How many fish

rbell219

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Nov 12, 2005
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OK--so I've always kept my stock at 9 Africans. I want a Frontosa (my lfs finally got some that are affordable) I was going to trade in my Zebra Obliq as he picks on EVERYONE else--also he's a river fish. But I think i might want to keep him. He's not overly aggressive---so how many fish is max in a 55. Total water is probably 45. I also have a pleco, a Pakistani loach, and two young Synodontis lace cats.
My tank turns over about 317 gph.
 
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this is confusing ...
was going to trade in my Zebra Obliq as he picks on EVERYONE else
...
He's not overly aggressive

you don't want to keep a frontosa in a mixed community of Malawi Mbuna. the frontosa is a shy retiring predator best kept in groups of 4 or more ... Mbuna are far too active and territorially aggressive for a frontosa to thrive with them.
 
I meant he doesn't kill--he chases for a second and then gives up. But he does it all the time--only a few have had their fins nipped.

I'm not strictly Mbuna now. My question is about number of fish, not types. I do apprecite the advice though.
 
Well, types of fish have a lot to do with stocking numbers. People could help you more if you told them your current fish. For example you could stock more neons in a tank than cichlids. Stocking levels will depend on the types of fish.
 
Yeah I agree a Frontosa wont work in your setup. They do best in LARGE (100+ gallon) species only tanks.

What species/genus is your obliquens? You mentioned it was a river fish but there is a species from Lake Victoria called that.

It would be great to know what species you have in your tank, so we can help you better with stocking. IMO I think 9 fish is just fine for your tank, and I would not add any more. The newcomer(s) will also likely get harassed. :)

-Diana
 
Yeah---i've got my eyes on a bigger tank anyways. Think I'll wait--I might have to build a new room onthe house for it though...here's my stock--click the link in my signaature for some pics:
Neolamprologus pulcher-"Brichardi"
Julidochromis regani
Labidochromis caeruleus-"Lemon / Electric Yellow"
Iodotropheus sprengerae-"Rusty"
Pseudotropheus-"Msobo Magunga Red"
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus
Astatotilapia latifasciata-"Zebra Obliquidens"
Sciaenochromis fryeri-"Electric Blue Hap/Hap Ahli"
Pseudotropheus sp.-"Red Blotch Zebra"
Common Pleco
2 x synodontis catfish
Botia lohachata-"Pakistani loach"

Ya know--I don't know where I got river fish from---i think I was researching something and it stuck in my head--thanks for jogging my memory on that one
 
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I think you are well stocked already in that tank... dont worry about adding anything else. You may want to consider working sooner to upgrade the tank size, maybe to a 90 gallon or something for some of the larger fish like the nimbochromis and fryeri that like the open swimming space. :)

-Diana
 
Oh it's in the works----these fish have a good ways to go yet. The Nimb. is only 1.5" and the Fryeri is an inch maybe. I got em all as teeny babies. My biggest one is the red blotchzebra---he's 2-2.25"

I have this 20 gallon that used to be a mini reef---i'm building a stand for it and I'm going to do L. Multifasciatus. What do you think on those in that tank. 1 male and how many females?
 
you could easily get 2-3 females in a tank that size maybe more...the nice thing about multies is you dont have to get a ton of them because they will fill it up pretty fast.
 
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