Tanganyika Tank

[MojoDex]

ok heres the thing, i recently set up a malawi tank and there just so active and i love em in short there great it's got me wanting to try my hand at tanganyika, i realise there a different kettle of fish(excuse the pun) not as friendly as mbuna etc. but never the less i love the look of most of the fish and i have a bit of a shell dweller thing going on anyway.

what im thinking of doing is stripping my oddball tank down. since ive had malawis the oddballs have really been annoying me hiding all the time has really got old now.

so the tank i may be doing this in is another 6x2x2 but i'm very unsure of stocking tanganyikan cichlids, ive heard frontosa are only really for a species tank which i dont want so id probably give them a miss. the hope would be to put 1 or 2 lots of my shell dwellers in there, i'm fairly sure my meeli would survive due to the fact there bigger than most other shellies, still not overly sure though hence this topic to hopefully get myself some good advice from someone who knows more about tanganyikan community set ups than me

 

[WaterBender1995]

A tank of that size has sooo many implications!!

I can see more then one shell dweller and LOTS of paracyprichromis nigripinnis or cyprichromis leptosoma/ tri color/ jumbo. even some Altolamprologus compressiceps or Neolamprologus brichardi (not too many, if they pair off they can REALLY bully even a large tank) and some Neolamprologus leleuipi!
with what I've given you all levels of the tank will be covered and used well!
one note, in keeping the PARAcyp and CYP species, I suggest a more subtle lighting as they tend to shy away from bright lights and you wont get the full and amazing display they give. They will school given a large group and their breeding habits........WOW!!!

 

[MojoDex]

thing is the light on the tank at the minute is nigh on the bloody sun! ok maybe not the sun but its got sum kick to it(oddball tank is planted ya see) so i was thinking of having vallis(heard this is from tanganyika) covering like quarter to half the tank to provide fish cover and shade and rock pile over the other side then open swimming space with shells scattered about. i can sell the light if i have to, i'd just list it on ebay

but all of that could be totally wrong lol!

i was only reading an article on cyprichromis leptosoma how many would you say in a tank that size? i really liked the sound of them from the article, actually that article made me do this thread

 

[WaterBender1995]

you could keep the light,...maybe...are there 1 or 2 bulbs? you could suppliment a lower bulb for one or even a blue bulb would work! try and find a balance so you can keep the plants AND the CYPS...mannnn I gotta admit, (getting a little excited, what a great opportunity)
as for amount of cyps, the more the better. 12-18-24 or more if you like! it sounds like a bunch but leptos stay relatively small and sardine like.
right now as I look at my tank, the 14 I have, almost all are in the middle of the tank, suspended nose down while all the boys are strutting around lookin all sassy ans sexay for the girls!! LMAO
6 of my fems are holding...big bulgy mouths full of EYES!! lolol

 

[MojoDex]

the light is halide and there 3 bulbs its really does have some kick! options are though i could take a bulb or 2 out with little to no trouble i think, might be easier to get rid mind!

so if i was to have 24 cyprichromis leptosoma, which of my curent shell dwellers do you think would work well with them?

i also love Altolamprologus compressiceps how many of them do you think? i think im actually gonna do this you've convinced me now! my bank is gonna hate me

actually to cut to the chase give me some numbers for all the fish you said so i can start planning this and get some of my fish taken to the lfs tomorrow

 

[WaterBender1995]

lepto- 24 easy!

comps- 3-4

shell dwellers, I have my stappersii in with my leptos. a colony of 9 scattered around the tank
(110 gallon)
think about at first putting in the more docile shellies you have just to see how everyone behaves. we both know shellies can be fearsome little bulldogs when they want to be and while you want to shocase them, your going to find that the leptos will become your STARS!

 

[MojoDex]

well im thinking my meeli and my signatus at opposite ends of the tank meeli are fairly docile and signatus arnt big enough to bother most fish i wouldnt think!

how about non cichlid tank mates what do you recommend besides the obvious synodontis what is there

 

[WaterBender1995]

I have 3-4 bristle nose plecos in each of my tanks.
any eel from lake tang would live on the bottom and would give your shellies a hard time.

 

[MojoDex]

im possibly gonna have the tank open top anyway, i far prefere it that way so an eel is a bad idea i think. just a good shoal of synos it seems.

cheers for all your help waterbender your a top man

 

[MojoDex]

ok just read that cyprichromis leptosoma beleive that they can fly so glass sliders are staying on

 

[WaterBender1995]

I was gonna say..... to taking the tops off!

not only cyps but comps have been known when startled to skin their bodies across the top of the water, mine have done it several times, I liken it to skimming stones at the lake, it's JUST like that!!
crazy fish!!!


I hope youre going to take pictures of this tank after all is settled in, I cant wait to see it all put together!!
& your welcome! anytime !

 

[MojoDex]

well i have to get rid of quite a few fish before i get going on it i figure get shut of the fish then i can start picking up the stuff i need rocks new sand LOADS of shells and all that jazz!

how do you think a 1 stripe spiny eel(Macrognathus aral) would be in there? ive had it about 6 years now and it's 7" long with the smallest mouth ive ever seen(seriously it's tiny) id say its mouth was to small even for cichlid fry! after 6 years im thinking its pretty much full grown now since it's only put on 2" in 6 years

 

[WaterBender1995]

I'd say yes right off the bat IF it werent for the shellies.....try this though...test him out in the tank of shellies you plan on putting in there. But first go in and re-arrange their shells, yea this will piss them off good but it's going to be the same conditions in the new tank so EVERYone will be panicked for a private spot.

Watch him carefully though, if he get the snot beat out of him you'll know it's not a good idea and jerk him out again quickly!

After 6 years you shold be able to hand feed him by now, are you? Their AMAZING animals!!!

 

[MojoDex]

yea he hand feeds no problem and he is the only one ive ever had with no escape issues!! seems content to live in water lol!

need to decide what shellies in trying it with first i suppose deffinatley want the meeli then im not sure on the second lot