About To Start My First Mbuna Tank

[Stoty]

Hi. I am about to start my first mbuna tank this fall. It will be a 55 gallon. I have been doing months of research online but would still like some stocking suggestions. I have access to 3 LFS with different selections. I am going to mention what my local petsmart has to offer since their selection is always the same and these are the fish i am going to start with. I will fill in the rest with fish from the other LFS because their selection changes every couple of weeks.

as for the more agressive fish there are:

Bumblebees
Kenyi
Auratus
Electric Blue
Electric Blue Ahli
Electric Blue Johanni


The lesser agressive are:
Red Zebra
Acei
Electric Yellow Lab
Red Finned albino Zebra
Ice Blue Zebra


They also have some peacocks, and ive heard of people mixing them with mbunas but i will probably stay away from that. I will probably also stay away from the first group of fish becuase it is only a 55 gallon tank i am working with. I know how to set up the tank and all of that good stuff. I am thinking of stocking all males so i can have a wider variety and more colorful fish. Sorry i do not have the scientific names of these fish. They are not labeled that way. So............with this selection, how would you stock. Remember, these are the first fish that are going in the tank. The community will be more rounded out when i pick up compatible fish from the other LFS. Thanks in advance. Also, I will be asking many questions about mbunas constantly to have the best and most natural/compatible setup possible. Thanks!

 

[markandhisfish]

you dont need to linmit yourself to lfs choice . these breeders/dealers have a much better selection , all of them post and depending on your location all welcome collection in person too

http/www.tonysafricancichlids.co.uk/
http/www.northantsmalawis.co.uk/
http/www.midlandsmalawis.co.uk/current_stock.php
http/ssa.apphb.com/

 

[Stoty]

thanks much. The only prob is that I am in America. haha. I could probably find some dealers closer to me. So many choices of mbuna out there it gets confusing.

 

[fishguy2727]

I wouldn't do mbunas, especially in a 55. They are too aggressive and sooner or later you will have issues. One will get too aggressive and have to come out, another will get beat up and need a new home, guaranteed to be issues. If it was a 6' tank it would be one thing, but too much of a headache.

I prefer peacocks. They are nowhere near as aggressive (but are definitely still cichlids). They are also even more colorful.

 

[markandhisfish]

what length is the 55g? to say not to do mbuna in a 55g is pretty extreme , there are smaller mbuna species that can and do work just fine in a 55g

 

[Stoty]

i actually just bought 60gal today. 48" 13" 24". kinda tall but they made me an offer i couldn't refuse.

nice peacocks.

 

[fishguy2727]

I didn't say it can't be done, I said it will be problematic. I have done both and would definitely do peacocks any day.

 

[markandhisfish]

lol ive gone the oppopsite way from peacocks to mbuna .

 

[Lisa67]

I have had up to 20 mbuna in a 55 gal tank for about a year now without any problems. There is some chasing but no damage done to anyone. I have quite a mixture which I'm sure no one would have recommended but I keep an eye on them and they all seem happy.

 

[RIDavid]

I just ordered some yellow labs,red zebras,and mainganos...hopefully everything goes good!!

 

[Lisa67]

I have all of those, plus some others in my tank. The yellow labs and red zebras don't seem very aggresive. I've read that the mainganos are more so...maybe mine is behaving because I only have one. Good luck.