So, I've been keeping a convict tank and an angel fish community tank for quite some time now, and now that I finally have the "fish room" ready to go, I think I want to start my first Lake Malawi tank. After extensive reading, I think I'm leaning towards mbunas, but I really like the colors of the peacocks and haps. I thought before making any hasty decisions I would come here and see what people have to say about their experiences with each. Which do you like more? Any advice for someone new to Africans? What other types of fish have you been able to mix with them, like catfish, etc? The new tank is 125g. I appreciate the help!
Thinking about starting my first Malawi tank...
- Thread starter spot
- Start date
In my 120g I have haps, peacocks, 1 mbuna, and a vic...will be adding more vics once they are bigger/older...I love a variety...there are no aggression issues really. Right now I have them in with a sun catfish and a clown pleco, I'm not going to suggest them because its kind of an odd friendship. For bottom dwellers, I would instead suggest some synodontis species like synodontis eupterus or synodontis petricola.
Heres my stock list, if it helps...all africans can be a hit or miss though especially if you mix mbunas and peacocks/haps
-Red Empress (3)...1 is female
-Red Top Zebra (1)...Male
-Livingstonii (1, the boss of the tank...no one messes with him, hes also the biggest)
-Zebra Obliquidens (1)...Female
-Electric Blue Ahli (1)...Male
I got many more I'm going to add in the near future such as a frontosa, white top hara, and a eureka red
It also helps if you have a lot of rocks/hiding places and plants
Heres my stock list, if it helps...all africans can be a hit or miss though especially if you mix mbunas and peacocks/haps
-Red Empress (3)...1 is female
-Red Top Zebra (1)...Male
-Livingstonii (1, the boss of the tank...no one messes with him, hes also the biggest)
-Zebra Obliquidens (1)...Female
-Electric Blue Ahli (1)...Male
I got many more I'm going to add in the near future such as a frontosa, white top hara, and a eureka red
It also helps if you have a lot of rocks/hiding places and plants
I am running a 125g (6' long) Malawi tank myself, mostly mbuna with Copadichromis growing out.
I recommend creating a list of species that you consider high priority (i.e. must haves) and we can help you build around it. Us just suggesting species without knowing what actual species catch your eye doesn't work very well.
As for catfish, I would look into a small group of bristlenose plecos or Synodontis catfish (lucipinnis or multipunctatus).
If it helps, here is the species list for our tank:
Copadichromis borleyi Nkhata Bay (small group of juvies)
Cynotilapia zebroides Lupingu (small group)
Cynotilapia sp. "Hara" (small group)
Cynotilapia sp. "Lion" Lion's Cove (pair until I find more)
Labeotropheus fuelleborni Katale Island (small group)
Metriaclima callainos 'Pearl' (single female)
Tropheops sp. "Elongatus Boadzulu" Kanchedza Island (small group)
...and 4-5 bristlenose plecos
I recommend creating a list of species that you consider high priority (i.e. must haves) and we can help you build around it. Us just suggesting species without knowing what actual species catch your eye doesn't work very well.
As for catfish, I would look into a small group of bristlenose plecos or Synodontis catfish (lucipinnis or multipunctatus).
If it helps, here is the species list for our tank:
Copadichromis borleyi Nkhata Bay (small group of juvies)
Cynotilapia zebroides Lupingu (small group)
Cynotilapia sp. "Hara" (small group)
Cynotilapia sp. "Lion" Lion's Cove (pair until I find more)
Labeotropheus fuelleborni Katale Island (small group)
Metriaclima callainos 'Pearl' (single female)
Tropheops sp. "Elongatus Boadzulu" Kanchedza Island (small group)
...and 4-5 bristlenose plecos
That does help, actually... so in your 125, you have about 20-25 fish? I have read that overstocking is desirable (along with over-filtration, which I'm more than prepared to do), but I also understand that stocking percentages with Africans are different than CA/SA altogether, so that was another question I had in my mind.
As for the species that really catch my eye, I have quite a long list (lol)... but to narrow it down a bit, I think my favorites thus far are:
(for mbunas):
Labidochromis sp. "Mbamba"
Labidochromis Caeruleus (Lions Cove)
Pseudotropheus Sp. Acei
Pseudotropheus Crabro
Melanochromis johanni
Metriaclima Callainos
Metriaclima emmiltos
Cynotilapia Afra "Lupingu"
Cynotilapia Afra "Chimate, North"
Cynotilapia Afra Jalo Reef
I also heard the "Cuckoo Catfish" (Synodontis Multipunctatus) works well with Mbunas, which I like the look of.
As far as peacocks and habs go...
Aulonocara Maulana
Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi
Aulonocara sp. Caroline Swallowtail
Aulonocara sp "Maleri Island"
Aulonocara Sp. - Walteri
Chilotilapia Rhoadesii - Rhoadesii
F1 Sciaenochromis Fryeri (Maleri Is.)
Copadichromis Azureus
Placidochromis Electra
Copadichromis Borleyi
There's plenty of others... just picked some of the top ones from my list. Another thing that I would really like is if I could incorporate a Pundamilia nyererei (Anchor Island) in there somewhere. Those are so stunning to me
Thanks for the advice so far!
As for the species that really catch my eye, I have quite a long list (lol)... but to narrow it down a bit, I think my favorites thus far are:
(for mbunas):
Labidochromis sp. "Mbamba"
Labidochromis Caeruleus (Lions Cove)
Pseudotropheus Sp. Acei
Pseudotropheus Crabro
Melanochromis johanni
Metriaclima Callainos
Metriaclima emmiltos
Cynotilapia Afra "Lupingu"
Cynotilapia Afra "Chimate, North"
Cynotilapia Afra Jalo Reef
I also heard the "Cuckoo Catfish" (Synodontis Multipunctatus) works well with Mbunas, which I like the look of.
As far as peacocks and habs go...
Aulonocara Maulana
Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi
Aulonocara sp. Caroline Swallowtail
Aulonocara sp "Maleri Island"
Aulonocara Sp. - Walteri
Chilotilapia Rhoadesii - Rhoadesii
F1 Sciaenochromis Fryeri (Maleri Is.)
Copadichromis Azureus
Placidochromis Electra
Copadichromis Borleyi
There's plenty of others... just picked some of the top ones from my list. Another thing that I would really like is if I could incorporate a Pundamilia nyererei (Anchor Island) in there somewhere. Those are so stunning to me
Thanks for the advice so far!
You have listed some nice fish. I will mention that it is not usually recommended to mix mbuna and peacocks, but some people do have success with mixing them. It really depends on what species you choose, and then sometimes people get lucky with their particular fish's personalities. It is usually not a problem to mix haps and peacocks or haps and mbuna though.
Also, I have a 125g mbuna/hap tank (mostly mbuna) with two synodontis eupterus catfish (which do very well), a sun catfish ("rescued" from a buddy that was moving and has done fine as well), and albino bristlenose pleco. From the same buddy that was moving I also rescued four pundamilia nyererei (don't know collection point) and they have done extraordinarily well. They certainly don't rule the tank but don't allow anybody to mess with them, and they can be feisty when necessary. So they should survive and really thrive just fine in the tank, but unfortunately if there are more dominant species in the tank they don't normally color up really pretty. Of my four I am pretty sure that at least one is a male (possibly one other), but he has stayed more muted in color. I am hoping to eventually set up a tank built around them - just don't have the room right now in a 1 bedroom apartment that also has a 75g turtle tank.
Lastly, I don't know what resources you are using to develop your stock list, but a great one is <http://cichlid-forum.com/profiles/index.php> They have a pretty comprehensive list of all (or at least most) types of cichlids. It gives a little profile (and usually a picture) about the different species. I find it most useful when trying to match temperaments. You may already know this but you usually don't want to mix the most aggressive mbuna with the least aggressive. An example would be kenyis (very aggressive) with yellow labs (quite docile). In a short time the kenyis will harass and probably kill the yellow labs. I guess I should also mention you will probably have some problems mixing haps and mbuna if you choose some of the more aggressive mbuna.
Good luck and hope you are able to find all of the species you end up looking for.
Also, I have a 125g mbuna/hap tank (mostly mbuna) with two synodontis eupterus catfish (which do very well), a sun catfish ("rescued" from a buddy that was moving and has done fine as well), and albino bristlenose pleco. From the same buddy that was moving I also rescued four pundamilia nyererei (don't know collection point) and they have done extraordinarily well. They certainly don't rule the tank but don't allow anybody to mess with them, and they can be feisty when necessary. So they should survive and really thrive just fine in the tank, but unfortunately if there are more dominant species in the tank they don't normally color up really pretty. Of my four I am pretty sure that at least one is a male (possibly one other), but he has stayed more muted in color. I am hoping to eventually set up a tank built around them - just don't have the room right now in a 1 bedroom apartment that also has a 75g turtle tank.
Lastly, I don't know what resources you are using to develop your stock list, but a great one is <http://cichlid-forum.com/profiles/index.php> They have a pretty comprehensive list of all (or at least most) types of cichlids. It gives a little profile (and usually a picture) about the different species. I find it most useful when trying to match temperaments. You may already know this but you usually don't want to mix the most aggressive mbuna with the least aggressive. An example would be kenyis (very aggressive) with yellow labs (quite docile). In a short time the kenyis will harass and probably kill the yellow labs. I guess I should also mention you will probably have some problems mixing haps and mbuna if you choose some of the more aggressive mbuna.
Good luck and hope you are able to find all of the species you end up looking for.
Right now our tank has alot more than 25 because of all the juveniles mixed in, but all of our small groups consist of 1 male and at least 4 females (so your approximation is correct). We will be adding more fish to our tank in the future so but I expect our final numbers to reach closer to 40 or so. As long as you have the filtration to support it, overstocking can be done successfully. We are two running two canister filters along with four sponge filters, and weekly waterchanges of about 40% to keep the water quality high.
I narrowed down the list to species that are generally easy to find as well as likely to be compatible over a long-term aquarium lifetime.
Labidochromis caeruleus (Lions Cove)
Pseudotropheus acei
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
Metriaclima callainos
Cynotilapia afra/zebroides
Synodontis multipunctatus/lucipinnis
Now a quick word about the last two on the list.... With Cynotilapia afra (name will be changing to C. zebroides so I included it in case you ran across it on a fish list), about any location should work. The darker the coloration of the location you chose the better - the Met. callainos are less likely to see them as opposition. As for the Synodontis, either species will work but S. multipunctatus are the ones that will use the cichlids to raise their young - S. lucipinnis (typically called 'Petricola') spawn in a different manner.
Typically I don't recommend mixing mbuna with peacocks/haplochromines because of most people's tank size, experience, and my own limited experience. I'll give you my experience and let you hear from others and make your own decision. Here is the three species I would pick from.
Chilotilapia rhoadesii
Copadichromis azureus OR Copadichromis borleyi
I have kept Lethrinops (2 different species) and Copadichromis with mbuna without problems. Keep in mind, mbuna are typically more aggressive feeders. As long as you are willing to feed accordingly, your two species choices should mix with the mbuna I picked out.
I haven't mixed lake before so I cannot comment on your Pundamilia nyererei selection.
I narrowed down the list to species that are generally easy to find as well as likely to be compatible over a long-term aquarium lifetime.
Labidochromis caeruleus (Lions Cove)
Pseudotropheus acei
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
Metriaclima callainos
Cynotilapia afra/zebroides
Synodontis multipunctatus/lucipinnis
Now a quick word about the last two on the list.... With Cynotilapia afra (name will be changing to C. zebroides so I included it in case you ran across it on a fish list), about any location should work. The darker the coloration of the location you chose the better - the Met. callainos are less likely to see them as opposition. As for the Synodontis, either species will work but S. multipunctatus are the ones that will use the cichlids to raise their young - S. lucipinnis (typically called 'Petricola') spawn in a different manner.
Typically I don't recommend mixing mbuna with peacocks/haplochromines because of most people's tank size, experience, and my own limited experience. I'll give you my experience and let you hear from others and make your own decision. Here is the three species I would pick from.
Chilotilapia rhoadesii
Copadichromis azureus OR Copadichromis borleyi
I have kept Lethrinops (2 different species) and Copadichromis with mbuna without problems. Keep in mind, mbuna are typically more aggressive feeders. As long as you are willing to feed accordingly, your two species choices should mix with the mbuna I picked out.
I haven't mixed lake before so I cannot comment on your Pundamilia nyererei selection.
Thanks!! That is much easier to use than what I was doing, heh
Thanks, this is extremely helpful! I would be happy with that list... but would the Labidochromis sp. "Mbamba" fit into that list by chance? Also, when you say "feed accordingly," are there some tricks for doing so? Or do you just mean the different types of diets/proteins they need?
Lab. mbamba would likely conflict with the C. zebroides species - so I would choose one or the other. As for feeding, I would either feed heavier to allow the slower feeders to get food - or feed at opposite ends of the tank. Mbuna would go to the end that gets fed first, everyone else would learn to wait for the other end to be fed.
That sounds easy enough. Last question... how many fish would you say is a good number to start out with once the tank is ready? Do you recommend around 40 as the final stock?
I don't really recommend a set number, I would start with a couple species and slowly keep adding - you may find yourself content with 20-25 in there. Just remember, the more fish you have - the more poop that will need to be dealt with through filtration and waterchanges. If you like to extend time between waterchanges you will not likely want 40 fish...