40g mbuna...update - CRAP CRAP CRAP!

[Ben]

Hey guys,
i know it's not really common, but is it okay to have a 40g Mbuna?
i'm getting kinda bored with my tank and i'm thinking what to change it to.
so could i have
4 Yellow Labs
4 Electric blues
and maybe 4 Livingstoni?

Thanks in advance

DD

 

[Ferris]

Hi DD,

A 40 gal Mbuna tanks is certainly possible so long as the very aggressive species are avoided like Demasoni and Auratus. I would also avoid the majority of the Zebra species and Lombardoi.

The Livingstoni will gow too big as will the electric blues (presuming you mean the hap and not one of the many other species referred to as EB's)

Labs and Pseudotropheus acei would mix well. Pseudotropheus Saulosi should be fine, Melanochromis Johanni, Iodotropheus Sperengerae or Pseudotropheus Socolofi.

As an alternative, you could also have labs and some Aulonocara (Peacocks) or a mixed Aulonocara species tank, which would look stunning.

Hope this helps

 

[Ben]

Thanks alot Ferris

I'll either go with the P Acei and Yellow Lab mix, as Peacocks might be a bit expensive, but who knows.

Thank again for the help.

Any other suggestions are still welcome

DD

 

[Ferris]

P Acei and labs are always a good mix. You could go with a couple of syno's or BN plecs for botton feeders aswell.

 

[freddyk]

That describes one of my past setups pretty well - a group of Acei, a group of Labs, a few Syno. Notatus , and for the centerpiece a single male Aulonocara Malauna. One of my favorate and most complimented setups.

 

[Ben]

Well today's the day.

I'll be doing a few water changes and testing everything first, then off to the LFS

just to make one thing clear,

Do you pronounce Acei as "A see"?

Thanks again

DD

 

[freddyk]

When the latin word ends in 'I' it's pronounced as 'eye', so it would be Eh-see-eye.

 

[Ben]

Thanks for that

I just didn't want to sound like a total fool when asking for the fish



DD

 

[Ben]

CRAP!
Okay, i went to the lfs and got 5 Labs,
i then say the Acei were way to expensive and they were out of the peacock.
So i then spotted the venustus thinking it was mbuna....and bought 5!
BIG MISTAKE!
They're only little so its not a major problem, so i'm taking them back tomorow and i will probably trade them in for more labs or i might get lab Hongi... if thats okay?

Damnit, i made a foolish mistake

DD

 

[freddyk]

Mixing labs can be dangerous. Crossbreeding is probable, though on this forum I seem to be the only one who understands the repercussions of such practices. More related to your situation, aggression between the two types of Labidochromis is a risk. If you can't find something to work, don't rush into it - leave space in the aquarium and keep your eyes open - you never know when you'll run into something, or money. Get a couple of extra labs to fill in space. After all this research it seems silly to randomly choose something hoping it might work. Better to make a short list of what the store has, that you have an interest in, and figure out what would suit your tank best - before actually buying them.

 

[Ben]

you're right. i rushed into it to quickly, and im sorry for it.

I took your advice and never got anything else.
i might get more yllow labs and just make it a species tank, i'll see

Thanks for the advice

DD