So I got a 10 gallon tank for $10 with the whole setup but fish so got tetras and Cory's and loved it. Wanted to move up and start another tank so I got a 55gal setup from petsmart bought a second filter and some cichlid sand. Also put in some dragon stone and south sea base rock started looking really good. Bout some yellow labs from pet i and they gave me 3 yellow labs and 2 orange looking labs no black on their tops but definitely cichlid and they hang around the labs. Got 5 blue johanni that I am now realizing is a mistake cause they are messing up my labs. I also got an obi peacock and a bristle nose pleco .pleco is fine and obi is fine for now but labs are looking ruff do to the johanni. I'm gonna return the johanni and try to get another kind. What should I get should I go for a few more peacock or another kind of Mbuna? I know mixing isn't always the best idea but I'm trying stuff out. Let me know what y'all think I can do to help get this beautiful tank up setup perfectly.
Setting up 55 gallon African cichlid tank
- Thread starter Joeljordan689
- Start date
When experimenting, don't forget they are living creatures.
I would return the orange ones and get 12 more yellow labs to fill up your tank. I looked at the PetSmart website and they do not have anything else appropriate...never buy from the assorted tank.
I would return the orange ones and get 12 more yellow labs to fill up your tank. I looked at the PetSmart website and they do not have anything else appropriate...never buy from the assorted tank.
The orange ones don't see to bea issue it's the blue johanni and I don't want a tank of just yellow labs that's kinda lame I want color and diversity between my mbuna
I also have more fishstores other than petsmart I can get fish from other sources
To keep mbuna humanely you want one male and at least four females per species. So you need at least 2 more yellow labs and pray they are females.
In a 55G you can fit three species if you select carefully. You want small, peaceful species. The problem will mixing species (like the yellow ones and the orange ones) is that they will breed whether you want them to or not, and they will produce hybrid fry which cannot be sold or given away or returned to the store.
If you have a store that sells Africans with their scientific name (genus, species and collection point i.e. Labidochromis caeruleus Lion's Point) then I would stock 1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (rusties) and 1m:4f Cynotilapia zebroides Cobue with your yellow labs.
In a 55G you can fit three species if you select carefully. You want small, peaceful species. The problem will mixing species (like the yellow ones and the orange ones) is that they will breed whether you want them to or not, and they will produce hybrid fry which cannot be sold or given away or returned to the store.
If you have a store that sells Africans with their scientific name (genus, species and collection point i.e. Labidochromis caeruleus Lion's Point) then I would stock 1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (rusties) and 1m:4f Cynotilapia zebroides Cobue with your yellow labs.
It is actually unusual to find mbuna labeled with scientific names these days, sad to say. Mbuna are generally sold unsexed...beware the vendor that advertises sexed mbuna. What we do is buy unsexed mbuna. If you want a ~ 50% chance of getting 4 females buy 8 unsexed juveniles and rehome any troublesome males when they mature.
As mentioned, small, peaceful species for a 55G. Mbuna like bumblee and auratus and johannii are not a good fit for a 55G tank. I would also recommend you avoid peacocks and haps or an all-male stocking in a 55G.
As mentioned, small, peaceful species for a 55G. Mbuna like bumblee and auratus and johannii are not a good fit for a 55G tank. I would also recommend you avoid peacocks and haps or an all-male stocking in a 55G.
I'm thinking I'm gonna keep 5 yellow labs my obi peacock and bristle nose pleco and try a few more 6 inch peacocks
I know I can put less peacock than Mbuna and about the difference in diet
I know I can put less peacock than Mbuna and about the difference in diet