Stocking

[RebelFish]

hey im setting up a new mbuna tank and need some advice on what and how many fish i can fit with minimal aggresion and problems.

the tank i have is a rena 42" long 15" deep 22" high.
external eheim filter
power compact lighting
sand substrate


Also what fish fit the above discription and work fairly well with plants?

thanks in advance

 

[Soaup]

Ive heard crowding isnt necissiarily a bad thing as long as each fish has there own territory, crowding may confuse the fish and stop any aggression. Also heard that 1 inch per gallon is a good ratio? Ask a pet store employee when you go buy the fish for confirmation..

 

[fish_r_great]

With Mbuna actuallt overcorwding id reccomended so that they don't have territories this way stress is minmalized.

I know

Long pelvic "mdokas"
Lab sp. "Mbamba"
Long pelvic Hara Gallireya Reef
Jalo Afra (maybe)
I know people have kept flavus in tanks as small as 29 gallons.

are all semi-aggressive Mbuna but, there are others those are just some of my favs

 

[freddyk]

how many fish i can fit with minimal aggresion

Well, first you need to decide what you want to keep, then you can decide on numbers. If you go with some of the less aggressive varieties you don't need to keep the tank as packed, and lighter stocked tanks are always cleaner. If you decide on more aggressive varieties, you'd want to keep it more stocked.

If you're looking for minimal aggression, go with low aggression species. These can include: Pseudotropheus Acei, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Iodotropheus Sprengerae, and Pseudotropheus Saulosi. There are a number of other species that would work too, you really need to see what's available and post them here to get an idea of whether they'd work.

Species to avoid: Maylandia Crabro, Maylandia Lombardoi (kenyi), most Melanochromis.

Fake plants work, but you need rocks - or decoration that provides good secure caves and tunnels, just plants are not enough. Mbuna means 'rock dweller' in the local African dialect, and that's exactly what they are. Most Mbuna are herbivorous and will eat live plants. Check out the pinned artical above too.