African Cichlid Tank Compatibility

[RachelMallory]

I know a bit about African Cichlids but the place where I get lost is when I don't know exactly where they're from and if they will get along with my other fish that I already have. It throws me off when I go somewhere and they say "Assorted African Cichlids". So, here is my question. Is my stock compatible? If not who do I remove to make sure that everyone is okay.

I have....
1 Demasoni Cichlid
2 Firefish Peacocks
2 Electric yellows
3 OB peacocks
2 borleyi
2 aratus
8 socolofi
1 albino socolofi
2 giraffe cichlids

They are all less than an inch right now, so i just want to make sure that everything is okay before they start getting bigger.

 

[clay]

First off how big is the tank? Second the auratus is very aggressive.

 

[RachelMallory]

First off how big is the tank? Second the auratus is very aggressive.

Right now it is a 55, as I said they are all under two inches so I'm not worried about it for NOW but in six months or so I'm going to get a 125-150. And I have noticed that, I was thinking of taking those to the LFS.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Most malawis like to be in groups of their own species. You may want to choose your favorates, rehome all but your faves and add numbers to your groups.

 

[RachelMallory]

Most malawis like to be in groups of their own species. You may want to choose your favorates, rehome all but your faves and add numbers to your groups.

So if I got rid of a few, got a bigger tank (which i was planning to do anyhow) and add more of each species I'd be okay? or is there any fish in there besides the aratus that may be a problem as far as aggression? i know that the socolofi can be pretty aggressive but i get them from a personal seller and I had some before that I lost unfortunately but they were very calm. Not aggressive at all.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

THe demosanis are known to be terrorists. Most people keep them in a species only tank due to their high aggression

 

[RachelMallory]

THe demosanis are known to be terrorists. Most people keep them in a species only tank due to their high aggression

I've got one and he can be pretty aggressive at times. Will it get worse or will it be okay with the number of fish? You know, the more fish the more the aggression is spread and they will get "lost" throughout all the fish chasing it.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I know how malawi aggression is. Demasani's are a little worse than typical aggression, especially since you only have one. THere will be issues. They are best kepts in groups of 12 with a m/f ratio of 1/2.

Personally, IMO if you want a tank with mild aggressions, and few problems, I would def. keep the socolofi, the peacocks and the labs (im partial to the socolofi as I used to have one,.....GREAT FISH!!!)

 

[RachelMallory]

I know how malawi aggression is. Demasani's are a little worse than typical aggression, especially since you only have one. THere will be issues. They are best kepts in groups of 12 with a m/f ratio of 1/2.

Personally, IMO if you want a tank with mild aggressions, and few problems, I would def. keep the socolofi, the peacocks and the labs (im partial to the socolofi as I used to have one,.....GREAT FISH!!!)

Okay thank you for your help! So I will take the arauts, and demasoni to the LFS, and get a few more of what I've got already so they're groups.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

And if you ever setup another malawi tnak, i recommend demosanis as species only. Some white sane and white rock make those fish look stunning! (I'm not against demosanis at all, just against them in a malawi community) Post pics of your fishies though. I love malawis!

 

[RachelMallory]

And if you ever setup another malawi tnak, i recommend demosanis as species only. Some white sane and white rock make those fish look stunning! (I'm not against demosanis at all, just against them in a malawi community) Post pics of your fishies though. I love malawis!

I know, he's stunning, he keeps doing that shivering looking thing, showing off for the ladies so he's got AWESOME coloring right now. but yeah, I will have to look into that when I start putting up more tanks :] for now I just want to get this tank perfect, make sure I never get ick again, and make sure all my fish make it to be happy adults! How many full grown africans do you think would be okay to put in a 125 without stressing them out?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I'm not sure. But I have 7 blue zebras and 6 yellow labs in a 75g

 

[RachelMallory]

I'm not sure. But I have 7 blue zebras and 6 yellow labs in a 75g

Are you going to put any more? And like I said, I'll probably get a few more of each kind but who knows who's going to make it all the way to full grown you know, a lot of people tell me that juvi's are kinda 50/50. So In a 125-150 I can probably house about 25-30, depending on the fish, because I've got about four that are gonig to get pretty big.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I'm not adding anymore to mine. But that is mainly because my fish are spawning. I have 2 yellow labs holding and a blue zebra holding, and I alrady have a surviving baby that is about an inch long now lol

 

[RachelMallory]

I'm not adding anymore to mine. But that is mainly because my fish are spawning. I have 2 yellow labs holding and a blue zebra holding, and I alrady have a surviving baby that is about an inch long now lol

And that goes into what I was just going to ask! How do you sex them??? Is there anything I can see without taking them out and examining them?
I took the aratus and the demasoni to the LFS and got two more yellows and two more ob's!