Stocking List

[BrookeLea]

Hey guys. I think I've finally got it all figured out, with lots of research and lots of help from Ferris and freddyk.

Here's what I've come up with.
55 gallon tank with lots of hidey holes made of limestone and slate, lots of plants and a sandy bottom.
(About 2 weeks left of the cycle. Waiting for the nitrites to drop now.)
1 male Electric Blue Johanni
3 female Electric Blue Johanni
1 male Metriaclima Estherae
3 female Metriaclima Estherae
2 male Yellow Labs
2 female Yellow Labs

Does that sound about right? I know I'm already slightly overstocked (as per suggestion), but could there possibly be any room there for some sort of bottom feeder? I'm not quite sure what kind of bottom feeder I can put in with African Cichlids.

 

[Ferris]

Sounds like a good setup. For a bottom feeder, a BN plec would be ideal or one of the Synodontis catfish that don't get too big, Petricola or Eupterus spring to mind.

 

[BrookeLea]

Thanks again! I had a Synodontis Eupterus in there before. Lost him a couple weeks ago during the hurricane

BN plecs freak me out! I've got no clue why. haha

 

[Ethos]

I dunno about you, but I like seeing a bunch of different colors and different fish when I look into a tank.
I'd go for a few more colors, and shapes instead of 4 of one kind. There are alot of different African Cichlids out there! Plus most store have no idea which cichlid is male or female.
W/e appeales to you, just something to consider..

 

[BrookeLea]

Nice idea, in theory, Ethos. The species listed would prefer to be in groups, so I think I'll stick to what i have there. That's plenty enough different color for me. I wouldn't selfishly lower the fish's quality of life just because I wanted to see more color.

As far as sexing them... I've been doing a lot of research, and I'll try my best to sex them myself if the shop owners can't.

 

[freddyk]

I think you're making a wise decision, but sexing them is indeed tricky, and I doubt you will be able to sex most of them either - they are usually sold young and not yet colore. Using the Johanni as an example, even if you buy one turning blue and 3 orange ones, you may very well find that one or two of those orange ones are males after all. Some fish, like the yellow labs, are difficult to sex even as they grow, until you keep them and see their behavior. I know the LFS won't be able to do it, although around here they're quick to pretend.

The way people acheive the ratios is usually buy going with a couple of extra fish per species (there's room since they're still juveniles) and then removing extra males as they mature and you can locate them.