Mbunas And Peacocks

[ryno]

Hey, probably a dumb question but, can you mix peacocks with mbuna cichilds? Why or why not? I currently have mbuna cichlids and im getting a bigger tank, and wanting to add more fish when I get the tank. I was looking at some peacocks to add to it but I didnt know if they could be added together. I would put them in at the same time so that one doesnt have the territorial dominance over the other, other than size.

 

[ryno]

I was looking at several fish, Venestus, Yellow Blaze Lithobates, Copadichromis Trewavasae Mloto Likoma (all haps). Some peacocks like the Ruby Red Peacocks, Blue Face OB Peacocks, Lwanda Peacocks, Ngara Flametail Peacocks. And a few other mbuna cichlids like Demasoni, Auratus, and Redfin Borleyi. can any of these be mixed together other than the haps with haps, mbuna with mbuna and peacocks with peacocks?

 

[james41683]

What are the dimensions of your tank? certain species of mbuna can work with haps and peacocks. lab, aceis, and rusty are all peaceful mbuna and usually work out good with peacocks. Most other mbuna are way too aggressive and will out compete the slower more peaceful peacocks when it comes to food. You also have to watch out for size difference because some larger haps prey on mbuna in the wild, like nimbochromis venestus. i would definitely avoid the auratus, if you want peacocks...

 

[ryno]

What are the dimensions of your tank? certain species of mbuna can work with haps and peacocks. lab, aceis, and rusty are all peaceful mbuna and usually work out good with peacocks. Most other mbuna are way too aggressive and will out compete the slower more peaceful peacocks when it comes to food. You also have to watch out for size difference because some larger haps prey on mbuna in the wild, like nimbochromis venestus. i would definitely avoid the auratus, if you want peacocks...

the new tank will be a 75 gallon, and right now I have mainly red zebras, 2 kenyi cichlids, 2 yellow labs, a bumblebee and an auratus, along with a red tail shark and a bristlenose pleco.

 

[james41683]

The only mbuna that you have that would work with peacocks and haps would be the labs. the kenyi, auratus, and bumble bee are among the must aggressive mbuna. it's even hard to keep those 3 with other mbuna sometimes. the red tail shark may not work either, alot of people try it but no one has ever showed it to work for a long time.

 

[ryno]

The only mbuna that you have that would work with peacocks and haps would be the labs. the kenyi, auratus, and bumble bee are among the must aggressive mbuna. it's even hard to keep those 3 with other mbuna sometimes. the red tail shark may not work either, alot of people try it but no one has ever showed it to work for a long time.

My red zebras run the tank they're in now, one kenyi kinda hides the other is a dominant female. The bumblebee and auratus cower and hide as well, the shark just minds his own business swimming around digging through the sand and scavenging through the plants and rocks. Is it because there are fewer of the other fish than the red zebras that they aren't as agressive (auratus, kenyi and bumblebee)?

 

[james41683]

a lot of the fish could still be young. once they start getting older and reach breeding age there's a high chance that world war 3 will break out, especially in a 4ft tank.

 

[ryno]

a lot of the fish could still be young. once they start getting older and reach breeding age there's a high chance that world war 3 will break out, especially in a 4ft tank.

One kenyi is mature, and 2 of the red zebras are mature, hence all of my red zebras came from them, now at about 25+ red zebra fry, ranging from 2-6 months old. And the bumblebee is mature as well, I got the bumblebee, both red zabras and the one kenyi at the same time, roughly 2 years ago, the other kenyi i've had for about 9 months now which I got from the the store at about 1.5" now about. My yellow labs are about 2" and the auratus is about 2.5-3". My red tailed shark is about 4". What about my red zebras? Will they get along with haps or peacocks?

 

[james41683]

I've never kept red zebras, some people say they can be mean. since most of your fish grew up together it seems they've worked everything out and are living peacefully with each other. adding to the tank could throw off the balance and cause the old fish to look at the new fish as someone there to take what they have claimed. If you want peacocks, labs, rusty, and acei are the only ones I would recommend and have been proved to work multiple times. I currently have labs and acei in my hap and peacock tank and have had them in past setups without any problems from either. if you really like what you have now pick for species and get the numbers up so each male with have multiple females.

 

[ryno]

I've never kept red zebras, some people say they can be mean. since most of your fish grew up together it seems they've worked everything out and are living peacefully with each other. adding to the tank could throw off the balance and cause the old fish to look at the new fish as someone there to take what they have claimed. If you want peacocks, labs, rusty, and acei are the only ones I would recommend and have been proved to work multiple times. I currently have labs and acei in my hap and peacock tank and have had them in past setups without any problems from either. if you really like what you have now pick for species and get the numbers up so each male with have multiple females.

I know they can be territorial and see them as taking up their space, thats why I was going to get a bigger tank and add the new ones at the same time or first. I'll probably just get more kenyis, bumblebees, labs and auratus.

 

[Malawi MaD]

One thing you could try with the lombardo's (Kenyi)is having reverse trio's or 2 to 3 pairs. this helps spread the aggression between males, plus this means the females will not get the constant harassment from males. With some species it works and others it doesn't, its all about trying multiple options until you get the right stock for your tank. At the moment it seems your tank is settled as james said but if you do want to add to your current stock list then id do so when it comes to changing over tanks. The Pseudo Crabo id try and re home as these do get quite large and if its a male he may suddenly change his attitude in the new tank. Id also thin out the zebra's as ideally you dont want the offspring to be interbreeding with one another. As for mixing I personally think keeping mbuna with mbuna is best and vise versa with the peacocks. With the 75G you could have 1 to 3 species of peacock (max) as these need the extra swimming space (as you may know) plus the mbuna need the space to thrive well to, I wouldn't pack it full with rock either, just some nicer large pieces with scattered medium to small species at the base. The main thing is to brake the line of sight and if you watch your mbuna (I know with mine) a lot of the time they are in the open areas, they do go in the rocks but spend most of their time grazing the algae and just chilling out above their rocks while doing a little digging.

Just remember that the mbuna can be very boisterous fish so the peacocks may not colour up to their full potential.

 

[ryno]

One thing you could try with the lombardo's (Kenyi)is having reverse trio's or 2 to 3 pairs. this helps spread the aggression between males, plus this means the females will not get the constant harassment from males. With some species it works and others it doesn't, its all about trying multiple options until you get the right stock for your tank. At the moment it seems your tank is settled as james said but if you do want to add to your current stock list then id do so when it comes to changing over tanks. The Pseudo Crabo id try and re home as these do get quite large and if its a male he may suddenly change his attitude in the new tank. Id also thin out the zebra's as ideally you dont want the offspring to be interbreeding with one another. As for mixing I personally think keeping mbuna with mbuna is best and vise versa with the peacocks. With the 75G you could have 1 to 3 species of peacock (max) as these need the extra swimming space (as you may know) plus the mbuna need the space to thrive well to, I wouldn't pack it full with rock either, just some nicer large pieces with scattered medium to small species at the base. The main thing is to brake the line of sight and if you watch your mbuna (I know with mine) a lot of the time they are in the open areas, they do go in the rocks but spend most of their time grazing the algae and just chilling out above their rocks while doing a little digging.

Just remember that the mbuna can be very boisterous fish so the peacocks may not colour up to their full potential.

Ok thanks. I thought about getting a 150g but just dont have the money or space for it at the moment. That will be my next tank after this one. I thought about giving some of them to my cousin to put in his 55 gallon but he is having no luck with anything right now. I originally wanted to start selling them but had no idea on how to go about doing so, now im just swamped with work, I only have time on weekends but dont have the required supplies yet.

 

[ryno]

What kinda bulbs do you have in you 225ukg?