Rethinking Mbuna Stocking levels

[FrankSlapperinni]

I have been doing lots and lots of research on the Cichlids I plan to keep in my 75 gallon, and every time I do this I always seem to find a reason that the fish I have picked out are not compatible.
The last configuration went a little like this:

3 Ancistrus sp.
7 Synodontis nigriventris
4 Labidochromus Hongi
4 Cynotilapia axelrodi
5 Pseudotropheus acei
4 Pseudotropheus Saulosi
4 Iodotropheus Sprengerae

Then I discovered my LFS most likely could not get the axelrodi, and all labidochromus are mildly carnivorous, making feeding them without the others getting any meat a difficulty, and that Pseudotropheus Saulosi should be in groups of 6. So now after looking around for more cichlids (having a very tough time finding some that aren't yellow or blue) I discovered A fish called the Haplochromis sp. Ruby green, which is a mildly aggressive herbivore. most reports I read say that you should not mix Mbuna and Haps, but I thought that maybe since they had similar diets, and all of the Mbuna I had picked out are on the smaller less aggressive side that it might work. Plus the Ruby Green looks nothing like the Mbuna I had picked out now.
Heres what I was thinking of for a revised plan

3 Ancistrus sp.
7 Synodontis nigriventris
5 Haplochromis sp. Ruby Green
5 Pseudotropheus acei
6 Pseudotropheus Saulosi
5 Iodotropheus Sprengerae

The tank is filtered by two aqualear 110 (500gph each) filters, with two maxi-jet power heads (230gph each) for currant and surface agitation.

So if anyone knows that that this plan wont work please tell me, and if you have any suitable suggestions for replacements feel free to post them.

 

[freddyk]

Both plans sound good to me. 1 male with 3 female Saulosi would work fine, I'm not quite sure why you were told 4 won't work.

Also, the fish you chose are not strictly herbivorous, they are actually omnivorous. Meat protien, from the right sources and in the right quantities, are good for them. If you supply a variety of food with spirulina as the staple, there is no reason not to keep labidochromis in your tank.

My real concern is your choice of Synodontis. When the mbuna mature you may find they can't keep up.

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

Thanks for the advice I think I will go with this plan then:

3 Ancistrus sp.
4 Labidochromus Hongi
5 Haplochromis sp. Ruby Green
5 Pseudotropheus acei
4 Pseudotropheus Saulosi
4 Iodotropheus Sprengerae

What would you recommend as a replacement bottom feeder for the USD cats? I was thinking of a Synodontis eupterus, but I read that they are very skilled egg stealer's, so I wasn't sure I wanted to keep them.

 

[Timmy]

What would you recommend as a replacement bottom feeder for the USD cats? I was thinking of a Synodontis eupterus, but I read that they are very skilled egg stealer's, so I wasn't sure I wanted to keep them.

You have the Ancistrus for cleaning so I would add Synodontis Multipunctatus or S. Petricola. Both from Lake Tanganika (sp) so they like hard water. They'll steal some eggs but that's all part of the fun in a Mbuna tank!

 

[freddyk]

Any of those last 3 choices of synodontis will work well. The egg stealing is really not worth worrying about. Firstly, they won't always use mbuna as hosts. Secondly, mbuna breed so readily that the catfish will never keep up anyway, no matter how good they are. And lastly, around here at least, synodontis are worth considerably more then mbuna

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

I had considered S. Multipunctatus and S. Petricola, but from what I can gather they are very expensive ($25-30 per specimen).

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

I have decided to go with synodontis multipunctatus for my bottom feeder, and with this setup:

4 Iodotropheus Sprengerae
4 Haplochromis sp.
5 Pseudotropheus acei
5 Pseudotropheus Saulosi
4 Labidochromis Hongi
3 Ancistrus sp.
3-4 Synodontis multipunctatus

My question is this: the cuckoo cat is cited as an insectivore and should be fed meaty food, however all of the Mbuna I selected are herbivores, and would most likely contract internal parasites like bloat from eating too much meat that I may try to feed to the catfish. How can I feed the catfish meat, or are they capable of eating on an herbivore diet?

 

[freddyk]

I've had the most success sneaking in sinking pellets for the catfish after the lights have been out a while and the mbuna are at rest. They can live for an extended period of time on the cichlids food, but the won't do or grow as well.

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

Here I go again. I've been looking at Labidochromis sp. Hongi and I can't stop feeling nervous about him being in the setup as the biggest and also most aggressive fish. I was wondering if these worries were ill founded, and if their not, could anyone make any other suggestions to fill the spot?

 

[freddyk]

Replace him with a smaller specimen?

No matter what you'll end up with a 'king of the tank'. As long as he's not significantly larger (adding an adult with juveniles is not a good idea) and as long as you have enough fish to spread the aggression, it should be fine.

The truth is, fish vary in character, and sometimes you get unusually aggressive ones. Yellow Labs have a reputation for being laid back, and for the most part it's true, but I've had some surprisingly nasty ones.