Yellow Labs

[samyboy]

whats the minimum tank size you could keep some yellow labs in and im guessing there not a community fish?

wanted some since i first saw pics of them and my lfs just got a load in £6.73 for a 3" fish does that seem reasonable?

 

[Ferris]

40 gal IMO is the min tank size for labs. £6.73 is a bit over the odds pricewise but not too bad.

 

[Ginge]

I dont think thats too bad i get robbed at £7 for a 2" fish.

 

[samyboy]

okay thanks is there any other fish i can put in there or would it have to be a species tank full stop would shellies go with labs ?

 

[Ginge]

Well if you are thinking of putting them in your 15g think again.

 

[Ferris]

Mixing shellies and labs is not a good idea. There are some other Mbuna species that go well with labs such as Pseudotrophues Acei, Iodotropheus Sperengerae and Pseudotropheus Saulosi. Aulonocara also tend to mix well with labs but you would really be looking at a 55 gal tank for that.

 

[samyboy]

yeah ill wait till ive got a larger tank and maybe just stick to a group of labs there so kool B)

thanks for the advice

 

[Mr. Convict]

Hmm, mine just fit into my 30 gal, and they're still small i have 3, but they are with other fish

but buy them for 6.75, grow em and sell them back for $$ lol just kidding

Good luck

 

[fish_r_great]

I've been trying to tell people you can keep them in a 30, but everyone disagrees.

 

[Ferris]

I've been trying to tell people you can keep them in a 30, but everyone disagrees

I don't think anyone would disagree that its possible, that's not really the issue. The problem is labs are best kept in groups, 5 or 6 ideally. 5 or 6 adult labs in a 30 gal tank gives them no room to avoid bouts of aggression or a breeding pair protecting their fry and no room to establish their own territory.

Yes it can be done but why on earth would you want to cram these beautiful fish into a 30 gal tank? Why not give them a proper home? A 40 gal tank makes all the difference and a 55 gal is better still.

 

[Mr. Convict]

I've been trying to tell people you can keep them in a 30, but everyone disagrees

I don't think anyone would disagree that its possible, that's not really the issue. The problem is labs are best kept in groups, 5 or 6 ideally. 5 or 6 adult labs in a 30 gal tank gives them no room to avoid bouts of aggression or a breeding pair protecting their fry and no room to establish their own territory.

Yes it can be done but why on earth would you want to cram these beautiful fish into a 30 gal tank? Why not give them a proper home? A 40 gal tank makes all the difference and a 55 gal is better still.

well said

like i said, i have 3 in my 30, and though they fit comfortably and they're healthy, in a few months ill have to either get a bigger tank, or get new fish

so my say is that its okay to keep ~3 labs in a 30 at least until they're ~3 inches, then its time to move em

Labs are really cool to have, my smallest one can even hold its own against the big alpha male lol so they're a good choice to have IMO

 

[Ferris]

so my say is that its okay to keep ~3 labs in a 30 at least until they're ~3 inches, then its time to move em

I completely agree with that or even 6 juveniles in a 30 gal as a temporary measure, just not as a permanent home for adults.