How Does This Stocking Look?

[stargirly1208]

Again, I am much anticipating my 55 gallon hand me down from my mom. I just want to know if this stocking looks good. (if I can convince the fish guy to order other things besides peacocks....)

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
2 pseudotropheus flavus
2 pseudotropheus saulosi
4 cynotilapia afra "cobue"
2 cynotilapia red top afra
2 cynotilapia afra yellow dorsal
2 aulonocara roberti
2 aulonocara jacobfreibergi

I was also thinking about getting some syndontis, not sure what kind I am able to get though. Plus the peacocks can change depending on what he has available. He says he orders from a dealer in Florida and I don't have to take the fish I don't like. Plus he also says that he only orders peacocks, but I'm sure he COULD order other fish, he just chooses not to. I was going to try and convince him because in my area, there isn't much to choose from in the cichlid area...

Let me know what you think, if you have any suggestions please let me know. I am new to cichlids and need all the help I can get!!

 

[darrel69]

Ask him if he'll order you the others and if not, tell him you'll look elsewere for your fish then... that may change his mind

About your stock ... keeping more than one species from each genus and you run the risk of hybridization , also its a good idea to keep at least 3 of each species you choose if you plan on having more than 1 .. i.e 1m and 2f, so not just one female is getting harrased by the male. You know what i mean ?

 

[stargirly1208]

I was thinking about just getting all males because I just mainly want a show tank and don't want to fool around with breeding (although tempting it is...). Would it be okay to just get males and no females at all or will there still be aggression?

OH! I almost forgot. I found a cichlid specialty store in my area! Here's the link in case anyone is from ohio and is looking for good fish. Ohio fish store
They also ship fish I guess. I'm going to check them out this weekend and see how the fish look. I may just buy from them since they seem MUCH cheaper. Some fish are being sold $6 for a pair!! as opposed to that other guy wanting like $12 for one juvi peacock....

 

[Colin_T]

If you want Synodontis in the tank as well I would reduce the number of fish. The more fish you have the faster the water quality will deteriorate and Synodontis don't like bad water. Also if you have a lot of rock in the tank it isn't going to have much water and that will exacerbate the problem.
Perhaps get 1 of each cichlid and some Synodontis cats.

 

[emmsy]

If you want Synodontis in the tank as well I would reduce the number of fish. The more fish you have the faster the water quality will deteriorate and Synodontis don't like bad water. Also if you have a lot of rock in the tank it isn't going to have much water and that will exacerbate the problem.
Perhaps get 1 of each cichlid and some Synodontis cats.

+1 Colin. My synodontis actually lives with my plec, but when he is out he likes ALOT of space.

Emma

 

[stargirly1208]

Ok thanks. I think I might just forget about the syndontis and just stick to the pleco I already have since he's pretty big. I would definitely rather have more cichlids since they're so pretty

I was also thinking about doing a trickle filter using a 20 gallon tank to put it in. The guy at the fish store says that is the cheapest and best way to filter since it increases your tank volume. Not sure about it yet. I'm eventually going to get a canister though.

Any other suggestions for fish or is that a good stock? Or any suggestions as to how many to keep of a particular kind?

 

[Colin_T]

if you get a trickle filter get one that is as big as possible. It will give you more water in the system and allow you to keep more fish.
A lot of marine keepers have a trickle filter/sump that is the same size as the main tank. They use a double tier stand and have two tanks the same size, one above the other. They have the two tanks linked and get a lot more water. The bottom tank (sump) helps to make up for the extra water that is displaced from the main tank by all the rock work.

 

[stargirly1208]

Again, I am much anticipating my 55 gallon hand me down from my mom. I just want to know if this stocking looks good. (if I can convince the fish guy to order other things besides peacocks....)

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
2 pseudotropheus flavus
2 pseudotropheus saulosi
4 cynotilapia afra "cobue"
2 cynotilapia red top afra
2 cynotilapia afra yellow dorsal
2 aulonocara roberti
2 aulonocara jacobfreibergi

I was also thinking about getting some syndontis, not sure what kind I am able to get though. Plus the peacocks can change depending on what he has available. He says he orders from a dealer in Florida and I don't have to take the fish I don't like. Plus he also says that he only orders peacocks, but I'm sure he COULD order other fish, he just chooses not to. I was going to try and convince him because in my area, there isn't much to choose from in the cichlid area...

Let me know what you think, if you have any suggestions please let me know. I am new to cichlids and need all the help I can get!!

Hey! I just found a specialty fish store that sells primarily africans in my area (cleveland, oh)!!! I'm so excited. The guy said he basically gets all of those species in juvi form!! I think that I have decided to drop the aulonocara because I hear they're not as aggressive. He also said that he doesn't like to stock afras because of aggression.. Is it true that they are really aggressive? The only fish that he probably won't be able to get me is the flavus because it's hard for him to find. I will definitely put up pics when I start to set up my tank!! It will be in July and I can't wait!!

 

[kj23502]

I have 9 afra's in my tank along with 8 pundamilia nyererei and I would say that there's some good agression going on. I posted a ? about it and the response was that it's just the battle for the pecking order in the tank. IMO if he stocks ps. demasoni (I have no idea if he does), then he should stock c. afra's.

How can you pass up this?

With my actinic light he looks even more blue!

This one's from a little bit ago. He's not under the actinic light, but still handsome!

-edit-
One more thing...did you know they lighten and darken their black stripes? I find this fascinating. My other males do it too! He looks totally awesome when he darkens his stripes!

 

[stargirly1208]

I know!!! They're beautiful! I definitely want afras... although I'm pretty sure he had one in his tank... hypocrit lol