Stocking My 180l

[dave r]

Hi guys, i'm setting up my rio 180 for mbuna. I will be using playsand as substrate, river cobbles for rockwork and filtering using a fluval 205 (have removed juwel filter). My question is i would like to stock it with labidochromis caeruleus and pseudotropheus zebra (if thats still its correct name) and i don't know if i will get away with four of each as i would prefere this, or even five of each if that will be better stocking. Suggestions most welcome.

 

[kj23502]

Hi. I'm not an expert or anything, but I can give you some generals. It was stated that I can have 30-35 fish in my 125 gallon tank, which breaks down to 3.5-4 gallons per fish. So I'd say that you can have, possibly at most about 13 fish total. This may be a bit much?
I know yellow labs are pretty peacefull compared to other mbuna. I'm not sure what kind of zebra you're talking about?. I've been looking through Ad Konings "Back to Nature Guide to Malawi Cichlids 2nd Edition" and it sounds like it's possibly a metriaclima species. The names got kinda messed up throughout history maybe? Like here!

Is it this?

If it is, it sounds like this may be a more aggressive species. I'm not sure if it would work.

 

[darrel69]

Yea, i think you may get away with about 12 fish in total, 6 of each species, 1m - 5f. Though i think you can keep 2 male L.Caeruleus together sometimes they're that peaceful, provided you have enougth females.

I think there are quite a few different zebra's with the genus Pseudotropheus. Also, some with the genus Metriaclima. Some used to be under the genus Marylandia untill they got changed out of boredom from scientists i think... something like that.

 

[dave r]

Thanks for the replies. The second link is the one i was looking at so do you know of any other electric blue mbuna that would work well with the yellow labs??

 

[chishnfips]

Demasoni work well with yellow labs, but you need groups of 10 or more to cut the agression as they just nail their own kind to the point of death, (which I learnt by default when I bought two of them).

You might get away with 8 of them and a group of 4 labs (1m 3f), someone more knowledgable might be able to help you out on the number of demasoni you could have).


Or you could go for maybe a groups of acei's like these

They are peaceful fish(for mbuna), so I am sure they would work well with labs, I keep them with my labs and they are fine.

 

[kj23502]

Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" would be a good choice, I think! In general they are only supposed to be mildly aggressive. They generally have blue body with a yellow tail.
I think these others would be good as well!

pseudotropheus acei-both sexes are colorful "aka yellow tail acei

metriaclima callainos-both sexes are colorful "aka cobalt zebra or pearl zebra"

pseudotropheus socolofi-both sexes are colorful "aka ps. pindani,

There may a few more choices for ya, but this is what I found off hand!

 

[dave r]

Oooooo i like the look of the Socolofi quite like the Acei as well. So in your appinions would 5 Socolofi and 5 yellow labs make a pretty good stock for my tank.

 

[kj23502]

Oooooo i like the look of the Socolofi quite like the Acei as well. So in your appinions would 5 Socolofi and 5 yellow labs make a pretty good stock for my tank.

I would think so. I'm just starting to keep cichlids....but I've been reading about them since about November or December 2007. I don't have a lot of first hand knowledge, but have a lot of book knowledge. I base a lot of info on Ad Konings book. I think Mod. Ferris really thinks he's good. From what I've learned, this may be a good combination.

 

[dave r]

Well thanks alot for all the advice guys even though it will be a while untill the fish go in, it's nice to plan which fish to keep. Tomorrow's the day i get the sand and my new filter and the rocks have been in soak for a week so a nice productive day ahead getting it all set up and get the tank cycling.

 

[darrel69]

Or you could go for maybe a groups of acei's like these

They are peaceful fish(for mbuna), so I am sure they would work well with labs, I keep them with my labs and they are fine.

Wow !! Is that your Acei ? It looks almost illuminous-like lol, really nice. Have you got it under certain lighting ??

 

[kj23502]

Your welcome!! I love fish and reading about them and talking about them with forum members.

Good Luck!

Oh here's another one for you also:
Cynotilapia afra (Cobue) They are colorful and interesting. The females aren't quite as colorful, but the males are stunning and they're also supposed to be mildly aggressive. I have some in my 125 gallon tank.

This is actually one of my fish. Sorry the pic isn't the best. I'm trying to work on getting better!

This is an example of what a dominant male may look like. The less dominant stay blue w/out much of the orangey/yellow color.
---edit--
I don't have a fancy dominant male yet. Mine are still Juvies and are just starting to develope.

 

[SingMeat]

Wow !! Is that your Acei ? It looks almost illuminous-like lol, really nice. Have you got it under certain lighting ??

it might be his, but that pic is from a google image search.


Anyways, I've got 9 acei in my 125 US gallon with labs, various zebras, bumblebees, johannii, and kenyi and the acei and labs are the most peaceful (obviously)

 

[chishnfips]

Wow !! Is that your Acei ? It looks almost illuminous-like lol, really nice. Have you got it under certain lighting ??

it might be his, but that pic is from a google image search.


Anyways, I've got 9 acei in my 125 US gallon with labs, various zebras, bumblebees, johannii, and kenyi and the acei and labs are the most peaceful (obviously)

lol, no its not my one, its from a google search, although I do have them, but mine looks nicer