Help Stock My Tank

[james41683]

I have a 60 gallon bow front that i will be filling with africans as soon as i get all of my rocks and stuff figured out. Filtration with be an aquaclear hob that is made for 60-110 gallons and either a rena x3 or 4, which ever i buy. Substrate will be sand and I'm looking at texas holey rocks.

this will be my first cichlid tanks so I'm looking for beginner fish and i came across the list below. Most of these fish seem to be blue from the pictures I've found online, so i would like a few fish that aren't blue. Also, how many fish should be stocked in my tank with the mentioned filtration and water changes weekly? Here's the list, all of these look nice, but i would like more colors. I will also add a small group of some kind of synodontis and a pleco for clean up.

oh crap. I just noticed i didnt put the list up. here it is.

Rusties (I. Sprengerae)
Yellow Labs (L. Caeruleus)
Red Zebras (M. Estherae)
Mainganos (M. Cyaneorhabdos)
Exasperatus (M. Joanjohnsonae )
P. Saulosi
P. Socolofi
P. Acei
P. Polit
C. Afra
M. Dialeptos
L. Trewavasae
L. Fuelleborni

thanks
james

 

[randallhart]

Check this out.

http/liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=1825

 

[Robris]

Do you actually trust live stock bought from the internet? I mean you dont know if there diseased or how bad the water conditions are that there kept in. If they are are bad then they would probably be more disease prone and if they die in a few months you'll never know that it was the online shop, instead just blame yourself.

On the other hand the selection is great

 

[randallhart]

I just put that there to show the variety.

 

[poopsydrew]

Do you actually trust live stock bought from the internet? I mean you dont know if there diseased or how bad the water conditions are that there kept in. If they are are bad then they would probably be more disease prone and if they die in a few months you'll never know that it was the online shop, instead just blame yourself.

On the other hand the selection is great

A lot of people buy their fish from the internet, of course there is a risk but no more than buying one at your pet shop if it is a reliable dealer.

Drew

 

[dthoffsett]

I'd stock your tank the same as a 55gal, ie. 3 species of 1male to 3 females. here's a great link to stocking. http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

Based on what you listed, for a peaceful set up:
4 l.caeruleus (yellow labs) ratio doesn't matter
4 m.estherae (red zebras) 1m/3f
4 p.socolofi 1m/3f

That would give you a nice mix of yellow, red/orange, and blue.

 

[james41683]

I'd stock your tank the same as a 55gal, ie. 3 species of 1male to 3 females. here's a great link to stocking. http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

Based on what you listed, for a peaceful set up:
4 l.caeruleus (yellow labs) ratio doesn't matter
4 m.estherae (red zebras) 1m/3f
4 p.socolofi 1m/3f

That would give you a nice mix of yellow, red/orange, and blue.

would having breeding groups be necessary? i really have no intention of trying to breed and raise the fry, if it happens it's ok, but its not what im setting up to do. since i'm not breeding them would i be able to substitute some of the group with other species? i'm really interested in C. Afra, from what i saw they are blue, but yellow appears depending on mood and condition, i think thats what it was atleast.

 

[dthoffsett]

With mbuna, the reason you put multiple females with single males is not so much for breeding, as it's to cut down on aggression. Multiple males of a single species will fight over territory, dominance, and females, however, with some species (such as l.caeruleus), multiple males can live together in relative peace. If you don't want to keep any fry, you can leave the holding female to spit in the main tank, and most, if not all of the fry will be eaten. The other alternative, is to have an all male tank where you have a single male of multiple species, this is a fairly difficult set-up, and not recommended for the beginner.