Mbuna And Non Mbuna?

[swallowscott]

i have been researching alot and plan on setting up a mbuna tank, i have read that mbuna cichlids which live in rocks should not be mixed with the non mbuna cichlids which live in the sandy areas of lake malawi.

My question is when i go to my l;ocal fish shop how do i no the difference between mbuna and non mbuna?

 

[dthoffsett]

The best thing to do is go to your LFS, write down the species that interest you, and then research them. That way you know exactly what you're getting. With a little experience, and a lot of research, you'll soon be able to spot the different kinds of cichlids on sight. Good luck.

 

[swallowscott]

ill probably take a trip there 2moro and see exactly what they have. Any certain types that people would reccomend?

Just a quick question on cycling the tank, is it a good idea to put some hardy fish like platys and mollies from my community tank in the new malawi tank for a week or so to get the bacteria in the filter going?

How long would it be from setting the tank up before i could add my malawi's?

 

[dthoffsett]

I always advocate fishless cycling. Cycles can vary greatly, but IME they generally take 6-8 weeks.

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