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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / October 2004Mbuna Cichlids
Hi, I have a 3 foot (120 litre) freshwater tank containing 2 dwarf gouramis, 8 neon tetras and 5 swordtails. It has been running for about two months and I was wondering if I was able to get a Cobalt Zebra or a lombardoi mbuna and is my tank big enough? Also can they be kept alone and are my fish that I have compatible with them? Thanks for your help. Iain. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Iain. Iain, IMO, the answer is no to almost all your questions. They can be kept alone however. A 120 litre tank with both the Metriaclima estherae and the Metriaclima lombardoi would be seen as "their" territory. They would claim the entire tank and would most likely kill anything else in the tank with them. The water conditions should be hard and alkaline. pH should be 7.8 or higher. If you're looking for some interesting interaction with cichlids that would be more compatible with your fish, check out some of the dwarf South American species. Tim www.fishaholics.org Would a Apistogramma steindachneri be suitable for my tank and current fish I have? How big would they grow up to? Are they aggressive?  SignatureIain. The apisto's would be a BRILLIANT choice for your existing fish. Go for it. They don't get very big, as big as a Bolivian Ram........about 5-7cm. -- **So long, and thanks for all the fish!** > Would a Apistogramma steindachneri be suitable for my tank and current fish > I have? How big would they grow up to? Are they aggressive? > > -- > Iain. I may go for one then but are they hard to find in the shops or are they common? SignatureIain. > > The apisto's would be a BRILLIANT choice for your existing fish. Go for [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> -- >> Iain. Not sure where you are but here in Africa they are not so common but available from time to time. -- **So long, and thanks for all the fish!** > I may go for one then but are they hard to find in the shops or are they > common? [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >> -- > >> Iain. Hi Happy Camper. Just wondering where in Africa you're located and what type of fish do people keep locally? > Not sure where you are but here in Africa they are not so common but > available from time to time. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > >> -- > > >> Iain. Hey Jazzy I am located in sunny South Africa. Generally, hobbyists on this side of the globe are into your usual run of the mill aquarium fish (those sold at the LFS). Then you get your serious die hards who are only into keeping locally manufactured fish :) For a more in depth listing go to this site www.aquatek.co.za there is a 'key' there with a listing of all our endemnic fish (if thats what you're asking). Take note that the 'key' is still under development so it might not work properly!!!! But you can order the book :)!! -- **So long, and thanks for all the fish!** > Hi Happy Camper. > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > > >> -- > > > >> Iain. hi I wouldn't think that is to good an idea see http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/glombardoi.html The Zebras are more or less the same... High PH Hard water herbivores aggressive If you wanted to put the malawis in the tank INSTEAD OF the current occupants, that would be fine assuming you can meet the water reqts and heavy filtration needs. I suggest you add a fair few more mbuna as the game is usually to have 50% more Mbuna in a tank than you would other fish types to stop hyperdominant fish ripping up your stock I would go for some of the smallar tanganyikans instead, neolamp brichardi and a pair of shell dwellers...fish that will breed and have interesting behaviuors The choice is yours but, a definite NO to mixing what you have now with the malawis I have kept mbuna (rock fish) and the haps (open water swimmers) all from lake malawi they are aggresive fish being cichlids they are best kept in a species tank they need a ph of 7.5-8.2 and very clean water conditions if you are considering keeping these fish you will only be able to keep the small type of mbuna in a 120 litre tank and over crowding these fish will minimize aggresion not to be kept with neons etc. |
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