Cichlids & Bala Shark

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DeathStalker

DeathStalker

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2015
266
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United States
Here are some pics of some of my cichlids and one of my large Bala Sharks munching on a worm :)

And yes, I'm probably going to get yelled at (or at least get some flak), but I do mix African and South American, and I've not had any problems with either.

Tank - Large Bala with Worm 01.jpg

Tank - Large Bala with Worm 02.jpg

Tank - Large Bala with Worm 03.jpg
 
I think that's just the color formation on the Angels tail and body. If you zoom in they look to be in pretty good shape. While I don't agree with mixing all those continents together due to water parameter differences if it works for you then go for it. All your fish look healthy. But I'd definitely watch for agression and remove any if you see it. Many people have had success with mbuna species and CA/SA cichlids.
 
I didn't know they were mbunas, lol. They LOVE the worms.

No aggressive behavior from any of the cichlids, aside from my really large (~5") convict, he's a bit territorial and a bit of a chaser, and he tends to bully one of my synos (nudges him on the side, actually did a little damage one time, but only that one time.) And the angels look even better than when I got them. If anyone if fin-nipping them, it's the large Danio and/or the Aussie Rainbow, not the cichlids.
 
Water paramenters are usually not a problem with common, non-wildcaught cichlids, as they are hardy and probably adjusted to the same tapwater anyway. That black Angel's fins do look pretty bad to me, if he is being bullied I would reconsider. Long flowy-fin fish (angels) usually I would not recommend to keep with mbuna (your African cichlids) or aggressive CA's (convict). But I'm only judging that from one picture, maybe it is fine. About the earthworm- the reason you should probably not feed it to the Africans is that high-protein food can cause a condition called "Malawi Bloat" which can kill them. In the wild they graze on algaes, and their stomachs aren't built to handle much meaty protein.
 
Mbunas are said to bloat on a high protein diet. Just saying
 
Hmm, I did not know that about Mbunas. Have not had that to be an issue, though I also haven't monitored how much of the worms they actually eat. From what I have observed, they mostly peck at them, they don't gulp them down like the eels and the Balas do.

I will do some additional research on Malawi Bloat, just to be safe. I've transitioned over to mainly Omega One pellets (sinking, floating, and shrimp). I had no idea they were algae grazers! That said, I have plenty of algae growing on the lace rock and driftwood. Would adding spirullina be a good idea for them?

Thanks!
 
Ok, so today I added some cucumber slices - not a single fish (my plecos included!) showed the slightest bit on interest in them. Didn't matter whether I anchored them at the bootom with rocks/wood or let them float at the surface, or put them in the middle with rocks.

Not a single nibble.
 
You should blanch it first and maybe wait till they're hungry
 
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