mixing - i got it

[Ben]

Hi

ive been doing quite a bit of research and have found out that the new world cichlid fish that i have(firemouths,blue acaras,convicts etc) have the same range of PH of a Yellow Lab/electric Yellow. My PH is roughly around 7.6-7.8 and have had no problems with the fish(no deaths or illness) for around 3 months now.

so do you think i can put a trio of yellow labs in the 40 gal? if aggresion becomes a problem i have a divider ready. and if not is there any other african cichlid(besides jewels) that can live happily with the NW?

thanx for the help

DD

 

[gixer]

its more of a problem with food rather than the water.

they require a completely different diet. i would not recommend it

 

[freddyk]

It sounds like your tank is overcrowded already. How many of each of those do you have in there?

 

[yhbae]

Personally, I wouldn't mix them either. In fact, as mentioned already, your current stock is going to outgrow your current tank pretty fast...

I hope you have a plan to upgrade the tank soon...

 

[Ben]

yeh this is just a grow out tank and hopefully i will up grade soon, most of the fish i mentioned are still less then three are 4 inches and if they get too big i will be giving them to my lfs. thanx for the concern.

ive been doing more reading and found out that feeding wasnt a problem. unless the sorces i got it from are un truthful.

so lets say i have a bigger tank. much bigger tank. and those new world cichlids. would a Lab work?

thanx again

DD

 

[freddyk]

Diet is not as much of a concern because Labidochromis Caeruleus is an insectivore, so the herbivorous concern with most other mbuna does not apply with these guys. You'll still want to avoid fatty foods like worms though.

New Worlds will claim a territory and defend it, while the labs tend to roam the tank, and they wouldn't be happy being chased endlessly from territory to territory by fish that have claimed it. Given enough space it could work, but it is far from an ideal setup.

 

[Ben]

hmmm. okay thanx for the advice.

ive heard that Labs like to be in trios, is this correct?

and i also heard a trio can live happily in a 20-25gal, this correct aswell?

thanx

DD

 

[freddyk]

In my experience Labs do well in any number. I've kept 1:1 ratio's successfully. A trio will do fine in a 20 gallon tank, though it doesn't give them much roaming room. They'll more or less just sit around, once they grow.

 

[yhbae]

Labs are one of few mbuna where you don't need to pay attention to the male:female ratios (the other one is P Acei). Obviously, more you have, better they will feel, but you will probably be ok in a trio. I like to keep 5 at a time...

 

[Ben]

so 5 in a 20 gal, or is that pushing it? because i might be getting a 20 gal for them today

thanx for your help

DD

 

[freddyk]

5 will work, but as they grow you'll need to keep up with maintenance of the tank, it's very tight. Try for a bigger tank if you really want to give these guys a proper home though.

 

[Ben]

okay thanx for the help

ill get three to start off with in a 25 gal and as they grow ill eaither upgrade or justsell them

DD

 

[freddyk]

The extra 6" of the 25 gal. vs the 20 gallon does make a difference, a group of 5 should be fine in there.

 

[Ben]

cool. so im picking up a 25 gal today and using some filter media from one of my other tanks. i might let it sit for a couple of days and let the bacteria build up and then buy a group of 5.

thanx alot for your help!

DD

 

[Ben]

well i got a 25, put the media from my 40 gal into this one(i got a bio-spounge filter) put a bacteria type thing in, and got 3 female Labs and 1 male lab
(i also added stress coat and stress zyme in aswell)

the guy there gave me three bottles of stress coat and zyme,each.artificial bacteria and a sponge filter and air pump for free!!!! i just bought the bare tank(foam and lids included.) and the light + the fish

thanx for the help everyone

DD