blue Mbuna

[Ricey]

hi there.
i'm thinking of setting up an Mbuna tank. (216 liters)
120cm length.

I would really like to go for maybe 8-10 Electric Yellow Labs (Labidochromis Caeruleus) and then another 8-10 of one other species that are all blue in colour (both males and females)

are there any docile species (blue ones) that i could keep with the yellow labs?

many thanks

 

[Ferris]

Pseudotropheus Acei would be perfect, I wouldn't call them docile but they are mildy agressive by Mbuna standards very similar to Yellow labs.

Here's a link with some good info
Info

and here's a link with some better pics
Pics

 

[Ricey]

thanks ferris, they look really nice! would they definatly be compatible with yellow labs?

any others that you know of?

 

[Ferris]

They are great fish and definately compatible with labs. Another option would be Aulonacara, which are not Mbuna but are from lake Malawi and whilst not compatible with agressive Mbuna are generally OK with labs. Aulonacara Nyassae are nice.

Another Mbuna option would be Iodotropheus Sperengerae (Rustys). They are not blue but work well with P.Acei and Yellow labs.

 

[Ricey]

i like Aulonacara Nyassae!

what about "Cyrtocara moorii" i like the look of them alot. not sure if they are compatiblr though. do you know how big they get?

thanks again for all your help!

 

[Ricey]

ooo just found Pseudotropheus socolofi
pics here

if they are compatible with yellow labs then i think i've found what i was looking for!

 

[Ferris]

Blue Dolphins ( Cyrtocara moorii) can be kept with labs. Although they do quite a bit bigger, they are not particularly agressive.

Socolofi would be a risk, they are territorial. Not the most agressive of Mbuna but a lot more agressive than labs. I have one in my tank and he defends his turf like his life depends on it.

 

[Ricey]

hmm thats a pitty that they are agressive.

what about "Maylandia Callainos" i think they are also called cobolt blue zebras or something?

 

[Ferris]

Very similar to Socolofi, can be done but there would be an element of risk as they are more agressive.

If you wanted to try it, you could get all the fish as juveniles (as young as possible) so that they grow up together. This would help with agression issues.

Any of the combinations you've mentioned are possible, you just need to research the species (which you are clearly doing) and be aware of the different requirements. In my Mbuna tank, i have single specimens of some of the most agressive Mbuna going and they get on just fine because there are plenty of hiding places and plenty of fish to spread the agression around.

 

[Ricey]

thanks ferris, you are a legend!

 

[freddyk]

120 cm.. 4 foot tank. Nice. You can use anything you just listed, but some of what you have listed are best not mixed together. Labs are not outwardly aggressive but they are quite tough.

Aulonocara and Moori can go no problem with Acei and Iodotropheus and Yellow Labs, but should not be kept in an mbuna tank otherwise - they can't handle the aggression very well. There are dietary differences between them too.

Avoid mixing fish that look very similar. Socolofi should work, and Callainos should work, but don't go with both or aggression will be heightened.

 

[Ricey]

hi freddyk,

I would like to go with yellow labs and either Socolofi or Maylandia Callainos if i can. If not then Pseudotropheus Acei will do nicely
I would get them all as young as possible to lower the aggression.
what stocking ratio would be best?

8 of each? 10 of each? or would it be better to have more labs?

 

[Ferris]

I would go for 8 of each, i don't see a need to have more labs but i certainly wouldn't have more socolofis/Callainos. An equal number or more labs than Callainos should work fine, whichever you prefer.

IMO its actually more interesting getting them as young as possible and watching them grow up and their personalities develop.

 

[BOD]

just make sure if you go for the cobalt blues that you dont get fobbed off with red zerbras which are much more agressive, the reds do come in different color patterns thought so sometimes it may be easier to tell, but if they are blue make sure they have no dark stripes coming from the tops of there bodies.

edit - i say this as sometimes lfs get them mixed up or like mine they get them all mixed up and just sell you whatever! sigh!

 

[Iron Man]

Does anyone know why a nice group of melanochromis cyaneorhadbos wouldn't work?


http/www.cichlidlovers.com/m_cyan_maingano.htm

They would certainly add a nice blue color to the tank and from what I've read they aren't as aggressive as other "blues".