Suggestions in adding more in my tank

[orang3julius]

Hello everyone, this is basically my first time writing a post here and I have been spending the past couple of hours going around and reading other people's questions and other people's answers. I figured that the best way for me to get my answers would be by asking the question myself. Anyway, here it goes:

I currently have a 55g tank with only one electric yellow about 2.5" and a standard pleco about 4-5" and currently I think the elec. yellow is getting so bored that he picking on his only tankmate; which isn't making the pleco so happy. I really want to have a colorful and lively looking tank, so I would appreciate anybody's opinions on to what kinds of other cichlids I could add. Also, is it really possible to add Angels with these kinds of fish? Another question is, does anyone have a model picture of their aquarium so I can decorate and place the appropriate number of caves and niches for my future goal?

 

[Sploke]

I've never kept africans but I think they're supposed to really only be kept with other africans. You could do a nice Malawi tank setup (I think thats what labs are?) in a 55, and get probably 5 or 6 fish in there.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Hey there!

Your right in that your lonely yellow lab needs some tankmates. I would add another 4 or so yellow labs to the tank to make a nice group of them. Then, you could do another 2 groups of 4 fish, having roughly 10-12 fish in your tank. Its ultimately up to you what type of fish to add, and because there are so many African mbuna out there it'll be difficult for me to tell you what to put it. It also depends on whats available to you at the LFS.

So that being said, why dont you have a visit to http://www.malawimayhem.com. There you will find an extensive species profiles database to browse and see what some fish look like. Have a look in the Cynotilapia, Labidochromis, Pseudotropheus, Maylandia, and Melanochromis genus for some other mbuna options.

Once you've had a look-see then post here what fish your interested in, and we'll tell you if they are compatible with your yellow labs and tank size.


Also, they have a member's gallery where you can see many many Malawi tank setups.

Also check out my website in my signature to see my malawi tanks.
-Diana

 

[orang3julius]

well, i just did some research and found that the cichlid i actually had is a golden mbuna, and it states that it is possibly one of the most aggressive cichlids. in my research i also found out that they only grow mainly up to 6" which is not too bad in regards to the size of my tank. Now, i have made a decision to buy a couple more golden mbunas, but am not quite sure of what else to add. I knowf for sure that i like the electric blues or the pindanis (socolofis) which will definitely add some a good variety of color in my tank; but i cannot really decide on albinos or red zebras, they also have a unique color that might add some spice to my tank. if you guys have any suggestions on really beautiful mbunas that i could mix in with my sole golden mbuna, then it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[carpediem]

Not knowing anything about how your tank is set up, I would also suggest adding a lot of structure to the tank when you add the new fish. Every time you add new fish, rearrange the structure so the new fish isn't the only one without a hidey hole. With Mbuna, structure is very important. Build lots of little caves with rock, shale, etc... I like to use *new* terra cotta flower pots. I use a dremel tool to make a groove around the bottom, then I knock it out with a hammer. Then I use a sanding tool to smooth down all the edges and they make great cave structure.

 

[orang3julius]

in reply to the comment about my tank setup; it is funny you brought that up, because i passed by the lfs today to buy some decor to help create caves and niches; also i have a couple large plastic plants for hiding spaces, and i've been thinking for a long time now about adding real plants but i don't know much about them.by the way, besides the pleco that i have in my tank i was wondering if i can add some catfish or some bottom dwellers in my mbuna tank.

 

[kuzikan]

African cichlids require hard water with a very high ph. It is very important to also find out there diet. Without these reqirments ment they can be short lived. It is also best to keep much more males than females. Africans are not accually as aggressive as people say (in my eperiance) exept when breeding or fighting for dominance (males thing). If you want to do plants, I wouldn't recomend only hardy plant that don't mind floating. The bottom of the aqarium should also be sand. The Cobalt blue and the Red Zebras would look great in this set up also. Blue Johanni's are also beautiful. These all also stay decent in size. Lake Malawi Mbunas need a lot vegetables and algae in there diet with an occational treat of live or frozen meaty food.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I would NOT get any more "golden mbuna" aka Melanochromis auratus, and return the one you have. As you have said, they are one of the most aggressive mbuna. I would not even keep them in my tank!

If you get them, be prepared to stock the tank full of JUST auratus, and not keep any other species with them. Also, be prepared to upgrade your tank size for them.

We just re-did a 75-gallon african tank in a preschool because they had an auratus that was killing off all his tankmates (killed a D. compressiceps and red zebra amoungst others, and those two are supposed to be on the aggressive side).


-Diana

 

[sumthin fishy]

I would not even keep them in my tank!

THERE IS AN MBUNA THAT DIANA WOULD NOT KEEP?!

We just re-did a 75-gallon african tank in a preschool......they had an auratus .

I want my child to go there!!! A big agressive tank for pre-school kids!!!!

.....killed a D. compressiceps....

WOW!!!!
Ok sorry I found a lot of that post amazing....had to do it...

My oldest brother brought one of these home when I was still young, put it in his tank, and shortly, he too had a single golden mbuna as the sole occupant of his tank :hang:

 

[orang3julius]

it's too bad that g. mbunas are not social enough... the one i have in my tank right now is a gift from my sister she bought for me a while back; i was kind of wondering what happened to all the other cichlids i had in there before she gave me the g. mbunas... i think i know now why =/ . im not really interested in having a 55G tank full of g. mbunas so i don't really know what to do now... the sad thing is my sister bought me two of these g. mbunas and only one survived, so does that mean it is so aggressive that it killed its own species? do you guys think if i create a more densely decorated environment that one g. mbuna wouldn't make such a bad tankmate?... just a thought, it'd be a shame if i gave it away or filled my tank with just g. mbunas.