Tank Is Cycled, Ready To Add Fish....

[Irf]

Hi all,

My 40gal tank is ready to receive some small Lake Malawis. The tank has a sand sunstrate with lots of rounded river cobbles forming caves, tunnels, etc. Very few plants, and they are just Java Fern offshoots from the community tank.

I have built up a shortlist from a book about Lake Malawi Cichlids, taking care to stick to those species that don't need a bigger tank and also aren't too aggressive. Many of these species are supposed to be housed with several of the same type though, for example the yellow labs. With this in mind, what's the general thinking about how many fish I can keep in the tank? Are the rules just the same as those I would apply to my comm tank?

Thanks,

Irf.

 

[jayjay]

Dimensions are going to effect how many fish you can keep.

I'd aim for max. of 3 species (personally), maybe 4 labs, 4 rusties and 4 afra. 1m to 3f on all.

That should work like I said depending on dimensions, filtration and water change schedule.

 

[Irf]

Thanks jayjay. The tank is 100x40x40cm. It's got lots of rocks forming small caves and tunnels. The substrate is plain silica sand. Just a few java ferns strapped to rocks.

The filtration is carried out by an eheim ecco, and the water changes will normally be whatever is needed.... I currently do minimum 25% weekly on my community tank, and so it won't be difficult to do the same or more. What do people recommend?

Thanks for advice on species - I'll have a look in my book and in the lfs at the weekend to see what they've got.

Irf.

 

[Ferris]

I'd agree with jayjay on the stocking suggestion, 4 fish from 3 species should work well with the correct male to female ratio. You might also consider Pseudotropheus Saulosi, Pseudotropheus Acei and Metriaclima Callainos - these are also less aggressive species by Mbuna standards.

 

[Irf]

Cheers Ferris - when I get home I will list the species I was considering for the expert's consideration. Perhaps I'll be offered some advice....?

Irf.

 

[Irf]

Hi all,

The book I've been referring to is called Lake Malawi Cichlids, by Mark Philip Smith and published by Barron's.

This is my shortlist for the above mentioned tank:

Iodotropheus Sprengerae

Aulonocara Hansbaenschi

Labidochromis Caeruleus

Aulonocara Stuartgranti

Labidochromis Perlmutt

Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi

Metriaclima Aurora

Aulonocara Maleri

Metriaclima Crabro

Lethrinops Lethrinus

Pseudotropheus Demasoni

Lethrinops Nyassae

Pseudotropheus Flavus

Pseudotropheus Saulosi

Pseudotropheus Scolofi

Pseudotropheus Red Top Ndumbi


As mentioned, I'm open to suggestions on everything, including species and numbers. I think the Aurora, Crabro, Acei and Callainos all need tanks of 50gal.... mine is just 40gal. Advice appreciated on this point. I put together this list takinginto account their reported aggression levels and also the recommendation regarding tank size. In a couple of cases, I have included cichlids that would be better off in a 50gal tank, but are peaceful. Advice?

And as mentioned, I realise that some of these need to be kept with a minimum number of their own kind. I also realise that only some of these will be available from my two LFSs!

By the way, what is an afra?

Thank again,

Irf.

 

[adambrum]

Its a good list to start with but there are 3 different types of malawi cichlid theres mbuna, peacocks and Haplochromines its best not to mix these.

Now for your list.


Iodotropheus Sprengerae- mbuna, one of the less aggressive widely available

Aulonocara Hansbaenschi- peacock ?

Labidochromis Caeruleus- mbuna, one of the less aggressive widely available

Aulonocara Stuartgranti - peacock ?

Labidochromis Perlmutt - mbuna , I dont think there that common but are available very nice

Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi- peacock ?

Metriaclima Aurora- mbuna , Dont know much about these have seen them for sale though

Aulonocara Maleri - peacock ?

Metriaclima Crabro- mbuna , This one gets big and can be a bit nasty

Lethrinops Lethrinus- hap ?

Pseudotropheus Demasoni- mbuna , either keep 1 or 12 of these can be very aggressive

Lethrinops Nyassae- hap ?

Pseudotropheus Flavus- mbuna , great looking fish you might have a bit of trouble getting this also get big

Pseudotropheus Saulosi- mbuna, a good fish easily available

Pseudotropheus Scolofi- mbuna, a good fish easily available

Pseudotropheus Red Top Ndumbi- mbuna , I dont know much about these ?


Well that should give you a bit of an idea, The reason i have not commented on the haps and peacocks is that i have not kept them so i cant comment on them.

Its worth traveling to get the fish you want its taken me almost 12 months to get 1 species i was after ! ( Metriaclima 'membe deep')membe deep

the afra is a Cynotilapia afra my personal favorite its smaller than most but has one hell of a personality expect it to rule the tank even with fish twice its size.

The pic in my sig is a afra.

 

[Ferris]

I would forget about the Aulonocara and Haps - you really need a bigger tank to keep these fish. Aulonocara can work with Mbuna but they often struggle with the aggression hence the need for a bigger tank so they can retreat when neccessary. Haps are just too big full stop.

I would also drop the Crabro and Demasoni as larger tanks are required for these species although for different reasons. Crabro are aggressive and get very large by Mbuna standards. Demasoni could only really be done as a species only in a 40 gal due to their highly aggressive nature.

The rest of your list should be reasonably compatible if you stick to the suggested 3 species with 4 from each, 1M/3F.

 

[Irf]

Thanks adambrum and Ferris - both really helpful replies!

I know the list is big and a bit mixed up, but that's cos I jotted the names down from the book onto a post-it note. You're right in saying that I've mixed up the different types - mbuna, peacocks and haps. I didn't fully realise that they could not be mixed in any way. Again, I was going by what I've read..... just goes to show doesn't it?

Will leave the crabro on your advice - the book said it was not aggressive but I'm obviously looking to reduce the list anyway, so thanks!

Will also probably leave the demasoni, though I'm disappointed by that cos I think they are one of the prettiest fish I've seen.

So overall then, I'll keep it Mbuna only. I love the look of your afra mate...... I'll look out for them. But are they suitable if they are like you say they are? Would they be OK in a 40gal?

I would also like to keep a couple of non-cichlids in there if possible. Perhaps a plec of some type. I think I was already told earlier by someone that it would be OK. Can't remember the type though - I'll do a search. Any suggestions welcome though.....

Cheers again,

Irf.

 

[Ferris]

Bristlenose Plecs or many of the Synodontis catfish work well with Mbuna. Be careful with the Syno's though, some get too big for a 40 gal.

Afra's can be very feisty to say the least but that shouldn't rule them out - they are great fish and tend to work just fine in mixed Mbuna setup's.

 

[jayjay]

A lone demasoni could work, female more likely than a male. Females have duller colour but would work better.