These Fish

[Ginge]

I am buying my new fish in 2 weeks providing my water stats and i have enough cash. I like these 3 species to start what is the absolute mininum amount of fish i could have in each of theses species.
Kenyi
Yellow Lab
Pseudotropheus Demasoni

 

[Ferris]

Not so important with the labs but only get 1 male Kenyi and Demasoni with at least 3 females. Because of the extremely high aggression of these 2 species, any more than 1 male, you'll eventually end up with only 1 dominant male anyway. Got to say that putting labs with these 2 species is risky, they are at the opposite end of the aggression scale.

If you want to tone it down a bit, i'd reccommend replace the Demasoni with Saulosi and the Kenyi with Johanni or one of the Zebra morphs and keep the labs. The tank you have suggested is certainly possible but expect lots of problems along the way.

 

[rixy]

i have yellow labs but only have 1 kenyi and they get along fine.i have saulosi as well.with the more boisterus types of malawi,i have only a single specimen,and have a very large boss fish who keeps all the others in check.i've probably broken loads of rules but it works for me

 

[Ginge]

So it would be possible then.
When you say problems do you mean that the other non dominant male would just hide all the time.

 

[rixy]

the non dominant male will get the crap beaten out of it,or,even killed.

 

[Ferris]

No with Demasoni and Kenyi, 1 will probably get killed. There are always exceptions to the rule but keeping multiple males of most Mbuna is asking for trouble.

 

[rixy]

i had 2 tropheus in my tank.with in a couple of hours,one was so badly beaten,i had to take it out of the tank before it was killed

 

[Ginge]

You see the thing is that my lsf gave me 2 free one to pick up in a few weeks. If i take them does it really narow the amount of fish i can keep down that much or do you tthink i should get the two free ones with another two and then work around them.

 

[Ferris]

2 is not a good number with Demasoni, 1 would be better as kept on their own they are usually less aggressive. Can you not change your free choices? They are wonderful fish but they will limit your options.

 

[Ginge]

Yes thanks i will try to do this i will phone tomorow thanks guys for your help i know i am a bit of a pane in the ass somtimes with my stubornness wanting this fish but you must all agree this has to be one of the most magical cichlids around its just a pitty with its agressiveness.
P.S Ferris could you post some pics of your cichlid tank i bet it amazing.