Mbuna - Overrated?

[tenohfive]

Just a discussion point really. Mbuna seem to be what spring to mind when you think of African cichlids, and I've seen some very impressive mbuna tanks with a wide variety of bright, colourful fish.

They bore the life out of me. I've yet to see an mbuna tank that wasn't big, wide, massive swimming area at the front, blue and yellow fish swimming back and forth slowly, occasionally chasing one another - and absolutely nothing to keep me interested. Anyone share the same view or am I missing something?

 

[kj23502]

It depends on what your taste is. I'm not bored and I only have 3 species. They are always fun to sit and watch. It's possible to get different colors. Think albino and metriaclima estherea (red/orange species)


Kj

 

[tenohfive]

I've not seen many red/orange species, all I tend to see is yellow (labs?) and blue. And a massive swimming area thats crammed with fish. Don't tend to see many tanks with its residents going in and out of the decor - rocks piles etc.

 

[pauly]

Well what else do you want from fish? Try throwing a small guitar in and maybe they'll put a show on for you.

 

[tenohfive]

I want them to have character. I want them to do interesting things, or move in an interesting way. I want them to make me smile. Theres lots of things I want them to do. None of which involves a musical instruments.

I've got about 6 tanks on the go now, and all of them do that to some degree. But thats not the point - I want to know what people thing of mbuna tanks.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I want them to have character. I want them to do interesting things, or move in an interesting way. I want them to make me smile. Theres lots of things I want them to do. None of which involves a musical instruments.

I've got about 6 tanks on the go now, and all of them do that to some degree. But thats not the point - I want to know what people thing of mbuna tanks.

Ive grown a bit weart of certain species of Mbuna, as they seem to do the same as the next mbuna. I have found Haps and Tangs more interesting.

 

[lgarvey]

mbuna are fascinating!

I posted this on another thread: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0GC5-Uk-24

I have a 3d background and the yellow labs spend all their time kind of hovering vertically on it.

I have a larger male / female pair of acei. The acei stucks up his top fin in a bid to attract the female. Then he flips over and starts shaking to try adn impress her. She aint buying it.

They dance back and forth wildly anytime anyone goes near the tank. And, funnily enough, they go twice as wild when they see the spirulina flake container.

They spend ages swimming through the rocks and digging.

I see lots of territorial displays sometimes with fish facing each other head on, othertimes with them spinning around in a circle, othertimes with one dominant fish shaking to tell the other fish to vamoos.

Prior to getting mbuna I considered angelfish. But all they seem to do is want to perfect their skills in keeping completely still. I also considered a general community tank, but most of those fish, compared to the mbuna, seemed a bit dull.

I also have a small nano marine tank. The shrimps are awesome, but I find the yellow tail damsel is boring as hell. Think it needs some tank mates.

L

 

[Davo86]

IME you rarely find someone interested in both african and american cichlids
For me personally south and central american cichlids win everytime, they have so much personality and interact much better not only with other fish but also with their owners.

As for african cichlids; I am not a fan of mbuna and generally find them quite dull, with them it just appears to be a game of you chase me and i''l chase you and so on.
I also don't like the setup they require which is possibly a facotr in why they don't appeal to me. same as i don't like saltwater setups which might be why i have no interest at all in marines

I do however love Tangs like frontosas, brichardi, lelupis, tropheus and Kribs and Jewels

 

[tenohfive]

I've got to admit, I watched that vid all the way through and I did lol. Nicer looking tank.

I'm new to African cichlids, am slowly setting up a 90L Tang setup with brichardi, ocellatus and cylindricus - with an L15 plec and an upsidedown cat just to ruin the biotope idea. Tangs do seem very full of character.

 

[lgarvey]

I've got to admit, I watched that vid all the way through and I did lol. Nicer looking tank.

I'm new to African cichlids, am slowly setting up a 90L Tang setup with brichardi, ocellatus and cylindricus - with an L15 plec and an upsidedown cat just to ruin the biotope idea. Tangs do seem very full of character.

I personally don't like overstocked mbuna tanks. How can you see the individual personalities of the fish? I have a 300 L tank with 20 (currently small) mbuna in and refuse to stock anymore. The guy at the LFS said I needed more like 50 fish in a tank that size to disperse agression, but I'd rather remove agressive fish, than keep pilling more fish in.

I adore fronts though, but 300 Ls is no place for a colony of them! =)

L

 

[kribensis12]

IME you rarely find someone interested in both african and american cichlids

Then im the exception. I love :
Angelfish ( got to GORGEOUS ones of my own)
All Apistogramma's
Discus( who dosent like them?)

But, i also like:
Auratus ( sp?)
Kribensis
Brichardi
Yellow Labs
Peacocks

All different kinds. I perosnally, find Mbuna to be entertaining.

 

[GShorty1981]

I like all cichlids,im not a fan boy of either

 

[tenohfive]

The guy at the LFS said I needed more like 50 fish in a tank that size to disperse agression, but I'd rather remove agressive fish, than keep pilling more fish in.

My understanding is that its a pretty tried and tested method but from a fishkeeping point of view, I can really see the appeal of doing it your way. How longs the tank been established, and how old are the fish?

 

[lgarvey]

The guy at the LFS said I needed more like 50 fish in a tank that size to disperse agression, but I'd rather remove agressive fish, than keep pilling more fish in.

My understanding is that its a pretty tried and tested method but from a fishkeeping point of view, I can really see the appeal of doing it your way. How longs the tank been established, and how old are the fish?

Most mbuna tanks seem to be heavily overstocked. There is a fish tank in Kendals down the road from me, and that's rammed full of mbuna. I know they tend to exist in the wild in a high density, but I'd rather give them room to stretch out. Also not everyone seems to subscribe to overstocking, instead attempting to give enough floor space, enough rocks and hiding places, and choosing compatible, moderately agressive fish.

I've had the fish for about 2.5 months now and it's my first 'foray' into fish keeping. The fish started off fairly tiny and seem to have grown, but are still juvenile. The smallest (a super cute female kenyi I think) is only about an inch and bit in size. I have two yellow tail acei that are about 4" (the largest by far) then the rest, such as the auratus are all a similar 2" or so in size.

One thing is for sure, they're extremely active and driven and do spend a lot of the time chasing each other. Hopefully they'll be OK when they reach sexual maturity.

L

 

[Rick A]

... then the rest, such as the auratus are all a similar 2" or so in size.

One thing is for sure, they're extremely active and driven and do spend a lot of the time chasing each other. Hopefully they'll be OK when they reach sexual maturity.

L

Well, if the Auratus - plural I assume - turn out to be anything but one male and the rest females - difficult to sex when young as they all start out looking like females - then you won't have to go far for 'entertainment', once they mature. Apart from being notoriously aggressive, you won't be able to keep two mature Auratus males in the same tank! These guys should commonly be called 'Kurgans' as they have the same attitude made famous in Highlander - "there can be only one!"... Good luck