Good "pals" for Yellow Labs?

[echoofformless]

If we decided to do our 40g breeder mbuna tank with just two species, and labs are one of them, who would be a good mbuna species to use? Who would look nice in contrast to the yelow, and not be a dangerously aggressive fish?

(I am hoping for someone blue, but I'm open to all ideas, as I am a beginner in the world of African Cichlids.)

 

[stingray4540]

Rusties are reall cooll, they are rust colored, red/orangish, and when full grown sometimes they have a subtle purple hue to there bodies. These are very mild fish.
Since yellow labs are pretty melow, you could probably mix in peakocks. You should be able to find some nice blue ones.
Luvmykribs can probably help you better, she know alot about africans. You can also visit www.riftnreef.com , and www.malawimayhem.com . both have nice species profiles and have a lot of info on african cichlids.

 

[wwildcats04]

from everything I have read most of the peacocks would be fine with labs. just dont get the jacobfrebergi, I know I cant spell it. They just get big but a lot of the others will stay smaller.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I would not get peacocks for a 40 gallon only because they are open water fish and will appreciate more room to swim (as would all fish ).

But mbuna like to hug the rocks and stay in thier territories which is why they can usually be done in smaller tanks, but 40 gallon would be as small as you can go.

I would do 3 yellow labs (1 male 2 female) and 3 pseudotropheus socolofi (1 male and 2 female). That will max out your tank quite nicely.


-Diana

 

[dallen]

Hi,

Putting the tank size aside for a moment I have had peacocks and yellow labs together for several years with no problems at all. I do agree with Diana that a larger tank would be preferred (at least a 55, 75 is better) but for the most part compatibilty should not be an issue. There are quite a few blue Peacock Cichlids that should work. I suggest one male of each.

 

[beatle]

You can put Acei with any mbuna I can think of. They're great fish. Cobalt blue zebras are also nice looking fish that contrast well with the yellow labs. You can also do 1 or 10+ Demasoni, depending on how many labs you're going to keep. Demasoni are generally only aggressive towards similar looking fish (Kenyii, other Demasoni, etc.)

 

[DeputyChiefJR]

I know people say not to do it but i have 1 female, 1 male yellow lab with 4 kenyi 3 female, 1 male and they all get along quite well...I even did something more idiotic and raised the kenyi from babies with 4 cories and they don't even bother each other, in fact the cories have taken on some of the kenyi personality