How Do You Add New Cichlids

[jasmidd]

Trying for the second time now to add some new cichlids to our Malawi set up.

Whe we first set it up we had 4 Lab Corelus, 4 red top zebra and 4 red zebra (well that what our LFS called them! Basically they are completely orange). All 2 pairs.

we lost 3 of the Lab and 2 of the red zebra - still not managed to figure out why!

We tried to re-stock to the same level as original. What a mistake that was!!! Lost 2 labs within days. lost one of the red zebra within a week this is about three months ago. then a couple of weeks ago one of the red tops (F) was gone.

So we were left with a pair of Lab, 1m 2f Red zebra and 2m 1f red top, all living quite happily but the tank looked only half full considering previous level.

So it was suggested that we get a different species and the LFS said the two pairs of convicts would go okay.
took all the males out and put them in a bucket for 3 hours. Moved all the rocks around introduced the convicts to the tank with the females and all was fine.
Put the males in and i will be amazed if the convicts last the night.

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG

Come on you super keepers you know you want to help.

Cheers
Jason

 

[Ferris]

Adding convicts to a Mbuna setup won't work so that's some very bad advice from your LFS i'm afraid. Mbuna should only be kept with other Mbuna species and even then adding new fish to an established tank is difficult.

Changing the decor is a good idea but the best thing is to add as many fish as possible at the same time - this spreads the aggression around. Obviously you still need to ensure that the tank is appropriately stocked - don't go mad.

What size is your tank? - that will affect how many fish you could add and also which species.

 

[adambrum]

How exactly are you losing them , are the being killed by the other fish in which case you may have a physco fish (it does happen) or is there something wrong with the water of your tank or the lfs water for example your lfs might be keeping these fish in water with a ph of 6 which is completely wrong but they will survive you take them home and put them in your tank which should be 7.5-8 the shock of the ph change could be enough to kill them.

Convicts are not suitable tank mates for mbuna.