Electric Yellows With Convicts?

[konor123]

I have 5 electric yellows with a few convicts and i was wondering if they would be okay?

 

[minnnt]

They require very different water conditions so one will do better thatn the other. Strictly speaking you shouldn't mix africans and new world cichlids.

 

[konor123]

The ph is 7.5 the tank is covered in rocks/caves and both fish seem to be doing just fine.

 

[minnnt]

I believe the labs would like it around 8 and the convicts prefer slightly acidic conditions such as 6.5-6.8

I would imagine if the Convicts breed then the Labs will take a good hammering as they're not the most aggressive malawi available.

 

[konor123]

2 of my labs are swimming right up next to each other in a corner, is this normal?

 

[Hermithall]

7.5 ph is within the acceptable range for both fish, maybe it's one of the exceptions when it comes to mixing old/new world cichlids. I think a decent number of fish might help control aggression when they pair off and breed, and I agree with Minnnt about the convicts - they can go totally psycho when they have eggs. Your tank sounds great, I imagine the yellow lab and convict mix looks striking - good luck I hope the tank does well.

 

[konor123]

Thank you for the comments and advice.

 

[minnnt]

The labs are probably at the top because they're scared to death of the Cons They're seeing a strange looking fish and are unsure of it. I would go with one type of fish or the other.

Both fish will survive at 7.5 but neither will thrive imo. If you want Labs then go with a coral/limestone substrate to buffer your ph a bit, if you want convicts then add some normal substrate and add bogwood in an attempt to lower the ph.