Mbuna cichlids

[glolite]

Hello to all the cichlid lovers.
I've just bought a used tank with 4 cichlids in, one of which is a frontosa. All the fish in the tank have been together for some time but having posted on begginers forum I realise the tank is over stocked (see sig). Can anyone advise me which fish would be best to rehome/move (might get another tank) One cichlid is very aggresive and chases any fish who dares go near his/her wooden home. The others have plenty of lava rock hiding places. At a guess, I think the clown loaches might be better in a bigger tank, not sure about the sharks though.
Grateful for any help

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

180liters is about 45 gallons, correct?
The Frontosa will most likely have to go, an adult male can reach sizes over 14", a female just a little bit smaller. The clown loaches will probably get too big for your tank also.

If you could describe the cichlids, you might find some help in identifying them.
Is it possible for you to call the original owner and inquire what the fish might be?

 

[glolite]

I did contact the last owner but he didn't know, apart from the frontosa.
One is blue and silver vertical stripes about 3 inches long, yellow eyes and facially like a dolphin. The other two are mixed brown and yellow. One has a horizontal brown stripe and yellow eyes, the other has vertical brown stripes on yellow body and unusual half blue half yellow eyes. The blue cichlid has a long body whereas the others are rounded but they all have spikey fins on their backs.

Boo Hoo I love the frontosa especially.
Maybe There's room for just one more tank

 

[G_Sharky]

If you want to keep your frontosa, get rid of the other cichlids and get one more, thats about your limit, you could keep the clown loaches untill they get too big, but that could take a while since they are a really slow growers.....

 

[fish_face]

I think the idea of getting another tank sounds best

 

[freddyk]

You can get rid of the other fish and keep the Frontosa... for a while, though eventually even alone in the tank he'll outgrow it.

If you get rid of the Frontosa, you will need to add more mbuna cichlids. With only 3 in the tank, you are bound to end up with just one sooner or later. TJe clownloaches will also out grow the tank, of course, and I don't know how the shark or other loaches would handle an mbuna setup.

 

[glolite]

I agree with fish-face. Need a bigger tank. The piano will have to go. The husband is not impressed though. Still, he'll come round, especially when he realises what a brill Xmas pressy a new tank would be!!

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

i think your the 1st person i've noticed remodel their home to house a fish properly

congrats

 

[glolite]

Thanx Mr Bones
Might need to rehome one cichlid though, I've noticed she's really aggressive. Bashes the poor others when they are trying to feed. It's a pity as she's the one with the pretty eyes but she is a hell-raiser.