Questions

[Ethos]

I was just woundering, what fish would go well with;
Red or Blue Peacock cichild
Electric yellow cichild
Firemouth Cichild?

Do these fish do well together?
And am I in the right Cichild forum?

Also, How do you Guys pronounce Cichilds?
I heard a guy pronounce it "sicklids"
I've also heard it prounced "chichilids"
Which is right?

 

[Ferris]

The peacocks and electric yellows (labs) are a good combination but not the firemouth. If you are going to keep African's you need to make your tank African only, a Firemouth could work but IMO its not worth the risk.

You could add some of the less aggressive Mbuna to the peacocks and labs like Pseudotropheus Acei or Iodotropheus Sperengerae, depending on your tank size.

Sick-lids is the correct pronunciation.

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I used to call it "sitch-lids" ... I think "sick-lids" makes them sound...well, like a sick cover of some sort! LOL

 

[Ethos]

Ok, so what are some atractive fish that go well with Peacocks and Electric Yellows?

 

[freddyk]

Ok, so what are some atractive fish that go well with Peacocks and Electric Yellows

First we needa tank size, without that the answers may not be appropriate.

With peacocks the best tankmates are fairly peaceful Haplochromines and Mbuna from lake malawi. Mbuna like Iodotropheus Sprengerae (Rusty) and Pseudotropheus Acei, and Haps like Copadichromis and Protomelas and Sciaenochromis. The reason we need a tank size is because some of these Haps need pretty large tanks.

Whatever you do, don't impulse shop, as there are too many fish too aggressive for the Peacocks. New World cichlids like Firemouths should not even be considered.

cichlids - sick-lids
mbuna - um-boo-na

 

[Ethos]

A 55 gallon. I was looking at another guy's Cichlid List for his 55 Gallon, and I liked it alot, but I'd feel weird if I copied his fish list.

 

[freddyk]

There is nothing wrong with copying somebody elses tank if you like the looks of it, just make sure that it is an established working tank of adult fish that you are copying. I see all the time when people think they've got something working, yet they've only had the tank set up a couple of months. Cichlids are much different (more aggressive and territorial) as adults then they are as juveniles.

 

[Ethos]

oK.

The ones I like are:
(I only searched their Pictures, and on a few links I saw sizes. Most of them are under 7 inches, correct?

Pseudotropheus Zebra
Pseudotropheus Zebra Golden
Pseudotropheus Socolofi (I like the Albino)
Cynotilapia Afra
Melanochromis Johanni
Maylandia Callainos
Maylandia Crabro
Albino Zebra
Synodontis Eupterus
Electric Yellow
Red Peacock

So, this is just a rough draft, and I'll very likely be switching fish in and out, so keep posted.

Right now post your thoughs.....

 

[Ferris]

That will be my tank that you were looking at then . Its a pretty complex mix but has worked for me. Best advice i could give you is to add the fish as juveniles, which generally helps with aggression and never add fish 1 at a time as the newbie will almost certainly get picked on.

You would have to drop the peacock from your list though as they won't cope with the aggression. (belive me, I've tried )

 

[freddyk]

Judging by your taste in fish I think you can drop the peacock and not even miss it - you've got a list of very nice mbuna there.

I do not recommend going with both Maylandia Callainos and Pseudo Socolofi, they're similar enough that there could be aggression issues. To help ease aggression it's best to avoid species that look to similar.

Also beware of Crabro's, they are very big and very aggressive. You've got enough fish on your list that you can skip this one and not miss it too.

Otherwise you have a nice plan going. A combination of rockscaping and overstocking will give you a nice and active tank. There are never guarantees with these fish, of course, but we're just trying to put the odds in your favour. Good luck

 

[Ethos]

thanks.

Sometime before staurday, I am planning on getting rock,s and putting them in my aquarium.
I have 12 white clouds that I got for very cheap, and am planning on just leaving them in the tank for snacks.
Its just a hassel trying to get them out of the tank!

I seem to have a bit of time on my hands (even though school has started, and I am getting more Home work than I ever have in my life!

 

[Ferris]

The White clouds might be OK anyway as they spend most of their time near the surface and they are too small to be perceived as a threat by Mbuna. Don't be too surprised if some or all of them survive.

 

[Ethos]

Dont tell me that - I dont want to have to bag em!

 

[Ethos]

Bump - Where do I get rocks for my mbuna stup? I want to buy fish on staurday...thats when both me and my friend are going to...hmhm...

 

[freddyk]

A rock cutter and supplier is where I go, and it costs me next to nothing. The next best bet is a landscape supplier, either wholesaler or retailer. Some people are lucky enough to have suitable rocks locally found so they don't need to buy them at all. As a last resort the fish store usually sells rocks at a tremendously inflated price.