Mbuna Community?

[grifter]

Hi everyone,

I set up an Mbuna community about 3 months ago, and I would like some comments on my set-up please. My tank is not big, only 36' x 15' x 12'. Although in this months Practical fishkeeping magazine, it says you can keep 15 - 18 adult Mbuna in a tank that size. I have 14 in their at the moment and they are up to 3 inches, so only juveniles. The list of fish you will see below, some are very aggressive species and some are relatively placid.

The reason I am posting this message is to try and find out if anyone else keeps a big mix of Mbuna like this and if they have had any problems, because it is not recommended to keep these together, yet I have had no problems. Is this because they are only juveniles?

Ps Lombardoi (male x 1)
Ps Saulosi (female x 1)
Ps Crabro (x1)
Ps Demasoni (x1)
Ps Msobo (male x 1)
M Johanni (x1)
M Auratus (male x 1)
M Estherae (x2)
L Caeruleus (x3)
and 2 unknown Mbuna
2 Plecs and 4 Corydoras.

 

[Ferris]

I currently have and have previously kept a mixture of single species Mbuna similar to your tank but always in a 55g. I would say that when your fish are fully grown you would be heavily overstocked. Your current list would be fine in a 55 gal tank in terms of space but IMO you need to reduce your current stock for the tank that you have, despite the article in Practical fishkeeping. You will also need to be seriously over-filtered for them to stand any chance of long-term survival.

The mixture of species that you have can and probably will cause some issues but with some clever aquascaping and a tank the right size it is certainly do-able and i have done it myself so can speak from experience.

The yellow labs will probably suffer though, they will not cope well with the more aggressive species like Auratus and Demasoni.

Also the corys will need to ne re-homed, they will not survive in that tank, the Plec should be OK depnding on the species. Commons, Sailfins and Bristlenose are normally OK but will suffer occasional fin damage.

If the 2 Estherae are both males, one will become dominant at the expense of the other.

If you removed the labs, the corys, potentially the 2 unknown species and maybe 1 estherae, the tank may work but be prepared for aggression problems and keep up regular water changes.

I know this sounds a bit negative but i hope it helps anyway.

 

[freddyk]

Unfortunately you've got a tank full of very aggressive fish, and not a big one at that. Fish like Lombardoi, Crabro, and Auratus are notorious trouble makers and will be even more so in a smaller tank. Also, mixing different fish that look the same (male saulosi, demasoni, female lombardoi) can cause problems, and mixing the Melanochormis variaties also tends to increase aggression. You really never know with these fish, but to be honest I'd say it's working against you right now.

Is this because they are only juveniles?

I say it often enough to make it a signature:

 

[grifter]

Thanks for the replies, they are very much appreciated.

I don't understand why the PF mag said you could keep 15-18 adult Mbuna??

I am going to upgrade the tank next year, 30th birthday looming. Got my eye on a 55 gallon tank, with an external canister filter.

I will see how things develop in my tank and if it gets a bit nasty I will remove the aggressors and take them to my LFS.

Thanks again for your comments.

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

mary bailey strikes again!!!!

i never trust a word that woman writes, she just repeats the same old stuff over and over, without experimenting on newer ways of thinking.