ok, I don't know why I kept arguing with you, but, sorry. I'm just in a bad mood. I just got some bettas, and they all were DOAs. I'm getting new ones though, but it just upset me to see all the doas. I even yelled at my freinds, parents, and my other bettas today. thanks for the link. do you happen to be an admin, or owner of that site?
Mbuma Cichlid Tank
- Thread starter oppositearmor
- Start date
hey, luv, somehow i think i know you (FI) PM me some good active sites if you feel so inclined, i'm back on the active again... dig this one.. i have a post on the aformentioned you might be interested in.
on task....
in my experience, yea, l. caeruleus (yellow labs, electric yellows, whatever) are less agressive than many of their mbuna counterparts, but dont let that discourage you. they have the adult size to hang with many of them. the real concern is the cover you provide for them. for some reason, this particular species LOVE tight spaces... the anti-closterphobic. if you give them spaces that most fish their size wouldn't touch with a ten foot fishpole, they will be fine. i have one that her favorite spot is laying in a crack, on her side, with maybe a millimeter on each side. always freaks me out. it just seems so unnatural. but shes three+ years old, so....
make sure you overdo the rockwork in a tank with mbuna, especially with caeruleus. i've come up with my own guide line... let me know what you all think
displace at LEAST 10 percent of your tanks volume with cover when setting up a mbuna tank. right now ive got a 55 with ~40 gallons of water and i couldn't be happier. I haven't added a fish in almost three years. make SURE you have some chunks of slate on the floor, preferably with some space below for the fry.
if you do go with cichlids, i have a suggestion. for a 125 (good advice) pick four or five species and get five- seven a piece. this increases the likelyhood you will get the golden mbuna ratio 1 male/ 4 females. it might look a little empty at first, but,as you know, patience is a premium in aquaria. use different fish stores to ensure genetic diversity. if your inclined, some haps or aulnacaras, but id stick with mbuna. resist the urge to add more for several months, other than maybe replacing a few you lose in the setup process.
in a year you will have sizes from 1/4" to adult, and trade fodder for your other tanks. i've completely stocked a tank with trades off two breeding harems over the last two years.
i'd really suggest this plan. as you get further into the african world, you will see what i mean. Take care to pick species that are different in color enough as to not pose crossbreeding problems, but thats a whole 'nother can of worms. (post is gettin long)
i could talk about mbuna setups for days (and probably have) so fire away
and good luck
(yeah, a hoot)
on task....
in my experience, yea, l. caeruleus (yellow labs, electric yellows, whatever) are less agressive than many of their mbuna counterparts, but dont let that discourage you. they have the adult size to hang with many of them. the real concern is the cover you provide for them. for some reason, this particular species LOVE tight spaces... the anti-closterphobic. if you give them spaces that most fish their size wouldn't touch with a ten foot fishpole, they will be fine. i have one that her favorite spot is laying in a crack, on her side, with maybe a millimeter on each side. always freaks me out. it just seems so unnatural. but shes three+ years old, so....
make sure you overdo the rockwork in a tank with mbuna, especially with caeruleus. i've come up with my own guide line... let me know what you all think
displace at LEAST 10 percent of your tanks volume with cover when setting up a mbuna tank. right now ive got a 55 with ~40 gallons of water and i couldn't be happier. I haven't added a fish in almost three years. make SURE you have some chunks of slate on the floor, preferably with some space below for the fry.
if you do go with cichlids, i have a suggestion. for a 125 (good advice) pick four or five species and get five- seven a piece. this increases the likelyhood you will get the golden mbuna ratio 1 male/ 4 females. it might look a little empty at first, but,as you know, patience is a premium in aquaria. use different fish stores to ensure genetic diversity. if your inclined, some haps or aulnacaras, but id stick with mbuna. resist the urge to add more for several months, other than maybe replacing a few you lose in the setup process.
in a year you will have sizes from 1/4" to adult, and trade fodder for your other tanks. i've completely stocked a tank with trades off two breeding harems over the last two years.
i'd really suggest this plan. as you get further into the african world, you will see what i mean. Take care to pick species that are different in color enough as to not pose crossbreeding problems, but thats a whole 'nother can of worms. (post is gettin long)
i could talk about mbuna setups for days (and probably have) so fire away
and good luck
(yeah, a hoot)
Yeah, since mbuna are rock dwellers they just LOVE to wedge themselves in tight spaces in the rocks. Which is perfect for the smaller 'weaker' fish to escape the aggressor. Which I said, in a larger tank you dont really have to worry too much about aggression.... but you dont want your yellow lab being scared of being picked on every time he/she comes out of the rocks. 
But you could still keep lots of mbuna with them.... I would just stay away from notoriously aggressive ones such as lombardoi (especially kenyi, since the males go yellow ---> similar coloration will be a cause for concern) and auratus. You can still get awesome color and fish if you stick to more "peaceful" mbuna types. However, with africans, no one is peaceful. 
I still reccommend not mixing haps and mbuna though, especially to start out with.
Also, when looking for a tank for mbuna, height is not as important and length and width. So, look for a tank that is maybe longer than normal instead of being high (like go for the height of a 75 gallon, but get a longer tank).
I'm a moderator on MM, and my boyfriend is one of the two admins We just started a new site www.riftnreef.com. I just uploaded it the other day.... its really slow loading and not nearly done but its getting there.
-Diana
But you could still keep lots of mbuna with them.... I would just stay away from notoriously aggressive ones such as lombardoi (especially kenyi, since the males go yellow ---> similar coloration will be a cause for concern) and auratus. You can still get awesome color and fish if you stick to more "peaceful" mbuna types. However, with africans, no one is peaceful. I still reccommend not mixing haps and mbuna though, especially to start out with.
Also, when looking for a tank for mbuna, height is not as important and length and width. So, look for a tank that is maybe longer than normal instead of being high (like go for the height of a 75 gallon, but get a longer tank).
oppositearmor said:
I'm a moderator on MM, and my boyfriend is one of the two admins
We just started a new site www.riftnreef.com. I just uploaded it the other day.... its really slow loading and not nearly done but its getting there. -Diana
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