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2 Cichlid Questions

3K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  Tazman 
#1 ·
1) Why Cichlids vs a normal community tank? (im trying to decide which way to go)
and
2) What are good Cichlid companions for the Electric Yellow Cichlids? (if i go with the Cichlid community, thats where im gonna start.)

thanks in advance!!:lol:
 
#2 ·
What size is your tank first of all?
 
#4 ·
If you go with cichlids you would need 10-15 the tank volume for filtration.

With the labs you can add Pundamilia nyererei about 5 of them or Cynotilapia afra - 5 (1 Male to 4 Female)

And 2 Bristlenose Plecos.


Or if you go with Lake Tanganyika - Altolamprologus calvus , Neolamprologus leleupi ,Julidochromis or brichardi.

It is really personal choice as to whether or not to go with cichlids, it depends if you like them or not. They are very interesting to watch and some people like the challenge as they can be some very aggressive fish.
 
#6 ·
mbuna which are from Lake Malawi need to be kept in groups of 1 Male to 4 female. There are some species which are very aggressive and need more females to males. I will not mention what they are as they are not suitable for a beginner.

If you like the yellow labs, then those are mbuna and as such I have offered stocking based on keeping them.

There are other cichlids so if you do a bit of research and post on here, then "we" as a community can offer you advice as to what will work and what will not.
 
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#9 ·
Put a piece of egg crate (light diffuser) directly on the bottom of the glass.. first of all. It is personal choice to use it but it gives you a safety in case the structure collapses. (Remember mbuna like to dig the substrate!)

You can use any aquarium safe silicone if you want or coral frag putty. Both will stabilize the rock, I personally dont use any in my tanks and built the structure to be rigid with the weight of the rocks alone. If you use rocks with holes in them..ie Texas Holey rock then you can always use clear fishing line as well. Make sure though if you use fishing line that the knot is tight and out of sight where potentially the fish can nip at it.
 
#10 ·
I liked the African tank for the color available. I now have a 75g with 4 yellow Labs, 4 Ruby Peacocks(1 m+3F), 2 red Zebras, 2 Bumblebees and 2 Blue Dolphins. I also have 4 Congo Tetras as dithers and everyone is fine. The Dolphins seem to be the peace keepers, if anyone gets too rambunctious the settle them down.
 
#11 ·
Congo tetras should not be kept with the fish you have there. They will be bullied sooner or later.

If you have 2 male bumblebees (Pseudotropheus crabro), then you are in for big problems as once they reach maturity will fight to the death.

The cytocara Moori (Blue dolphin) will try and eat the tetras once it is gets bigger.
 
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