Will these Fish Fit?

[RacerX242]

i was at Cichlid-forum.com and they said i can fit these fish in my 55gal.
4 Pseudotropheus saulosi(srry dont know the common name)
4Red Zebra
4Yellow Lab

Is this enough Or is there room for more?

 

[rbell219]

based on the adult size---12 would be a bit crowded. You can keep all 12 juvenilles for a long time though. Then cull the ones that are not as colorful, or the ones that are being beat up by the others--the less aggressive. Just make sure you filtration is up to par and provide plenty of cover/cave structure

 

[Beeker]

That sounds like a stocked tank and beautiful choice of fish. With the temperment of a Cichlid, make sure you have the right male/female ratio to prevent agression.

 

[scholar]

I actually had havea 55G with most of these fish in it.

The Saulosi's are ok and they do not have a common name. You want 1m/3f.

The yellows should be 3m or 1m/3f.

The Zebras get too big for 55G. Instead get Socolofi's 1m/2f. he females have some vertical markings on them.


You can add one albino socolfi, 1 dwarf rubber-lp pleco, one male jacobfribergi.

This would complete you r color patterns. the sex ratio is important as the males most likely damage the female.

Good luck,

PS: a general rule for fish:

-fish is no more than one inch thick, 1gallon per length in inches
- fish with1.5+ inch thinkbness=2gallons/inch of length

 

[RacerX242]

im trying to look for a jacobfribergi on the net But no louck

 

[scholar]

That's ok. You can skip the jacobf.

You are alreay having, blue, black, purple, tangerine, white, brown and yellow colors. Just add 1m/2f large red platies for the color red.

All these fish are available in Petsmart or Petco. The pleco is rubber-lip and only avialble in Petsmart. The blue Socolofi is only in Petco. the albino Socolofi is only in Petsmart.

The Saulosi is my favorite and you need to buy them from a specailty fish store or on-line .

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Scholar, Somtimes I dont understand your logic hehehe.

Why would you suggest keeping platies in that tank? They need different foods, different water chemsitry, and will likely get thier butts kicked by the cichlids when they get larger.

I dont reccommend buying fish from EITHER petsmart or petco, they all too often carry hybrids and poor fish. Im not sure about in the states, but up here in Canada they are terrible. Buying from small LFS and private breeders are the best. Contact your local aquatic hobbyest club and try to find some african breeders in your area. That is by far your best bet, to both find what you want at reasonable prices and get healthy fish.

I think red zebras will be fine in the 55 gallon, however they are on the more aggressive side for the saulosi and yellow labs. If your worried about aggression possibly substitue the red zebras for socolofi, acei, or other less-aggressive fish. Having both yellow in the saulosi females and in the yellow labs might be a cause for concern, as the adult male yellow labs might chase the female saulosi, especially if you dont have enough females for the yellow labs. I've witnessed this when adding juvie saulosi in with adult yellow labs.

I agree with Scholar's Male to Female ratios. 4 of each species is good, and 1 male 3 females for each. 12 fish will be fine in the 55 gallon long term, and as mentioned you may need to weed out some extra males or over-aggressors.

But other than that, it sounds good! I would stick to mbuna since thats what your going for.... dont try to mix in haps with these guys, its best to do separate hap and mbuna tanks.


-Diana

 

[RacerX242]

Well Thanks Guys I found a really cool Lfs near me. They carry lots of cool fish
They had this gaint Puffer and it was expensive. They had sting rays and Tons of Cichlids! They had lionfish and I spent like three hours just looking at all these awesome fish Im suprised they didnt kick me out. If any one lives in Houston you might wanna Check it out heres a link Www.fishrushouston.com

 

[RacerX242]

I HAVE DECIDED!
Well im gonna go with
4 yellow labs ( 1m & 3F)
4 Pseudotropheus socolofi (1m & 3f )
4 Pseudotropheus saulosi ( 1m & 3 F)
( i dont know if the albino socolofi will fit )

There is another problem now!
How can i tell whats male and Female?

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Its hard with all those fish trying to tell whats male whats female, especially when they are juvinile. The saulosies you will know once they mature because the males turn blue and the females stay yellow.

With the yellow labs and socolofi it will be a lot trickier. Your best bet is to buy 1 larger one (maybe the biggest of the group) and 3 or 4 of the smallest most 'female' looking ones. That way when they grow up you can weed out an extra male if you get one. Its tricky, but *usually* when buying fish that all look the same thats how we do it. Get a bigger one with some smaller ones. You'll probebly end up with an extra male but if you get more than your supposed to then you can sell or return that extra male.

As for ID'ing them when they are adults... you'll have to cross that bridge when you come to it. I think with yellow labs and socolofi venting (where you look at the fish's genital area) is the only way to be 100% sure, or to see them mating.


HTH
-Diana