New Idea

[Arios]

I would like to know what you guys think of my idea I'm planing to save up for a 90 gallon tank but I can't decide on a long tank or a corner bow front. The set up I'm planing on is a sand base and I'm hoping to make this an African chiclid tank I want at least four demasoni's four yellow lab chiclids and one green sevrum and i don't know but maybe on or two bubble bees let me know what you guys think.

 

[minnnt]

Please tell me the severum is a joke...

A longer tank will always be better than a corner tank when dealing with Malawi's. Not to say that corner tanks don't work, but length is always better imo as it gives more space to escape others.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Make sure you have rocks stacked about 3/4 of the way up and to about 6" of the front pane. This should give enough hiding places for fish that need to get away.
Like minnnt said, leave out the severum, its a South American cichlid and just isn't compatible with the Malawians.
I also would not add the bb's, get big and ugly. I would look at L. fullerborni or perhaps one of the "hap" species.

 

[Arios]

Would you mind explaining what L. Fullerborni and "hap" mean? I'm sorry I'm new so I don't know the lingo

 

[thereverendturtle]

A lot of African cichlids are sold by scientific names L. fullerborni is a Malawian Mbuna. The L is for Labeotropheus. Haps are a generic term for many of the free swimming and sand dwelling Malawi cichlids. At your lfs some of the more common Haps will be blue dolphin cichlids, electric blue and VC-10. Look up haplochromis on Google to see some of the different types.

 

[Arios]

Thank you for your help I have just one more question, both the demasoni's and the yellow labs I plan to put in my tank only get up to about five inches would be ok to find one fish the gets up to about 8 inches to be the primary dominator of the tank because that's what I was going to put the sevrum in the tank but if its fine to do that can you recommend any fish ?

 

[thereverendturtle]

What color would you like. Many of the "Haplochromis" can get to that size. Fish to look up would be the ones I mentioned earlier. Also Malawi eye biters (dont let the name fool you), deep water haps, or one of my personal favorites Chilotilapia rhoadesii.

 

[Arios]

Preferably green

 

[thereverendturtle]

Large and green African cichlid = hard to find. The closest would be Nimbochromis venustus. Though they often turn more blue, they do show considerable amounts of green. Here's a link...
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/nimbochromis-venustus/

 

[Arios]

That look awesome thanks for all the help. Really

 

[thereverendturtle]

You're most welcome.