Malawi Tank

[julibob]

After the first disaster and total extinction of my new tank, I decided to change the type of occupant. I emptied and scrubbed the tank, boiled the rock and ornaments and threw away the plants!!! I set it up again, and cycled it for 6 weeks with a dozen livebearers from my other tank. After a second outbreak of whitespot, the fish were treated and I had a happy, healthy tank with values of:

0 Ammonia
0 Nitrites
5 Nitrates
Ph 8.2 (standard for my tap water)

At the weekend I did a water change, removed the fish and added some more rocks! I now have 6 beautiful Malawi Cichlids. I know that 2 are yellow labs, and I have 2 blue ones with vertical stripes and 2 orangey/brown stripey ones with blue heads (I have tried to find out what they are, especially the orangey/brown ones, but with no luck as yet!!!). Currently they are about 2" long.

My filter is not really up to the job (fluval 3 plus), so I have ordered an Eheim Ecco 2236 external to run alongside. Then, hopefully I can add a few more!!!

Are there any tips anyone can give me to make sure that my new fish are kept happy and healthy

My tank is a Hagen Duo Deep 800 which is 29 gallons.

 

[Ferris]

The best advice i could give you is to research your fish carefully. Mbuna are mostly aggressive fish, which needs to be taken into account when combing the different species, as does their dietary requirements.

Yellow labs are pretty much the least aggressive Mbuna you can get and combine well with all but the most aggressive species. they do better in groups so if you want more fish, i would reccommend getting another 2 or 3.

The blue ones with vertical stripes could be any number of fish, i'm guessing Maylandia Lombardoi or some type of Pseudotropheus Zebra but do some searching on Google and you should find their id. Be warned that either of the 2 species i have mentioned are very aggressive fish and if you have 2 males you will have problems so you may need to consider returning 1 of them but find out exactly what they are before taking any action.

The other 2 sound like they may be a type of Aulonocara but i'm only guessing from your description, pics would be great and we could get a definate id on all of them then and give you better advice.

Hope this helps

 

[julibob]

Here are some really poor photos, but they were the best I could get. I dont know if you would be able to id from them?

These 2 fish have a blue tinge to head and fins.

These 2 fish also have a whiteish stripe vertically along the top of the head.

 

[julibob]

Here is another one which shows a bit better, the bluish head.

 

[Ferris]

Certainly looks like all 4 are Aulonancara (2 different types, can't tell exactly which from the pics). Thats a good thing because like the labs, they have a milder temperament so your current tankmates are compatible . Just be careful with adding any new fish, do your research 1st.

 

[freddyk]

Those fish are not nearly as aggressive as they were when I assumed they were mbuna (in your other same post), but I think you'll find a 29 gallon is still pretty tight quarters for these types as they grow.

 

[Ricey]

the orangly brown one looks kinda like Aulonocara Baenschi
pics here http/www.iowacichlids.com/images/baenhi.jpg

 

[julibob]

I wish I could take some better pics. Hopefully you are right, and they will all be fine. I was assured by both LFS that as long as I increased my filtration, and did not UNDERstock, then my tank would be fine and there should be very little aggression (my tank is 2ft 8" long, 1ft 5" wide and 1ft 5" deep). I was only going to add a couple more, and perhaps a malawi catfish (cant remember the name of the one recommended).

I have just rung the LFS who says that the blue ones are Haplochromis Ahli and the brown ones are Aulonancara, but he wasnt sure exactly which.

 

[freddyk]

Best thing you can do is research and read about these fish to learn what you can to provide the best environment possible. Here's a start:

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/s_ahli.php
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/peacocks.php
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_caeruleus.php

Also, Fryeri is often mis-sold as Ahli, as Ahlis are actually quite rare
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/s_fryeri.php

 

[julibob]

Looking at your links (thanks), it is definately the ahli. It doesnt look anything like the fryeri, and has the following "often have a white bar on their head or in their dorsal fin." This is exactly what mine have.

Why are they quite rare?

I really hope that this combination will be fine. They are all getting on quite happily at the moment!

The LFS who sold them to me is mainly a marine supplier, but sells many cichlids as well. He said that as long as I overstocked, rather than understocked then they should get along fine.

Julia

 

[julibob]

 

[freddyk]

Temperment wise I really don't see a problem, but haps do like their swimming space and I don't think it's an appropriate tank in the long run for the Ahli - personally I'd get a couple more labs instead - they're grouping fish and do well in numbers.

 

[julibob]

Will definately get some more labs then. Do you think my id of the ahli is correct, and is it a good enough photo to tell with the orangey/brown one? You cant see very well but its head and fins have a blue tinge to them.