New Starter

[berbie38]

Hi all
its the first time ive posted in this part of the forum and this is to be my first time keeping cichlids. I have just finished fisless cycling my tank, jewel vision 180. This weekend i intend to go out and gt my first cichlids. I have planned to go for some Mbuna and have set the tank ready for them with lots of volcanic rock and a coral sand substrate. I have read about the aggression levels of some of these fish, but after spaeking to someone in my lfs he was telling me he had a nightmare with them killig each other. He advised me to go for tanganyikan cichlids instead, can anyone else comment on this as im thinking of having a last minute change of heart. I want bightly coloured nice looking fish, will my set up be suitable for the tangayikans? any houghts much appreciated
best wishes
berbie

 

[kiriyama]

Hi, welcome to the African section
Congratulations for choosing to change to cichlids, you will soon get hooked
What are the dimensions of your tank ?
If you want colour then Malawi, Tanganyikan for interesting behaviour.
With Tanganyikan you can have a few of each species, maybe 3 species/types, i.e. shell dweller or sand dweller, rock dweller and something for the open space. The main thing is to give them each there own little space as a territory for them to feel safe and this will help with aggression. The colours on Tanganyikan are more subtle but can look very beautiful given the right lighting, substrate, rockwork , background etc. There are a couple of colourful Tangs though . . . .
Hope this helps a wee bit . . . .
Cheers, Sean

 

[berbie38]

Hi thanks for your help my tank is 180 litre, 3 ft long.

 

[kiriyama]

Hi thanks for your help my tank is 180 litre, 3 ft long.

Cheers, dunno about the Malawi/Mbuna route, might be a bit tight in there . . .

For Tanganyikan you could go for dark substrate/rock/background and add some Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis , shell dwellers at the other end of the tank , check out exLamprologus Multifasciatus , they form colonies and are very peaceful and entertaining.

OR you could have some rocks with a couple of small Julidochromis, a tough shell dweller like lamprologus ocellatus, thinking maybe a combo adding compressiceps / calvus . . .

If it was me and a 3' tank I would have a ridge of rock along the centre about two thirds, stocking would be 3 or 4 lamprologus caudopunctatus with a pair of neolamprologus kungweensis but it's not me, I'm really guilty of overstocking and it hasn't always worked

Best with an understocked tank, give them more room . . .

Have a wee look at some of the Tangs mentioned, see if there's something you like . . .

Cheers, Sean