Finally Ready To Have A Dip In Lake Malawi

[KevM]

I'm getting there, anyway. I've broken down and sold off most of my other fish stuff (community tanks, fish, plants, etc). I've got a 75 (US) Gallon, 4ft tank. I'm in the process of sourcing a load of rocks (I'm thinking 50KG-70Kg, does that sound like it'll be enough?). I've sourced 60KGs of silver sand for a pittance, and I'll be running two 1000LPH external filters.

I've been doing the rounds at fish shops and reading as much as I can. I've decided I'm definitely going with Mbuna, and today I managed to get a list of what my LFS has in stock (that I liked the look of):

Pseudotropheus saulosi (and the coral red variant)
Pseudotropheus williamsi
Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo"
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Pseudotropheus "Red Top Ndumbi"
Pseudotropheus elongatus
Pseudotropheus elongatus "Neon Spot"
Labidochromis caeruleus
Labidochromis sp. "Red Top Hongi"
Labidochromis sp. "Pearlmutt"
Metriaclima "Nkomo Reef"
Maylandia callaino "Cobalt"
Maylandia estherae "Red"

What do you guys reckon would be a good mix of the above? I'd obviously like to avoid any potential nutcases, and I also don't want too many of the same colour, or dull colours.

I particularly like these:

Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo"
Pseudotropheus saulosi (and the coral red variant)
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Maylandia callaino "Cobalt"
Maylandia estherae "Red"

And I was thinking I could mix it up like this:

Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo" / Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Maylandia estherae "Red"
Labidochromis sp. "Red Top Hongi"

What say you?

 

[MikeO]

What is the footprint of your tank? Sounds like an awful lot of sand - I have less than that in my 60*22 footprint tank. You will probably only need half of that.

Rock wise I would say 60-70 KG should be plenty. Shame you aren't in NE England


The stock list of your LFS is pretty decent - Shame I don't have any shops near me that stock like this. I have just driven 200 miles round trip today to get a number of "lesser found" mbuna from a breeder due to poor local stocking.

Anyway -


I wouldn't put saulosi with elongatus and caeruleus and I would choose between either caruleus OR Maylandia estherae personally.

Metriaclima "Nkomo Reef" I wouldn't put in with elongatus.

I wouldn't combine the Acei and Pearlmutt either.




Apart from that, you have almost listed my stocking , minus a few

 

[KevM]

What is the footprint of your tank? Sounds like an awful lot of sand - I have less than that in my 60*22 footprint tank. You will probably only need half of that.

Yeah, I should have clarified: I know I won't need that much, it was an all 60KGs of it or nothing type deal. I'm sure I'll make use of what's left over.

Rock wise I would say 60-70 KG should be plenty.

Cool.

The stock list of your LFS is pretty decent - Shame I don't have any shops near me that stock like this. I have just driven 200 miles round trip today to get a number of "lesser found" mbuna from a breeder due to poor local stocking.

They're the best I've found, to be honest. Nearly all of those in my list are 4 for £18, as well.

I wouldn't put saulosi with elongatus and caeruleus and I would choose between either caruleus OR Maylandia estherae personally.

Metriaclima "Nkomo Reef" I wouldn't put in with elongatus.

I wouldn't combine the Acei and Pearlmutt either.

Yeah, I'm aware that quite a few of them shouldn't be mixed. Hence my final list:

Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo" or Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Maylandia estherae "Red"
Labidochromis sp. "Red Top Hongi"

What do you think of that, by the way? I'm hoping it'll be OK.

 

[KevM]

If I have what you're saying right, you reckon any combination of the following would be OK, yeah?

Pseudotropheus williamsi
Pseudotropheus "Red Top Ndumbi"
Metriaclima "Nkomo Reef"
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Maylandia estherae "Red"
Labidochromis sp. "Red Top Hongi"
Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo" or Pseudotropheus saulosi

I'd be interested in hearing some more from those with experience because right now I am getting a bit carried away with the excitement! It seems like I have loads of options.

 

[MikeO]

I don't see any issues with that list. Unless anyone wants to disagree, but I would say you should be fine with them

The Ndumbi are lovely fish - I have just added some today. Would be interested in seeing them once you have them.

What is the name of the place you are getting them from out of interest?

 

[KevM]

It's just my local branch of Maidenhead Aquatics (Osterley). I've been to various branches all over and luckily the one near me is very cheap, and has a couple of really knowledgable managers.

 

[MikeO]

Probably wont be cheap the being MA, but still good range of stock.

 

[KevM]

Nearly all of them are 4 for £18/£20. And they run a 'buy 3 get 1 free' promotion on all African cichlids. That's not too bad, is it?

 

[MikeO]

Yeah thats not all that bad

 

[KevM]

OK, back from another trip to the LFS. How does this sound?

Labidochromis sp. "Perlmutt"
Pseudotropheus sp. "Msobo"
Pseudotropheus Acei
Iodotropheus sprengerae

And how many should I go for? I'm thinking 5 or 6 of each in order to try to end up with enough females.

 

[MikeO]

A tank the size of yours will take 30 mbuna easily - You are best to overstock it to keep the aggression down.

The above list is OK, but would still re-consider the Perlmutt and Acei going together. Why not consider throwing in some labidochromis caeruleus as well to give the tank some more variety in colour? They are pretty easy to get hold of.

And its a shame you dont live by me...... My labidochromis caeruleus female is holding and about to spit!

 

[KevM]

Oh, Mike; you're the only one that cares! I've got another list for you:

Labidochromis sp. caeruleus
Metriaclima callainos
Pseudotropheus Acei
Iodotropheus sprengerae

How about that? I really hope that's OK because that's the first list I've come up with that is full of fish I really like.

 

[MikeO]

That would be an excellent stock - I have all of these in my tank together

Still need to work to a largeish stock level mind - If you are only going with those 4 species then look for about 8 of each, with a 2:6 male to female ratio if at all possible - It depends what they have in the shop and if they are sexable yet.

Do they have white tailed Acei, or just yellow? Personally i LOVE the white tailed, although they seem less popular than yellow tailed for some reason. I have both

 

[KevM]

Nah, just yellow. Which is handy because I prefer them. I'm so pleased that list works! Any tips on sexing them? They're pretty small so I doubt I'll be able to but if I have some indications, however inaccurate, then it might make it a little easier down the road.

 

[MikeO]

This article will give you some ideas http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gender.php

However, at smaller sizes the only way to really tell is venting, however I am not sure the shop will be happy with you doing this! Maybe ask them about their knoweldge of sexing and if they can assist you to pick out what you want.