Hi Steven,
I have just set up my first mbuna tank (your Labs are mbuna type malawi cichlids)...sorry in advance if this post is teaching you to suck eggs!
) .
I spent ages looking at various companions for my Labs...as they were first on my shortlist, being of better temprement than most, and therefore a perfect beginner species.
Advise I have been given;
1. Don't mix mbuna & non-mbuna species.
2. Dont keep more than one speceis of any particular genus (i.e Labeotropheus).
3. Dont keep similar coloured/marked fish from diferent genus (may cause cross breeding & agression problems).
4. Do keep smaller types, in a less than 50Gall setup (Your 30G is about the minimum size for a happy mbuna community of 12-16 individuals).
5. Do look at extra filtration in a smaller size setup.
6. Do keep at least three or 4 individuals of each chosen species at a ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females (Although I have heard many times that this can be doubled for yellow Labs - maybe because they are more gregarious...and maybe because they are just extra difficult to sex accuratly!)
7. Do have fun 'test driving' and researching all the different options...there are lots! and take all advise on board, but ultimately the final choices are yours......it's all part of the fun of being a Malawi head!!
8. Dont rush in & buy something 'pretty', or what your LFS says you need cos he has too many of them instock...
9. Do use the Google 'image' tab search, this quickly finds lots of pics of anything anybody has suggested to see if you like the look of them...just punch in the latin name.
To get you going this is what I ended up with in my 50Gall;
3 Yellow labs...thinking about doubling that amount soon.
3 Cynotilapia.afra
3 Pseudotropheus.acei (Usually sold as blue with yellow tails, but I bought black ones with white tails to contrast with the Labs better). n They were named at the LFS as 'Niagra'.
4. Once the above are settled I am thinking of adding some Labeotropheus.trewavasae OR Melanochromis.cyaneorhabdos (but I keep hearing conflicting advise about the latter's suitability)
Happy hunting!
