What Can I Mix With?

[clancaster23]

Wondering what other kind of fish I can mix in with my cichlid tank. I plan on going up to around 20 or so cichlids but would like to have a little variety if possible. Tank already had old filter media in it when I got it but I used four platies to test it out for a couple weeks and they are still in there and doing just fine.


Current stock (75 gallon tank):
2 Kenyi
3 electric yellow
2 red zebra
2 bumblebee
4 platy
1 rubbernose pleco

 

[Redrum]

WOW how old are your cichlids? I want to know how the heck those platys are in there i would expect them to get pulverized

 

[clancaster23]

The tank is about a month old. I gradually added my cichlids over time and I'm thinking they are all still pretty young although some are bigger than others. I really only have one aggressive one and that's the albino red zebra. All the others are pretty passive toward each other and the platies excluding the occasional chase. The platies don't even try to avoid the cichlids so it works for me so far.

 

[Redrum]

Well dont expect your platys to live long mate ill tell you that right now. One they require different water chemistry than your africans and once your africans get a bit older there going to chase any fish that gets near them or their terroritory. Most africans or at least the ones you have can fend for themselves against other africans but platys will just get torn apart.

 

[clancaster23]

Either way, not really concerned about the platies. Still wondering though what else I can add to this tank that will actually be compatible with the cichlids.

 

[Redrum]

Research some species and say what you like and you will find out if and how you can make those species work in your tank.
If i were to reccomend a species i would say pseudotropheus acei

 

[dthoffsett]

I wouldn't add any new species until you fill out your current stocking, once the ones you have reach sexual maturity you're going to have some problems. Mbuna are harem breeders meaning a single male will breed with as many females as possible, because of this if you only have 1 male and 1 female, the male will constantly harrass her to breed and possbily kill her in the process. If you have only 2 males of a single species they'll fight constantly for territory.

My suggestions:

2 Kenyi - (Metriaclima lombardoi) A very aggressive species, if you decide to keep them there should only be 1 male per tank and at least 4 females.

3 electric yellow - (Labidochromis caeruleus) One of the few species where multiple males are tolerated, that said, they do best in groups of 5 or more.

2 red zebra - (Metriaclima estherae) A mildly aggressive species, should be kept in ratios of 1m/3f

2 bumblebee - (Pseudotropheus crabro) A highly aggressive species, if kept in groups should be in a 6ft species tank with only 1 male. However, a single specimen is a good addition to a semi-aggressive mbuna community.

4 platy - They won't last long once the cichlids reach sexual maturity. I'd remove them, it's not really fair to leave them in knowing they'll be killed.

1 rubbernose pleco - You'll likely never see it, they are very shy and tend to only come out at night. If the mbuna can catch it I wouldn't be surprised if they kill it.

So if it were up to me stocking would be:

1m/4f M.lombardoi
5 L.caeruleus
1m/3f M.estherae
1 P.crabro
and 1m/3f of another species to round out your stocking.

 

[clancaster23]

Thanks a lot for your reply. Definitely the most helpful suggestions yet. Question though, your reccommendations, are the numbers for a total count or what I should add to my current stock?

This is what I "think" I currently have:

2 Kenyi - (Metriaclima lombardoi) 2 females, 1 male

3 electric yellow - (Labidochromis caeruleus) 2 males, one female (Going by colors of the fins, the two bigger ones have black bottom fins and the smaller one has all white ones)

2 red zebra - (Metriaclima estherae) Do not know how to define which are males and which are females. One is albino and is probably the most aggressive one in the tank although not terribly bad.

2 bumblebee - (Pseudotropheus crabro) Also do not know how to check sex. One has your typical yellow body with dark black stripes and the other is yellow but with much lighter, almost grey stripes. Never black.

Fortunately, I believe all of my fish are relatively young since none are near the size they are supposed to get to. The biggest two are the male Kenyi and the albino red zebra and they might be about 3 inches from mouth to end of tail.

 

[dthoffsett]

My stocking suggestion would be for total numbers.

I'm a little confused on the Kenyi's do you have 2 or 3?

For the electric yellows, fin coloration isn't a reliable way to tell sex, the only reliable way is to vent them or to observe them spawning.

The red zebras - males are typically a lighter yellow/orange color while females are darker orange, however, sub dominate males and juvies can have female coloration.

The bumblebees - once they reach sexual maturity males are light gray/blue with darker stripes while females retain the yellow coloration. Both males and female can take on an almost solid dark brown/black coloration when they want though.

 

[clancaster23]

I did have three Kenyi up til about a week ago. A female died suddenly. No idea why. It had been hiding around and not eating for a few days then I just found it laying on the sand dead. So I have two now.


The red zebras, I know the albino is female but the other is a light shade of orange.

I have never seen either of the bumblebees get totally black. They are rather young though. Like i said, the smaller one if yellow with pretty black stripes and the other, also yellow but the stripes very faint.