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New 55 gallon Cichlid setup...

3K views 17 replies 5 participants last post by  Tazman 
#1 ·
Hi everyone. Its been kind of busy lately and have not been on here much but I wanted to share my new tank with everyone. I have had the cichlids since December in a 30 gallon and upgraded them this weekend to the 55 they seem to be loveing the extra room. Currently there are 3M/4F L. caeruleus (Yellow Lab) , 1M/3F P. cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)
Here is a full tank shot:

And here is the video:
 
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#2 ·
I like the tank...looks good.

Just one thing I would recommend though is add about 3 more female P. cyaneorhabdos (Maingano). The male can get rather aggressive when he is in breeding mode.

Labs I would add more females as well because you have 3 males, I would aim for 3 Females per male.

I also would not add anything else to the tank except maybe 2-3 Bristlenose plecos or a couple of synodontis multipunctus.
 
#3 ·
Thanks Tazman I am going to be tradeing two of the male labs for either different fish or female labs at the LFS when he gets in some females, and the Maingano I will have to pick up when I go to South Carolina for a fish club meeting as I can not get them local but I am also trying to decide for sure if I am going to keep them as I have read they are more aggesive than the labs which I did not know when I bought them at the last fish club meeting. I am thinking about trading the Maingano for some Acei, and adding 1M/3F German Red Peacock as I have read that all of these are mellow as far as cichlids go. ; )
 
#4 ·
Acei - yes
Peacocks - no

Also perhaps look at Otopharynx lithobates (this would give you the blue fish instead of the mags) or cynotilapia as replacements for the P. cyaneorhabdos also. Both would do well with yellow labs.

Peacocks do not do well with Mbuna (the yellow labs), they prefer being with their own as they are peaceful compared to more active mbuna.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Ok thank you very much. If I do the Acei and the labs could I add some other cichlid that has a good anount of red in it?
 
#6 ·
I would perhaps look at getting some Metriaclima estherae (Red Zebra) probably just one fish though. There are not really any red cichlids as such...the only ones really are man made selective bred.
 
#8 ·
Correct they are more orange but as I mentioned there are no red cichlids.
 
#9 ·
I had read that the red zebras were more aggresive than the labs.
 
#13 ·
Thanks Willow, I have two pieces of coral to help raise the ph a little bit but it has not changed the ph at all but the fish are happy so I am not going to mess with it. The rest of the rocks are just rocks that I got out of mine and my parents yard so I do not know what kind they are but I tested them with vinager to make sure they were safe to use in my tanks. LOL I have one of the labs holding a mouth full of eggs so I am hopeing I will have fry in about 2 weeks. ; )
 
#15 ·
It would be much easier if she would not hide in the sword plant leaves. LOL
 
#16 ·
Congrats on the holding lab :)

I would consider removing the yellow lab who is holding to a breeder tank / box

The P. cyaneorhabdos will try and get the fry, do not be too alarmed either if she doesnt hold them to term and swallows the eggs. It can take a few times for them to get it right.

They will usually hold for around 28 days, you can remove her and strip her of the babies after about 18-20 days if you wanted.

If you do not intend on getting a breeder tank or box then provide lots and lots of hiding spots.
 
#17 ·
Thanks Tazman! I am actual going to pick up a divider today when I go into town and put it into a 30 gallon that I have fancy guppys and platys in and then I am going to move her over there and if she has they fry keep her with them for a couple of weeks until she can get back into shape after not eating for several weeks. I thought about stripping her but for this time I am going to let her do it the natural way then maybe later on with the next batch try stripping.
 
#18 ·
Sounds good... :thumbsup:
 
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