Advice On Stock?

[Biddles95]

HI
i have had a 55 gallon fish tank for almost a month now and its fully cycled ( fishless cycle), i have the decor all finished with ocean rock and sand. The ocean rock seemed to make the pH a bit higher but i sorted that out I have 2 heaters ( one at each end) and i have an external filter. but now the question is what fish i should have in the tank! i have been thinking about this since i got the tank and i just cannot decide! I want it to be a cichlid tank and i love the malawi cichlids because of their beautiful colours! But i would also like largish fish in the tank but still at least 10 fish in it? is this possible? and could you recommend the stock list i could have?

Cheers

Biddles

Also i would love to have some electric yellow labs and sorry that i havent got any pictures of the tank. Just wouldnt think you would need any

 

[interpet123]

malawi cichlids are beautiful fish and i wanted some myself!! But they are extremely aggressive and should only be kept with other malawi's!! But i've seen tanks with only malawi's in, and they look absolutely STUNNING!!!!! Such a variety of colours

But there are plenty of other cichlids that are very friendly and sociable, whilst being very attractive! Such as discus, angel fish and even german blue rams (but again have been known to be aggressive towards SOME fish, so check that out before you buy!!

Good luck with stocking your tank, i'm sure it will look amazing in the end!

 

[Squidward]

Malawi tanks are very nice. But aggression is an issue.
Do plenty of research before stocking.

 

[james_fish]

What about 6 Jewel Cichlids and 6 Yellow Lab Cichlids? You would need good filtration for this and good weekly maintenance. Jewels max at around 4" and Yellow Labs max at 5". It's good to keep plenty in tank, but 55gal is restricting when it comes to Malawi but does not prevent you from having them. Demasons Cichlids are nice aswell, but very aggresive as with most Malawi's

Discus would not be a wise choice for this tank, as it's not quite big enough

James.

 

[Squidward]

What about 6 Jewel Cichlids and 6 Yellow Lab Cichlids? You would need good filtration for this and good weekly maintenance. Jewels max at around 4" and Yellow Labs max at 5". It's good to keep plenty in tank, but 55gal is restricting when it comes to Malawi but does not prevent you from having them. Demasons Cichlids are nice aswell, but very aggresive as with most Malawi's

Discus would not be a wise choice for this tank, as it's not quite big enough

James.

I wouldn't mix Jewels with Labs (Mbuna).
If you are going to go the Mbuna route, it's probably a better idea to stick to them. You will get the best out of the Malawis that way.
Damensonii are nice, but if you keep them, it's best to have them in groups of 10+

 

[Biddles95]

cheers
i would have to say no to discus! they are expensive and i dont want to spend that amount of money on a fish that is very sensitive to water changes + the tanks isnt large enough haha
hmmm ive always known that malawi's are agressive but i never really knew how agressive they were.
i might consider the 3 yellow labs ( 1 male and 2 females) and then a couple of other malawis ( the less agressive ones haha)

or i could change my mind completely and have an only species tank with maybe american cichlids like the convicts or firemouthes.... and yes convicts are really agressive! and breed like rabbits i will just do even more research! but cheers everyone!

and im 16 so i have the time to clean the tank/ do water changes each week

 

[james_fish]

You might think it's a waste of a tank that size but just an adult breeding pair of Convicts would be quality I think haha When they have fry you can see the true meaning of parenting!

Or, a big shoal of Tetra's and Cory's with a pair of dwarf Cichlids as feature fish.

James.

 

[Monty-2010]

you could go for raibow cichlids, generally pretty peacefull

 

[Biddles95]

James! that was what i was thinking! i would love to watch them raise their young! and i wouldnt have to remove the fry because the parents would be the only other fish!
I would have to say no to the shoal of tetras because i really wouldnt be too interested by it because i wouldnt really know one from the other :L
and a rainbow cichlid? .. just researched them and i love them! And they are peaceful? would you suggest to keep them as species only?

cheers!

 

[amy1994]

It depends what discus you get and where from, my discus are kept in reconditioned tap water and are doing great

If they are raised in it they're fine, there are many breeders who have discus in just reconditioned tap water, and they are beautiful so very interesting to watch

I'm 17.. so like you i also have the time

 

[Biddles95]

oooh (Y) all my local fish shops sell discus but they are about £40 for a more colourful one and £35 for a plain one i would love to keep them but i dont know if i would prefer malawi cichlids or convicts
we do have the time haha

cheers!

 

[amy1994]

Thats cheap compared to my LFS.....

they're £60 just for blue diamonds.....
I haven't bought any discus from the shop too expensive
just to have a look try this site..... http/www.aquarist-...index_cat49.php
they might even have cichlids on there...i haven't really looked

 

[Biddles95]

WOAH! thats a lot of money! especially when your still at school haha
WILL DO