30uk Gal Mailawi Set-up

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CAC

Formerly: Catfish Are Cool
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Hi, i am hopefully getting a 48" long x 12" wide x 15" high 30gallon tank with a fluval 204 external filter, a fluval 2+ internal filter, lighting and heater.
the guy i am hopefully buying off also has some malawi chichlids that i could get that come with it(obviously not all of them):
4 x Metriaclima Estherae (Red Zebra), all no less than 3-4" long
1 x Labidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow Lab) Dominant male, 3-4" long
2 x Melanochromis Johannii, Male & female (i think) both 3" long
1 x Melanchromis Auratus, Male, 4" long
2 x Haplochromis Obliquidens, Male & Female, both 4" long
1 x Nimbochromis Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)
2 x Pseudothopheus Acei, one is 3" long, the other is about 2.5" long
2 x Other. Sold to me as Acei but they're not. Lovely bluey fish with a distinct white edge to their fins
About 15 x Auratus Juvies, all at least 1" in length.
2 x Pimelodus Pictus, both at over 4" long.

i am not too keen on the Metriaclima Estherae because of their (14cm) size or colourations. the Haplochromis Obliquidens are also not something that i want to keep because they are haps and prefer to be with smaller malawis/haps. the Nimbochromis Venustus is another hap that i would not be happy about keeping because of its sometimes aggressive nature and ambushing tequniques.they also get 8-10 inches long. the 15 Auratus Juvies would probably be sold, but i would like to keep a couple (if possable). the male Melanchromis Auratus seems like the biggest problem, from what ive read the males are highly aggressive and may take alot of territory.
i would love to keep some of these fish, if you know that some of these fish are often problem fish, please let me know, and i would also like to know if these fish are compatable.
thanks, mikey
 
This is what I would do and its completely open to scrutiny by other members.

It looks like you have a very varied selection of fish in the tank. Not least to say “a very aggressive selection of fish in that tank”. Because it is on the smaller side for an African cichlid setup I would recommend that you stick to two or three species (at most) and aim for around 10 fish or under.

From the list of fish that you posted I would remove the following
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melanochromis Johannii, Male & female (i think) both 3" long
(Highly aggressive and with only one female to keep his attention he will be a handful)

Melanchromis Auratus, Male, 4" long
(also very aggressive and with no female he would even be more of a handful)

Haplochromis Obliquidens, Male & Female, both 4" long
(should be in a tank over 30g’s)

Nimbochromis Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)
Predatory fish and should be kept in a large aquarium with other large fish (over 50g’s)

Also what is the story with the 15 x Auratus Juvies, who is the mummy as there is only a daddy in the tank and as we all know it take two fish to tango. This leads me to believe that these off spring are hybrids. Do not give these fish back to the LFS as Auratus Juvies as it will only lead to further hybridisation of the captive species line. Ask the owner who the parents of the fish are, as maybe the female became dead recently.

The fish that I recommended you do keep are all mbuna
-----------------------------------------------------------------

4 x Metriaclima Estherae (Red Zebra), all no less than 3-4" long
Nice looking fish and have a good temperament

1 x Labidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow Lab) Dominant male, 3-4" long
Great beginner fish (I would also buy another two females for the male, do a swap for some of your haps).

2 x Pseudothopheus Acei, one is 3" long, the other is about 2.5" long
Great looking fish with a good attitude.

I would also keep the Pictus as it would make a nice addition to the tank. IMO I think the fish I have selected from the list would go well together (community wise) and would also make for very contrasting colours.

Thats a total of 9 mbuna and 1 pictus. It maybe a little overstocked but you have the filtration to deal with it.

Tanks.

What are other peoples opinions?
 
In a 30gal I would only consider stocking the following species:

Labidochromis Caeruleus
Pseudotropheus Acei
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Iodotropheus Sperengerae

IMO these are the only viable species for a tank that small due to their lower aggression levels. I would reccommend picking 2 of these species and stocking a maximum of 4 of each.
 
before i start, i havent yet got these fish, but i was thinking:
1 x Labidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow Lab) Dominant male, 3-4" long
2 x Melanochromis Johannii, Male & female (i think) both 3" long
2 x Pseudothopheus Acei, one is 3" long, the other is about 2.5" long
2 x Other. Sold to me as Acei but they're not. Lovely bluey fish with a distinct white edge to their fins
2 x Pimelodus Pictus, both at over 4" long.

i think the 4 zebras would be too much of a handful and might overstock the tank too much.
 
Labs really need to be in groups (3 at least), the Johanni will be too aggressive. If you go with 4 labs, 4 Acei and the 2 pim pictus, you should have a nice tank. Just make sure you have plenty of filtration.
 
Labs really need to be in groups (3 at least), the Johanni will be too aggressive. If you go with 4 labs, 4 Acei and the 2 pim pictus, you should have a nice tank. Just make sure you have plenty of filtration.
Hmm...
i might go for 3 labs, the 2 pictus, the acei and the others he doesnt know the name of.
 
What needs to be kept in mind as well is that this 30 gallon is actually the footprint of a 55 gallon. Instead of focusing on the gallons, think of it as a 4 foot tank. This biggest limiting factor is the volume, as the tank can't really be as heavily stocked.

Labs and Acei make for a very nice tank, and if you can do groups of at least 3-4 each go for it, the fish will be more active in larger groups. Do yourself a favour and don't go with any species if you don't know what it is, otherwise you really don't know what you're getting your self, and your other fish, into.
 
i see your point. but the guy who im hopefully buying them off has kept them for some time and assures me that they are fine to keep with the other fish i hope to get.
not even sure im even getting the tank though...
 
Anyone else have any ideas of what i could keep in there in terms of those fish on the list anyone not reccomend the Johanni etc.
thnaks for any ideas. :)
 
i see your point. but the guy who im hopefully buying them off has kept them for some time and assures me that they are fine to keep with the other fish i hope to get.
not even sure im even getting the tank though...



Your bud may know what he's talking about BUT when I read this it reminded me of the hundreds of LFS workers/owners that will also tell someone that a oscar is fine in a 10 gallon.

do you and your fish the favor of doing the research yourself!!!!!! If you question whats being advised here then by all means, get some relyable sites and convince yourself of the info!

malawimayhem.com

cichlid-forum.com

are the 2 best I know of at the moment.
 
ok thanks, ill have a look. but i dont have much to go on, only that its a lovely blue and has white round the fins etc. :/
 
I keep mbuna in a 48x12x12 with no problems, I have in there at the moment, a pair of minos reef zebras, a pair of wc caillanos, a pair of lab. sp. "hongi", 1 demasoni and 1 labeotropheus trewavasae, all adult mature fish. All reasonably aggressive fish and never had any problems, living together for the last 6 months, and with no plans to move them.

There is someone on another site I frequent that keeps over 30 mbuna in a juwel rio 180 tank with no problems either, it just goes to show that not all fish are the same and what works for you may not work for someone else.
 

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