Why is this working and am i set for trouble?

[frangipani]

Hi peoples

My fish have been working well together for quite a few months now, the original inhabitants are One electric yellow(female), One Lombardi (female), One Johanni (female), One sulphur crested litho (sex unkown), and two tetras. They were happy together for around 4 months and i then added a larger tangerine zebra and two same size (around 4cm) red jewels, they lived happily together for another two months and i saw a Brichardi and absolutely fell in love, i knew being from a different lake and being a slightly more docile fish i may be asking for trouble so i bought a pair, quite large (double the other fish) and added them, for the last month they have been great, today i put a Black Aeci in (have you seen these because today was my first time) and again realising it may not work i was hesitant so i bought a nice sized one and all day she has been swimming around like a maniac with the tangerine (who gets along with anything that will race). The tetras are still fine, swimming around as though they belong

I have a four foot rectangle, 55 gallon and although i feel it is a lot of fish i have been told that the more the better (without going overboard) because of territories. I have plenty of rocks and hiding spots.

Do you think i have created a community that will turn on itself as it gets older?? and do the Brichardis grow larger than the Malawi Cichlids? i admit to not doing enough 'proper' research before populating the tank.

One more thing, would any of these fish be happy with a male mate, eg. the electric yellow? or doesnt it bother them and (sorry, two more things) is there room for any more fish and if so which type?

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I dont know who told you that the brichardi were docile... but once those two start to mate your other fish are gonna be in for it. They will take over the tank. Red jewels are not from lake malawi either, they are riverine cichlids and generally require different water conditions. I have no idea what a Black Acei is as ive never heard of them... can you post a picture?

Overstocking really only works in larger tanks, 75 gallons and up, since a lot of space is needed in order for the aggressor to have time to loose interest in the one its chasing and move onto something else. I would not add any more fish to your tank, i think its okay for now. If everything seems to be working then i would keep it as it is.

-Diana

 

[musky48in]

I agree with the above post. I have seen some weird combinations that seem to get along just fine and then when the mating starts, fish start to dissapear. Cichlids are funny that way. They get along great for a time and then they just snap. Be careful I guess is what I am saying.

 

[f8ldzz]

55G is too small for that many species.

 

[frangipani]

Well thanks for that . They are all fairly small so 55g is fine at the moment, i am positive, now that i have read your posts, that a 55g will continue to be fine because the red jewels will eventually have to come out if they cant withstand the water parameters, although i thought they liked the same alkiline type and hardness as the Mbuna and it sounds as if those beautiful Brichardi may filter even more fish out of my tank as they mature and possibly breed (assuming i do indeed have a male and female how can i tell? the pet shop guy may not know seeing as he happily sold me the red jewels) .

The black Aeci looks exactly like a tangerine zebra but it is completely black with a bright yellow tail. Apparantly we in Australia began importing them around three years ago, so i havent actually seen them around much and cant find anything on the net about them. I will try to post a pic though ... watch this space

Thanks for the info, it has been more than helpful.