I Would Like To Do A Malawi Set Up.

[cheesy feet]

As i am shuffling around with all my tanks at the moment i'm changing the setups.My plan is i will have a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft central/south american cichlid set up,rio 400 planted discus/community,4ft breeding golden severum tank,2ft goldfish set up and this malawi ,when i get some money a nano reef. I've never had a malawi tank before but i have always wanted one (bright colours fast moving fish...very entertaining). I have tonnes of this white rock,it's wholey and it's supposed to raise the ph slightly.I will have a 4ftx15x12 for the set up.Can anyone give me a fish stocking list?I've researched quite a few fish such as the yellow lab ,but i've heard it's to placid for many other fish from lake malawi.

Thanks

 

[dthoffsett]

Are you sure of the dimensions of the tank, I'm coming up with around 37gal by 48x15x12, that seems to be a rather odd shape. Generally I wouldn't recommend anything less than 55gal for Malawis, but if your tank is indeed 4 feet long, there should be enough floor space.

As for stocking, it really just depends on what you have available (if you're not ordering fish), what you like, and most importantly what is compatible. If you could list some fish you like we could help you narrow it down.

I would stick with Mbunas as they are generally smaller, but I would avoid those with an adult size over 5-6inches (such as p. acei, and p. crabro), I would also avoid extremely aggressive fish such as kenyi's. Yellow labs are quite capable of handling themselves with all but the most aggressive fish provided they are in larger groups, no less than 6.

Here's a link to some stocking suggestions for a 40gal tank (48x13x16). Good luck, and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_40g.php

 

[cheesy feet]

Thanks,it's probably that size

 

[clareriley]

I have a 48-12-15 which now my rearing tank, my other is also 48-12-15 that is my community.
I used to have my malawi setup in my old rearing tank, if you do plan to have them in there for good I would go for a nice community of Saulosi. they are lovely fish and the males are striped and the females are yellow/orange. I did have 28 mixed malawi in mine but did need to upgrade after a year.

 

[mark7616]

I have a 48-12-15 which now my rearing tank, my other is also 48-12-15 that is my community.
I used to have my malawi setup in my old rearing tank, if you do plan to have them in there for good I would go for a nice community of Saulosi. they are lovely fish and the males are striped and the females are yellow/orange. I did have 28 mixed malawi in mine but did need to upgrade after a year.

You havnt been keeping malawi for a year yet as i remember when you was setting up your first tank. Ive noticed alot of bad advice coming from you.

 

[cheesy feet]

I have a 48-12-15 which now my rearing tank, my other is also 48-12-15 that is my community.
I used to have my malawi setup in my old rearing tank, if you do plan to have them in there for good I would go for a nice community of Saulosi. they are lovely fish and the males are striped and the females are yellow/orange. I did have 28 mixed malawi in mine but did need to upgrade after a year.

You havnt been keeping malawi for a year yet as i remember when you was setting up your first tank. Ive noticed alot of bad advice coming from you.

...so is it good advice?

 

[Ferris]

...so is it good advice?

A colony of Saulosi is about the only species i would suggest for that tank due to the limited width and height but they should do fine in there.

 

[jayjay]

What about the Malawi shell dweller, Pseudotropheus lanisticola? I see no reason why yellow labs wouldn't be fine in that size tank.

More things that should be fine (according to the cichlid fourm for a 48x16x13, which is not too different)-

Placidochromis electra
Cynotilapia afra
Copadichromis azureus
Metriaclima sp. "Msobo"
Pseudotropheus socofoli
Metriaclima estherae
Pseudotropheus saulosi (already mentioned)
Labidochromis caeruleus (already mentioned)

 

[Ferris]

What about the Malawi shell dweller, Pseudotropheus lanisticola?

Absolutely - if you can find them. Finding names on google and the internet is one thing - finding them in LFS is a different matter.

 

[clareriley]

I have a 48-12-15 which now my rearing tank, my other is also 48-12-15 that is my community.
I used to have my malawi setup in my old rearing tank, if you do plan to have them in there for good I would go for a nice community of Saulosi. they are lovely fish and the males are striped and the females are yellow/orange. I did have 28 mixed malawi in mine but did need to upgrade after a year.

You havnt been keeping malawi for a year yet as i remember when you was setting up your first tank. Ive noticed alot of bad advice coming from you.

I started keeping Malawis when I joined this forum actually. I have been keeping tropicals alot longer. BUT as I have said I had to upgrade after a year, I have just upgraded to my 100usG.
My advice maybe wrong yes but its my opinion of what I would do. Everyone has a view of what they will do and I give my view as others do.

 

[jayjay]

That is where you look around, the fish I want I don't have as I can't get hold of them, doesn't stop me trying. Email importers, talk to people on the internet, look up breeders and question all your LFS etc. 'Tis why I prefer to look at importers lists rather than LFS.

Money is more of an issue I find for getting the fish I want, but if you have quite a bit, chances are you can get what you want.

 

[cheesy feet]

...I hate scientific names .Why can't all fish have ONE common name...not 4 or 5!