New Malawi Tank

[greatwhitenorth]

Hello All:

New to cichlids and new to the forums. Great to be here. I have just finished cycling and setting up my 75gal tank for cichlids. Threw in a dozen or so caves and high broad leaf plants.

Have been reading books and the net about Malawi cichlids which is driving me crazy about who can live with who. Went out and started my tank a couple weeks ago with

3 electric yellows
2 bi peacocks
2 kenyi
transplanted 1 6in pleco from my rainbow tank

All seems to be fine and all are growing quick. One kenyi is turning yellow? and is da boss of the tank right now. A few questions:

1. would dolphins be compatible?
2. how many 5/6 inch would work in a 75gal tank?
3. cant find any red guys, any ideas that would be compatible?

Appreciate the comments!
Thanks and take care!

Greatwhitenorth

 

[rifty]

Hi mate a few questions and suggestions:

what is your tank dimensions?
what filters are you running or going to run?
kenyi can get rather aggressive imo so watch this whilst your tank is understocked!
moori can get rather big but are pretty chilled out so consider how many you get as they grow to around 25cm
are you going for more haps or mbuna? this will effect how many you could get!
for red fish or redish look at
Aulonocara rubin red or red shoulders these are red and blue
firefish dragon blood some are more orange or pink
otopharynx tetrastigma silver and red

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Hey Rifty

Thanks for the post. Tank is 125cm long, 50 high and 30 deep. Filter is 280 and a heater at each end for temperature of about 26c. PH is 7.8 to 8.0 Trust you are metric!

Have read that should overstock, then read leave space for territory; arghhhhh!

Was thinking to stick with haps and peacocks, and others that fit in. Dolphins? love the look of them.

Any hap/peacock will fit in? Can you shed some light on the OB part of some haps/peacocks as what does that mean? They part of the same family or stay away from them?

Your right about the kenyi, he is ruling the tank already, the gal kenyi seems to be more part of the group though.

Thanks for the red suggestions. Only red colored i see over and over is Jewell but reviews dont sound to compatible.

I need to brush up on my latin and carry a little black book to keep them straight. Googled Aulonocara.... beaut of a fish and tons of different types. They are peacocks?

Thanks again, have a good one!

 

[rifty]

Hey Rifty

Haps and Peacocks id go for an all boy set up so you get lots of colour and not too much violence or cross breeding! but coloured fish wont be cheap!

Your favs the Moori Dolphins ive never kept so not surd you tank would be wide enough for them?

OBs refer to line bred fish when it comes to mottled fish sometimes called calicos too and can be stunning or fairley rank! Obs normally get used more with Mbuna tho and calico Aulonocara

these are 2 of my Ob or calicos

Your Kennyi are Mbuna

Jewell probs wont work but sure you can get some nice Red Aulonocara if you look hard enough!

I find the latin names a nightmare too

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Hey Rifty

Haps and Peacocks id go for an all boy set up so you get lots of colour and not too much violence or cross breeding! but coloured fish wont be cheap!

Your favs the Moori Dolphins ive never kept so not surd you tank would be wide enough for them?

OBs refer to line bred fish when it comes to mottled fish sometimes called calicos too and can be stunning or fairley rank! Obs normally get used more with Mbuna tho and calico Aulonocara

these are 2 of my Ob or calicos

Your Kennyi are Mbuna

Jewell probs wont work but sure you can get some nice Red Aulonocara if you look hard enough!

I find the latin names a nightmare too

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Arghhhhhh, I am technically challenged also btw! Sorry for the random repost, Thanks for your patience.

Great pics... thats my goal for my tank.

Okay, going with haps/peacocks, so stay away from mbunas. Will keep an eye on the kenyis and see what happens. Figured they fit because were in tank with electric yellows when bought the first batch.

If moori get so big, i hate to discount them but would rather a tank full of lil guys.

If sticking with the haps/peacocks, how many would you say?

Maybe pickup a couple sunshine peacocks and blue ahlis each. Total of 10 so far. Want to leave room for the Red Aulonocara. Have seen red empress at lfs, how about them also?

Oh, stay away from tanganikas also?

Thanks again!

 

[rifty]

a mix of mbuna and haps normally works with no problems
i keep my haps with my lion mgunga acei and labs!
if you want the moori you can always get a bigger tank!!!
red empress are real nice
with regards to stocking levels thats a tough one i currently keep my boys in a fluval profile 1000 and stock 25 adult fish but all mine get on
Tang are very differnet fish to keep i wouldnt mix them

on a very personal note i wouldnt get malawis from any lfs in the uk try on aquarist classifieds you will get better fish as a general rule lfs malawis arnt always what they say on the tank most are hormone fed and from east europpe and poor quality

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Thanks Rifty, appreciate the advise alot.

Will be doin some searches over here to see if any classifieds in or around Toronto. Finding out there is a hidden part to all this, never even considered that.

Am all set now, feel more confident about the types and compatibility. Good Stuff!

Thanks again!

 

[Squidward]

a mix of mbuna and haps normally works with no problems
i keep my haps with my lion mgunga acei and labs!
if you want the moori you can always get a bigger tank!!!
red empress are real nice
with regards to stocking levels thats a tough one i currently keep my boys in a fluval profile 1000 and stock 25 adult fish but all mine get on
Tang are very differnet fish to keep i wouldnt mix them

on a very personal note i wouldnt get malawis from any lfs in the uk try on aquarist classifieds you will get better fish as a general rule lfs malawis arnt always what they say on the tank most are hormone fed and from east europpe and poor quality

It depends on what fish you have. Sometimes Haps and Mbuna can be mixed. And sometimes not. I tried it in my tank, and it didn't work. The Haps got beaten up and I had to take them out.
Also, the bigger the tank, the greater the chance of it being ok.

There are some good Malawi suppliers on Aquarists Classified. I got mine from Mal Rimmer, who advertises there, and he gave me good advice.
Re getting them from a LFS it's a bit hit and miss. My local MA has a fantastic range of Malawis and other Rift Cichlids. Good quality, though they are a bit pricey. I got some great fish from them.
I have been to other lfs where their Malawi stock is shocking. You just have to be careful.

Edit: I see you are in Canada. So my comments on AQ and MA don't apply to you.
I would try and find a local supplier. Someone who has a good reputation, and get some advise from him.

 

[rifty]

didnt realise you where in canada either sorry it seems to be the UK that has rubbish quality malawis

Mal is a good uk supplier i got the dragon blood via him so good call!
MA im assuming you mean Maidenhead??? id disagree as the 4 ive visited are overpriced poor quality but i am a fusspot! and only buy Wc or F1 unless they are linebred

 

[greatwhitenorth]

a mix of mbuna and haps normally works with no problems
i keep my haps with my lion mgunga acei and labs!
if you want the moori you can always get a bigger tank!!!
red empress are real nice
with regards to stocking levels thats a tough one i currently keep my boys in a fluval profile 1000 and stock 25 adult fish but all mine get on
Tang are very differnet fish to keep i wouldnt mix them

on a very personal note i wouldnt get malawis from any lfs in the uk try on aquarist classifieds you will get better fish as a general rule lfs malawis arnt always what they say on the tank most are hormone fed and from east europpe and poor quality

It depends on what fish you have. Sometimes Haps and Mbuna can be mixed. And sometimes not. I tried it in my tank, and it didn't work. The Haps got beaten up and I had to take them out.
Also, the bigger the tank, the greater the chance of it being ok.

There are some good Malawi suppliers on Aquarists Classified. I got mine from Mal Rimmer, who advertises there, and he gave me good advice.
Re getting them from a LFS it's a bit hit and miss. My local MA has a fantastic range of Malawis and other Rift Cichlids. Good quality, though they are a bit pricey. I got some great fish from them.
I have been to other lfs where their Malawi stock is shocking. You just have to be careful.

Edit: I see you are in Canada. So my comments on AQ and MA don't apply to you.
I would try and find a local supplier. Someone who has a good reputation, and get some advise from him.

Thanks Squidward for your time and advise.

Did some searching and low and behold there is an aquarium group in the next town. Figure these guys and gals will know about any suppliers. Never thought of looking outside the lfs.

Take care eh!

didnt realise you where in canada either sorry it seems to be the UK that has rubbish quality malawis

Mal is a good uk supplier i got the dragon blood via him so good call!
MA im assuming you mean Maidenhead??? id disagree as the 4 ive visited are overpriced poor quality but i am a fusspot! and only buy Wc or F1 unless they are linebred

Thanks Rifty for all your time and advise.

Did some searching and low and behold there is an aquarium group in the next town. Figure these guys and gals will know about any suppliers. Never thought of looking outside the lfs.

-25c and 20cm of snow coming! Cant wait for winter to be over, been a long haul this year.

Take care eh!