Unusual tankmates for cichlids?

[Tiggs]

Thinking of doing a 90G African tank but the thing that puts me off is the lack of "interesting" additions..............for example.....my planted tank is primarily cardinal tetras - but every now and then you catch sight of a khulie loach, armourd shrimp, pictus catfish, apple snail...you get the idea!

What cool additions could i make to an African tank?

T

 

[sylvia]

You mean besides cichlids? A lot of people keep synodontis catfish with mbuna. There's lots to choose from and I suppose they'd be kind of like the kuhlie loaches in your other tank... The only issue with this is that if you are planning on an mbuna set-up (you didn't actualy say what cichlids you're considering), you'll be aware that they don't do well on protein-rich foods. Unfortunately, these protein rich foods are essential for the catfish. Usualy you can get round this by only feeding after the lights go out or by keeping less sensitive cichlids (such as yellow labs which, being insectivores, can handle quite a bit of protein). There's also plenty of pleco species that do fine in african tanks. Things like bristlenoses even tolerate the high pH and hardness. With the more peaceful cichlids, schools of barbs are possible tankmates. Some people have also kept larger loaches with them (such as clown loaches but only in larger tanks) and I've seen an RTBS kept successfuly in a permanent set-up with yellow labs. Of course, you may not even be reffering to rift lake species - pulcher/kribs are also African but live in rivers. You are most probably aware that they can be kept in a semi-aggressive community... That wouldn't be much different compared to the community you described.

BTW, if you want an 'African' tank but don't want to stick to cichlids and want something just as interesting, have you considered ctenopomas? One of the most common, ctenopoma acutirostre, the leopard ctenopoma or leopard bushfish grows to about 6" and is an absolutely beautiful fish filled with character and very rewarding. It can be kept in a community-type set-up with boisterous fish that it cannot fit in its mouth. Larger rainbowfish, loaches or catfish (in tanks where they won't get into each other's way) and larger barbs work fine. There's also a whole host of 'microctenopomas' (don't assume they are smaller though) and smaller ctenopomas and anabas species that you could keep in much smaller tanks and even with small fish like tetras or rasboras.

 

[Tiggs]

mbnua was the plan.....the idea is to have a rock based aquascape for easier maintenance than planted. If im going rock i sort of assumed african cichlids would provide some decent colour to make up for the lack of colour from the plants.

just fancy something scrurrying around the bottom for interest! Whats the African lake equivalnet of the khulie!

 

[CFC]

There are several species of spiney eel which inhabbit lakes Malawi and Tanganykia which can work with less aggressive Cichlid species.

 

[Ferris]

I have a sailfin plec and 2 synodontis Eupterus in my Mbuna tank and have never had any issues. Bristlenose Plecs are also commonly kept with Mbuna as are most of the other Synodontis species. You still have some pretty good options even with aggressive Mbuna.

 

[freddyk]

Many Synodontis - most of them, but not all - are great additions to any mbuna tank, and as mentioned feeding them is easily done when the lights are out. Some tougher loaches work as well, and most armoured plecos. Personally, I think synodontis is the type of thing you are looking for.

schools of barbs are possible tankmates

This is actually a not a great choice. I've seen people think it works when they first start the tanks, but from what I've seen it always fails in the end - usually ending with diseased barbs. While they live under these conditions, it is clear they suffer too much stress in the environment to keep going long term.

 

[rl1oyd]

I have all haps and some frontosas in my tank. Mbuna i had but after about 2 months i couldnt watch them attacking each other all the time, pulled them all out and got the haps. More expensive BUT much nicer, they still chase each other but with a couple of them taken out i will have a chilled tank. Anyway I have 2 large Khuli Loaches been in about 6 month and a African catfish (cant remember its name) and i have heard a lot of people keep red tailed sharks and Clown loaches without any problems.
Hope this helps?