Sorry If This Is A Newbie Question

[nukeonekitty]

Is it okay to mix african peacocks and mbuna together? When I get my larger tank I wanted to do so. Anyone have a history or tank set up doing so?

 

[Ferris]

Tried it many times and it has never worked. Aulonocara are nowhere near as aggressive as most Mbuna - they work well with labs and rusties and that's about it IME unless you use something like a 5 footer - then you may have a chance.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I am planning on doing a 100 gal in the next couple months... I HOPE to have it be a 5-6 footer. What are the dimensions of you average 100 long?

 

[Ferris]

A 90 Gal is along the lines of 5'x18"x18" so that should give you an idea.

 

[ASD]

I have done it with mixed success, as Ferris says above, some of the more placid Mbuna work well. If you have a large surface area with a pile of rocks seperated from an open water area, then a true malawi biotope can be created and looks amazing.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Yeah that what I really want to do. I am going to keep the 55 gal for the more aggressive mbuna then maybe the larger tank for the more peaceful cichlids.

 

[nukeonekitty]

In addition I have two more questions, say I get a 100 gal... would I be able to keep clown loaches with peaceful cichlids and peacocks and if so is that tank big enough or no?

 

[Ferris]

I would say yes for tank size but diet could be a problem depending on which cichlids you want to mix them with. Aulonocara would be fine as both they and CL's need meaty protein in their diet. Many Mbuna re herbivores though so you would need to choose tankmates carefully.

You would also need to keep the Ph below 8 IMO as anything more is a little high for CL's, they are also used to slightly softer water than Mbuna.

 

[ASD]

I am not disagreeing with you Ferris as i think you give sound advice. Although i would like to add that Mbuna do need a little protein in their diet. In the wild when they graze the algea from the rocks, they take in a certain amount of protien from the small animals that live in the algea, i believe this is called 'Aufwuch'. I am not saying throw prawns in for your Mbuna, but a lttle protein enriched flake every now and then will help the diet of these fish I feed that brineshrimp flake twice a week.

 

[Ferris]

I am not disagreeing with you Ferris as i think you give sound advice. Although i would like to add that Mbuna do need a little protein in their diet. In the wild when they graze the algea from the rocks, they take in a certain amount of protien from the small animals that live in the algea, i believe this is called 'Aufwuch'. I am not saying throw prawns in for your Mbuna, but a lttle protein enriched flake every now and then will help the diet of these fish I feed that brineshrimp flake twice a week.

You are quite correct ASD but it is the type of protein that's important. Meaty protein contained in food such as Bloodworm can be fatal but small amounts of brine shrimp is absolutely fine. I feed mine frozen spirinula enriched brineshrimp a couple of times a week and they love it.

It is indeed called Aufwuch by the way:

Aufwuch - An aquatic organism that clings to submerged rocks, plants, and other objects.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Thanks for all the information! I'm so excited for another tank!!!!

Considering that loaches and peacocks both need meaty diets, would be alright to put them in with omnivore mbuna?

 

[Ferris]

Should be OK provided you feed some veggies aswell for the Mbuna.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Thanks Ferris! I actually just found a tank online that's only like 100 miles away from my house! 90 gal with oak stand, hoods, lights and filter for 150. I just called and left a voice mail!

 

[Ferris]

Sounds very good

You can tell your American - gees 100 miles is half way accros the country over here.

 

[nukeonekitty]

haha yeah! Tank dementions are a little odd... 72x13x21...?