Stocking Advice Needed Please

[aqua monster]

hi people i got a list of the fish i like is there any chance you could tell me if they will all be ok together and how many and what sex should i go for to make it a happy tank...
Tank is a juwel 450 vision.

Pseudotropheus Acei and Acei "Black Ngara"
Pseudotropheus Socolofi
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Pseudotropheus Elongatus "Neon Spot" and "Mpanga" and "Chewere"
Metriaclima Estherae "Orange Blotch"
Iodotropheus Sprengerae
Labidochromis Caruleus
Labidochromis sp "Hongi Red Top"
Cynotilapia Afra and Afra "Cobue"
Tropheops sp. "Red Fin
AUL MAYLANDI
CYNOTILAPIA CHINYANKWAZI
AUL BAENSHI
AUL STEVENI
MELANOCHROMIS AURATUS
PSEUDOTROPHEUS DEMASONI
PSEUDOTROPHEUS SOCOLOFI

 

[Davo86]

Hi, well your list includes Malawi mbuna, and Malawi peacocks so you need to first decide on which route you go down
The AULs (aulonocara) are open water peacocks and the rest are rock dwelling mbuna,

so maybe a open water peacock setup with a big group of A.Maylandi and then another group of either A.Baenshi or S.Steveni (the last two can cross breed which is something you don't really want.) In this setup you might also get away with a group of Labidochromis Caruleus as these are far less aggressive than the other mbuna.

Lastly another option is a full out mbuna setup with a few select mbuna species

 

[aqua monster]

Right..!!

i want to go malawi please..

 

[stang1]

If it's Mbuna you are after then any of the following you have listed here:

Pseudotropheus Acei and Acei "Black Ngara"
Pseudotropheus Socolofi
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Pseudotropheus Elongatus "Neon Spot" and "Mpanga" and "Chewere"
Metriaclima Estherae "Orange Blotch"
Iodotropheus Sprengerae
Labidochromis Caruleus
Labidochromis sp "Hongi Red Top"
Cynotilapia Afra and Afra "Cobue"
Tropheops sp. "Red Fin

 

[aqua monster]

If it's Mbuna you are after then any of the following you have listed here:

Pseudotropheus Acei and Acei "Black Ngara"
Pseudotropheus Socolofi
Pseudotropheus Saulosi
Pseudotropheus Elongatus "Neon Spot" and "Mpanga" and "Chewere"
Metriaclima Estherae "Orange Blotch"
Iodotropheus Sprengerae
Labidochromis Caruleus
Labidochromis sp "Hongi Red Top"
Cynotilapia Afra and Afra "Cobue"
Tropheops sp. "Red Fin

What would be a good number to go for on each fish and sex...guys i could qrite down what i know about these on a postage stamp and still have room...so all your help is welcome and thankyou in advance

 

[stang1]

Keeping at least two females to one male is always a good start, although the more females to each male the better.

 

[aqua monster]

so if i went for 1 male and 2 females from that list would it work..?
it would gice me 39 fish right or would it be better to miss some of the list and double up on overs..?

 

[Davo86]

Also I would only choose one from each species to avoid conspecific aggression,

i.e. One from the Pseudotropheus group, One from the Labidochromis group

so something like

4x Pseudotropheus Acei OR Acei "Black Ngara" OR Saulosi OR Socolofi OR Elongatus
4x Metriaclima Estherae "Orange Blotch"
4x Iodotropheus Sprengerae
4x Labidochromis sp "Hongi Red Top" OR Caruleus
4x Cynotilapia Afra OR Afra "Cobue"
4x Tropheops sp. "Red Fin

 

[stang1]

Completely agree with Davo and it will still give you a nice mix of fish.
Another trick is not to get fish that are similar to each other in colour/markings.

 

[aqua monster]

Thankyou people that has narrowed it right down..
what will happen if i get a mix of the Pseudotropheus Acei OR Acei "Black Ngara" OR Saulosi OR Socolofi OR Elongatus...?

which one is the all black fish with specs of light coulour in by tail..?

 

[stang1]

Acei and Acei "Black Ngara" are likely to interbreed as they are the same fish, just from different areas. A lot of people prefer to keep the breeds pure. Not sure if all Pseudotropheus interbreed but guessing it may be a possibility.
"Black Ngara" is all black with white edging on the top fin. Pseudotropheus goes almost jet black with white spots along its back.

 

[aqua monster]

right im with you..

the fish i would like to know the mane of is the one follow link please..www.tonysafricancichlids.co.uk

then when on page go to photo gallery and go to fish number 27...

 

[stang1]

That looks like Pseudotropheus Elongatus "Neon Spot"

 

[aqua monster]

Thankyou...he is a cool looking fella....would a female look like that too..?

 

[stang1]

Females are usually a lighter blue.