Lfs Got New Species In!

[dthoffsett]

Well, I'm still in the planning stages for a 75gal tank. I would have gotten it this month, but had a little set back when I ended up w/a pinched nerve in my back. It just kills me that I have to use some of my fish tank money on physical therapy. Just goes to show how my fish obsession has grown. Anyways, I was mooning over the fish in my LFS today (as usual), and I noticed they're getting several new species in. Yeah!!! So, once again, I've decided on a new mix of fish.

As I said it will be a 75gal tank w/a Fluval 404. I'm going to move my 4 yellow labs into the new tank, and would like to add 6 pseudotrpheus acei (is the male:female ratio important on these?), 1male & 4 female pseudotropheus crabro, 1 demasoni, 3 pim pictus, and a pleco of some sort. I know bristlenose work well with cichlids, but I can't get any locally, so my choices are reduced to: rubbernose, gold nugget, albino chocolate, or common. Any suggestions on which pleco would be appreciated.

So do the mix and numbers sound good? Should I add or subtract any?

 

[freddyk]

Don't worry about gender with the Acei, they all get along fine. Crabro are really, really aggressive cichlids, and one of the biggest mbuna. You'll be ok if they ignore your other cichlids, but if they don't the others, especially the Acei, won't stand a chance.

 

[mamafish68]

Ixnay on the Crabro IMHO.
GOD I hate those fish. mean mean mean mean and dont even think about a docile golden nugget the crabro will take it out in no time.
nuggets are a picky nugget sometimes.
sometimes their fine andhardy but for the most their fussy.
rubber nose is good, make sure any pleco choice you make either must have wood or not.
some absolutely must have wood.

 

[rixy]

pictus are american(as you probably know) so shouldnt really go with the malawis,but,i have done it and it worked really well.the bottom of the tank was kept so so clean.just dont over feed or they will get lazy lol.

 

[Ferris]

IMO Crabro get a bad "rap". I have kept several examples over the years (always singularly) in mixed single specimin tanks and have never had a problem.

My current Crabro (male) is an absolute gem and rarely demonstrates any aggression, even to smaller fish and is one of the most personable Mbuna i have ever kept. They do grow particularly large for Mbuna but have certainly worked for me in single specimin mixed tanks.

 

[dthoffsett]

I'd like to get one of the syno species, but I there aren't any locally, and I can't really afford $40 a piece plus shipping. I've also heard from several people that they've had good luck w/pim pictus and cichlids, although I'm very aware that it's always an individual thing w/any tank.

I have to keep the labs since I already have them, and definately want the crabro. So, if they will be too aggressive for the acei, what else could I get.

The other species they've got at the lfs are: m. greshaki, zebra (both red and albino), snow white scolofi, kenyi, that's all I can think of that caught my eye.

Also, will 16 cichlids(3 species groups and the single demasoni), 3 pim pictus, and a pleco be overstocking, or could I add another speices or a couple more to the three groups. I hope that makes sense.

And what do you recommend for a pleco from those I listed, other than the gold nugget. I know the albino chocolate pleco will get to 18", but I'm a little concerned the others available might become a snack, and I really don't want a common.

Thanks for everyones help, Dawn.