be able to get a lot of of the blue/black combination and end up with just a load of yellow.

My tank is 350L (92 US Gallons to you, lol) and is 4ft in length.

I was thinking of like 10+ Demasoni and around 6-8 yellow labs. Haven't thought about the others. What would you recommend in terms of numbers or even a different species?

I'm hoping the Demasoni will leave the other species pretty much alone as I will have nothing that looks like them.

I have an experienced breeder of 35+ years about an hour away from me, and this is his ever changing list at the moment:

...........HAPS...........

Fossorochromis Rostratus Pair Male 7" female 6" £30 (sold subject to collection)

7cm F1 Fossorochromis Rostratus @
£5.00 ea

9cm Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi stuning Males @ £10.00ea

5cm Aulonocara Baenschi @ £3.00ea

5cm Copadichromis borleyi (Red fins)@ £3.50 ea only 8 available

8cm Copadichromis borleyi (Red fins)@ £6.00 ea 5 avaiable

12cm Copadichromis borleyi (Red fins)@ £10.00 ea only 3 stunning males

4cm Dimidiochromis Compressiceps @ £3.00ea 8 available

8-9cm Dimidiochromis Compressiceps @ £5.00ea 1 male 3 females available

6cm Nimbochromis Venustus @ £3.50ea

4cm Protomelas Taeniolatus Boadzulu @ £3.50ea only 6 available

4-5cm Sciaenochromis fryeri (aka Ahli)@ £3.00ea sorry only 5 left

11cm Sciaenochromis fryeri (aka Ahli)@ £10.00ea, also 15cm @ £15.00ea

Crytocara Moorii (blue dolphins)
5cm @ £4.00,7cm £7.00, 9-10cm @ £9.00ea

6-7cm Aulonocara Sp. FireFish, @ £17.50ea (colouring up nicely)

5cm Aulonocara 5 coloured calico @ £4.00 each (very colourfull)

4cm Aulonocara Sp Red Shoulder @ £4.00 each

7-8cm F1 Placidochromis Electra Likoma @ £12.00 a Pr

.........MBUNA............

6cm F1 Pseudotropheus Long Pelvic Maddoka @ £4.00ea

3-4cm Pseudotropheus Demasoni @ £5.00ea, 5cm £6.50

5-6cm Pseudotropheus Salousi @ £4.50 ea

6cm Metriaclima Greshakei @ £3.50ea (sexable)

6cm Pseudotropheus Acei Ngara @ £4.50ea

Pseudotropheus Kingsizei 5cm @ £4.00ea 6 left

7cm Pseudotropheus Acei Msuli (Yellow Fin) @ £6.50ea

Pseudotropheus Elongatus
8cm "MPANGA" @ £8.50 ea (breeding)
5-6cm "MPANGA" @ £6.00 ea (stunning)
4-5cm "CHEWERRE" @ £5.00 ea
4cm "Neon Spot" @ £5.50 ea
4cm "Ornatus" @ £3.50 ea
8cm "Ornatus" @ £7.00 ea

5-6cm Maylandia Zebras "Cobalt blue" @ £4.00ea

4-5cm Maylandia Zebras "Albino" @ £3.00ea

5cm Maylandia Zebra "O.B" @ £3.00ea

5cm Labidochromis Caeruleus (Bright yellow, with black on the fins )@ £4.00 ea

7-8cm Labidochromis Caeruleus @ £7.00 each

5cm Iodotropheus sprengerae @ £4.00ea

8-9cm 'WILD' Maylandia Hajomaylandi Cobue @ £10.00 1 male only

Also a selection of 4-6" Assorted Mbuna

 

[Pittbull]

hehehe you said 92gal yep when i was a sprog i didnt pay too much attention to litre and cm hehehehe math wasnt my druthers aye..

so a 92gal this is what i would do if it were mine, 10-12 demasoni, 6-8 saulosi, 5 chewere and 4-5 moorii with a couple of syno multi's, heavily rocked scaped with lace rock, thats going to be a lot of blues aye with the female saulosi being yellow, i have 5 baby red fin borleyi right now and they look sweet when older..

STOCK LIST #1
4-5 moorii
10-12 demasoni
6-8 saulosi
5 chewere
2-3 syno multi's

STOCK LIST #2
4-5 moorii
4-5 red fin borleyi
4-5 rusty's
4-5 yellow labs
2-3 syno multi's

STOCK LIST #3
4-5 moorii
3-4 ahli
3-4 firefish
5-6 acei
2-3 syno multi's

stock list #2 will be you colorful mix in all but with this list the possibilities are fruitless aye alot of choices for sure, have fun making a decision or just go out and get more huge tanks and do all 3 stock lists hehehehe, later buddy..

 

[efors]

Hi!
I would vote for Pittbull's Stock List #2. Nice combination of colors and not so aggressive species IMO. :cool-1:

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

Thanks Pittbull!

That's alot of work you have done for me there.

I like both stock list 1 and 2...with 3 a close third. Firefish is something I hadn't looked at with them being Auloncara - they are stunning.

I am really liking stocklist 2 the most...however, do you think it is missing some kind of blue/black species (like the Demasoni or Saulosi males)?

Really liking the mix of Haps and Mbuna and I think this is deffo the way to go considering the tank has a bit of extra height.

Little bit left to get right but getting there though!


ps. efors from MalawiMayhem?

 

[efors]

The same efors, my friend! Your tank options are very interesting now. But I really don't trust in the mix of demasoni with haps or peacocks. Saulosis are better choice IMO, but females are yellow and males can fight for female labs of the same color. That would be a problem with the males of the 2 species. There is also a high possibility of crossbreeding between these 2 species, for the same reason, IMHO.

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

Yes, for sure.

So what could I add to that list that is of blue/black colour?

 

[efors]

What about Cynotilapia afra? Cobwe and Jalo Reef variants have beautiful blue and black males with some yellow. Females are not so colorful, but you can have a few males in a tank with a size as yours. In general, they are much less aggressive than Ps. demasoni or even Ps. saulosi; as I have heard from experienced friends.

 

[Pittbull]

dude efors you were reading my mind hey Kop do you have access to afras man those jalo reef afras are sweet but if not available to you than i would go saulosi as well they stay small like 3"