40 gal tank

[tttnjfttt]

I've spent this afternoon researching cichlids for my 40 gal tank (36"x15"x17"). I've been reading different posts on this board as well as searching the net. I know I want to add everyone in together, so I'm planing on buying some bio-spira since I can't do a fishless cycle (filter is beign used on the barbs right now).

Just from looking at some online shops, I know I want to have penty of plan "B" fish incase I have picked somehting rare or too expensive. Here is the current list of fish I might buy.


I'm pretty sure I can find....
* Labidochromis caeruleus (aka Yellow Labs) - a group of 5
* Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (aka yellow tailed Acei) - a group of 5
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For the third species I want to add, I'm not too sure about cost and avaliability of these, so I have picked out several others as a possible third species. I do need advice on how big of a group to keep these species in, if possibe.
* Cynotilapia afra
* Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
* Labidochromis textilus
* Pseudotropeus saulosi
* Aulonocara (avoiding jacobfreiberg) - max one male, a few females?

I still have the tiger barbs, and am TRYING to convince myself to rehome them...But if I can't, do you see any issues with the above species? I know I have read that some interbreeding can happen within a genus. Am I at risk for this? Also, I have tried to pick omnivores, but I am finding so many different things online, I have no clue who eats what. Should I try to find a group of fish that eat similar things? Or if I make their prefered foods avaliable, will they stick to those?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[fish_r_great]

I think maybe a male peacock or a male and several females would be a good 3rd choice.
Here are some good websites with lots of various info on the cichlids you are considering.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/

http/bnbafricancichlids.tripod.com/index.html

 

[vantgE]

Best choice in my opinion is the soulisio 4 or 5

I could see the peacock and the barbs toghether as a problem and Labidochromis textilus won't work with caeruleus.
Afra and mainjaino can be either really agresive or fairly docile it's more of a gamble here. There are definatley better choices Iodotropheus sperengae and pseudotropheus socofoli for example but the limniting factor will be whats availible. The most important thing in my opinion is to ensure proper male and female ratios.

Food shouldn't be a problem fredyk has a pinned mbuna feeding article here that is simple and mostly acurate. If the confusion results from acie I think it is more herbivorous. However a simple maunfactured flake diet with a little spirulina, suplemented a few times per month with vegetable or/or spirulina flake and some non-worm frozen one or two times per month-give or take a little whereever to suit your tank-should cover most mixes

 

[tttnjfttt]

Best choice in my opinion is the soulisio 4 or 5

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This line confused me. Do you mean to get 4-5 aulonocara souliso?

I've re-read the food article, and it makes alot more sense than it originally did. Doing some research has definately made that article more understandable.

Thanks for all the advice, It has really helped me sort out the mess of info I've found.

 

[freddyk]

I think Vantage was thinking of Pseudotropheus Saulosi when he made that recommendation and I'm inclined to agree - they're small, not too aggressive, and keep what aggression there is within their own kind.

Aulonocara is a nice choice, though I think with all those fish it's starting to get a little tight in that tank for a harem - it can work though.

When it comes to food the idea is variety for all. A staple omnivorous diet will keep all of them alive, the veggies will really help out the species that are more on the herbivorous end then omnivorous, like P. Saulosi.

Interbreeding is always a possibility, and the easiest way to avoid this is to provide females for all species and choose species that are of different genus and don't look the same. This helps avoid aggression to. So since you have Lab. Caeruleus already it makes sense not to include any more labs.

If the artical is hard to understand, or you feel something is inaccurate, please feel free to comment - I'm always willing to review it. I know everything in it is not incorrect, but I also know there's more then one way to skin a cat, and that something may sound clearer to the writer that knows the semantics of it all then too the beginner and I'd like it as clear as possible.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Thanks for the advice. The mixed feeding information I was getting was more from a variety of web sites, some saying fish X is a herbavore, others saying it was an omnivore. The article makes alot more sence after re-reading it. I began my research by reading the pinned topics here, and the feeding one was too advanced for a total newbie. After researching and getting comfortable with alot more terminology, it is definately making sense and is very well written.

I have no problem with feeding veggies. I know the tiger barbs LOVE peas and zucenni (sp), so I already feed them veggies as a treat.

So my tank is planed out. I will be getting 5 yellow labs, 5 acei, and 4 Pseudotropheus Saulosi. I'll be feeding them an ominvore diet suplimented with fresh veggies such as peas, lettuce, zeucinni, cucumber, and brocoli.

 

[vantgE]

Best choice in my opinion is the soulisio 4 or 5

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This line confused me. Do you mean to get 4-5 aulonocara souliso?

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Nope
* Pseudotropeus saulosi

I spell bad

 

[freddyk]

Sounds like you've got things in order. A few extra Saulosi are good to start off with, there really isn't room for more then one male and you'll likely have to remove some as they establish their dominance.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Ok, so will I get one male for each species or a group of labs a group of acei, and then a harem of saulosi? (talking down the road, i know when they are young they are very hard to be sexed).

 

[freddyk]

You don't need to worry about genders with the Labs and Acei (which is good because they're hard to sex), it's the Saulosi that are best in a harem (one male with several females).