New Tank For Malawi Cichilds

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The only sure way to sex them is to vent them. Not something I`m happy to do as I`m not too bothered how many m or f I have as I think I have a decent number of mixed sex :unsure:

There is meant to be a difference in colouring on the pelvic and anal fins, the thread here shows you the basics:
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/285826-yellow-lab-sexing/

Another topic on them:
http://e0.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=electricyellowlab
 
Going off that topic. It would seem I have 2 males and 5 females. But I also want to add another 3 labs I'll try for more female
 
with labs i reckon you could be ok with 2 males and 5 females . labs are pretty mellow for mbuna and 5 females is a decent number . you will get a dominant male ansd a sub male , aggression between the 2 shouldnt be overly nasty . i had 2 males with 4 females and it was ok. plus if you now add more labs theres always the chjance the established ones will turn on the new ones .
 
How many fish would ou recommend me keeping in the 240litre tank ?

Im abit gutted I can't add 3 more labs.

On another note. The egg crate is going in today and my new scape will be placed.

I can't thank you guys and girls enough for the help you have provided through out this topic.

Thanks again
 
its not so much that you deffinately cant add more labs , just more being aware of the potential pitfalls . removing the fish , re-arranging the rocks and re-adding the exisating labs and new labs as 1 group will give the best chance of success . as for how many fish you can have , im still learning mbuna myslef so im not going to actually commit to a number , altho mbuna are generally stocked more heavilly than other fish to help spread agression .
 
So it might be worth leaving my rocks until Tuesday when I can get the 3 other labs. Hmmm desicions
 
rearranging the rocks when adding new fish is never a bad idea as it will break up existing territories . another good tip is to try and have more caves etc than you have fish . easier said than done as your stock level increases . but if there is always empty caves etc when adding new fish it gives them a "retrerat"

personally tho if it was me i would go for a different species instyead of more labs . 7 is a nice size group and another species means you can get more different colours in the tank :good:
 
Problem is finding another LFS with the same quality of fish. My LFS doesn't stock too many different species of cichlid.

I may start looking for a local breeder and see what different species they have
 
a few handy links :good:

http://www.tonysafricancichlids.co.uk/page86.html
http://www.northantsmalawis.co.uk/
http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail100_195358.php
http://www.midlandsmalawis.co.uk/current_stock.php
 
They have some really nice fish on those sites mark and the prices aren't to bad neither. I think I will be using one or two of them on my next purchases for sure
 
all my fish so far have been from tonys african cichlids , and the quality of his fish is excellent . i have yet to use the others but they have all come reccomended to me on specialist chichlid forums .
 

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