I am getting some mbuna mouthbreeders from africa that live in Lake Malawi. How should I set up my tank? I want to have java fern. How many males and females should I have in a 20 gallon tank. Thanks.
mouthbreeders
- Thread starter josh131
- Start date
well id go for e.yellows and e.blues both quiet peaceful fish
id go 1 male 4 females for both but you will still need a bigger tank no matter what
id go 1 male 4 females for both but you will still need a bigger tank no matter what
In my experience, you can use controlled overstocking with mbuna, as long as you have adequate filtration.
Unless you consider a larger tank like a 55 minimum, I would stay away from Mbunas.
However, even with a 55, more than 3 or 4 males with 2 females would be the absolute maximum.
Those creatures use up a lot of space while creating there territory and some of them will defend it pretty fiercely
"Controlled overstocking,” as Oscar_Wild said, will be reached with 2 males and 2 females in a 20. (IMO even with 1 male and 2 females).
My advise; Look for a 55 or bigger if you want Malawi cichlids.
If you stay with the 20 gal. read upon some "Shellies" from Lake Tanganyika. They are just as colorful (if not more), and display some interesting behavior too.
Jimmy
However, even with a 55, more than 3 or 4 males with 2 females would be the absolute maximum.
Those creatures use up a lot of space while creating there territory and some of them will defend it pretty fiercely
"Controlled overstocking,” as Oscar_Wild said, will be reached with 2 males and 2 females in a 20. (IMO even with 1 male and 2 females).
My advise; Look for a 55 or bigger if you want Malawi cichlids.
If you stay with the 20 gal. read upon some "Shellies" from Lake Tanganyika. They are just as colorful (if not more), and display some interesting behavior too.
Jimmy
Controlled overstocking works, but only to a point. In a 20, there just isn't enough swimming space for overstocking to work. Overstocking only works when there's enough room for a fish to get distracted as it's chasing a target fish. A 20 isn't big enough and the aggressor will never lose sight of the target, who then gets run ragged or beat up. A 55 is minimum for overstocking, and even that has too narrow a footprint for overstocking to work really well.
A 20 is simply too small for keep any sort of mbuna. Sorry.
Jim
A 20 is simply too small for keep any sort of mbuna. Sorry.
Jim
I also agree that a 20g is too small for any mbuna. I just recently got some shell dwellers(n.ocellatus"blue") and can tell you they are really cool and have nice colors.
Pseudotropheus Demasoni
The mbuna I'm getting is Pseudotropheus Demasoni and It grows to 7 to 8 centimeters. The person Im getting them from succesfully overstocks them in a 30 gallon tank. I dont know if this info makes a difference but is a 20 gallon still to small? Thanks.
The mbuna I'm getting is Pseudotropheus Demasoni and It grows to 7 to 8 centimeters. The person Im getting them from succesfully overstocks them in a 30 gallon tank. I dont know if this info makes a difference but is a 20 gallon still to small? Thanks.