Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

[SteveCGG]

I have been cruising the website for a few days now, and I am very impressed. Everyone seems friendly and helpful. I am ordering a 215g tank    and want both Peacocks and mbuna...has anyone had any trouble mixing the two? I have had a 55g with mixed mbuna for several years but I'm finally getting the tank I have wanted for a long time, and want a real "Show Tank". I am open to suggestions from all the experts out there!
Steve

[Delock]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

Mbuna as in Frontosa?

Some people mix Malawi with Tangs. Create an interesting tank.

[SteveCGG]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

mostly smaller, colorful fish like afras, electric yellows, zebras, etc...fronts are cool though, but don't they get pretty darn big?

[wvgdiscus]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

If your getting a 215 gallon tank. I do believe some fronts would fit nicely in it.

[Delock]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

I'm sorry...my mind is not in right now.

[armthehomeless]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

I haven't had much trouble in mixing mbuna with Aulonocara. They inhabit different parts of the tank. As long as you have plenty of caves and crevices for the mbuna, and plenty of open water for the peacocks, you should be fine. Zebras, Afras, and Electric yellows would work. I would stay away from M. aurutus though.

[SteveCGG]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

OK...gotta ask...why no aurutas? I had some years ago...male & females. Aren't they the ones that change sex/color? Also, I know the peacock females are kida drab, but is it better to have males AND females instead of all males?

[armthehomeless]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

Yes, the auratus cichlid is dimophic. It is one of the few cichlids where the female is prettier than the male (IMO). I've just found male M. auratus to become hyper-aggressive and kill other cichlids without warning. Perhaps I just didn't notice the warning signs. I dunno.

As for female peacocks, it all depends on what you want. If you want your tank to be colorful, I might think about doing only male peacocks. If you choose to add females, just beware that all peacocks can interbreed. You'll end up with hybrids - which some people like and others don't.

[Zulaab]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

Mbuna and Peacocks work well.  Like Armthehomeless says you want to make sure that there are open areas for the peacocks and rocks for your Mbuna's.  The M. auratus is well known to devastate a tank because of their aggressive behavior.   Another thing about the auratus is they will hybrid with many other fish, ie you are going to end up with undesirable fish that will be hard to sell off or give away as most hobbiest are going to want a pure bred fish.
Remember when you are keeping Peacocks and Haps you will notice they will stick to the open waters where they can "swim away" from the mbuna's that are known to be highly aggressive.  In any tank they dont have that option so to limit your missing fins (all the way to potential death) of your peacocks / haps you want to have mbuna's that are not as aggressive as the M auratus.  You might want to read the article
Melanochromis The Beautiful Baddies From Lake Malawi which will give you a good idea why this family of fish are a little more aggressive compared to many other Malawi cichlids.

There are plenty of other Mbuna's that will work for you.  The yellow Lemon, Hongi, etc.  There are also the haps to look at which are closer related to the Peacock.  

Now remember when you have the tank built and setup we want to see pictures !!!!!  :) :) :) :)

[rrocket2002]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

If you want all male peacocks, you will probably need to get some adult males in full color.  If you get younger ones, the dominant male will color nicely but he will keep the others from developing their color.  As adults, the same is true but their color only dulls a bit, it doesn't go away.

Did that make sense?  Adding females can help with male coloration and flashing, but can also bring on additional aggressiveness.

[fishlady]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

....welcome to the box...looks like your jumping right in there....good luck with your tank and we here in the world of fishies...love pictures...so feel free to share them when your tank is up and running.....

[SteveCGG]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

and I thought I stayed up late...don't you guys sleep? Great info...and thanks for the warm welcome! I will definitely take pictures....I want to do a step by step photojournal if I have enough patience...

[fishlady]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

if we sleep stevecgg we might miss something... .....just kidding....we are addicts....and this is what addicts do....have to get the our fix on the box frequently or we become....well we're not nice to be around if we don't.....
can't wait for the pics though..hurry up.....

[armthehomeless]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

sleep... i knew i was missing something... :)

I LOVE the idea of a step by step photojournal!

[rrocket2002]

Re: Hi everyone! Question about mixing African Cichlids...

I sleep when my fish sleep.... :(