Mixed Malawi

[TKC747]

I would get male peacocks at a very early age, 3/4 inch to 2.5 inch. and no female peacocks. I believe peacocks get big as 5 or 6 inches so thats a ways to go. I am no expert but I tried to warn you about this in the earlier thread, Go back to it and read what I said about putting juveniles of each species in their own tank and then taking out the males and putting them in a male only show tank, I don't think identifying female haps is as much of a problem as identifying female peacocks. So If you want 3 species of peacocks as unsexed juveniles, you need three tanks on top of the show tank to know that each species of female peacocks are identifiable. If you buy peacockl juveniles before they are sexed and mix them in one tank, you probably will not be able to get rid of the females because you won't be able to convince anyone you know the species they are from.

Sorry for being long winded but if you want to do it right, you need to consider these factors.

As for female haps being colorful, I don't know, perhaps DJRansome or Fogelhund will answer this for you

[TKC747]

nick0604 wrote

[nick0604]

Would it be okay to get 3 male of each aulonocara around 2-3 inches, then get 4 of each haps that are juveniles around 1-1.5 inches?

[TKC747]

Female haps are not colorful as male haps acc to Fogelhund

[DJRansome]

Hap and peacock females are silver or brown, thus the popularity of all male tanks with them.

Three males of the same type in one tank will fight. You might keep them until one becomes dominant but then he will likely attack the others.

I just had that issue with my peacocks, I bought six juvies and kept them a year while they grew up. Turned out I had all males. Within the last month I had to remove all but one. Added 3 adult, sexed females and they were holding within one week.

Regarding ID of females by an expert? I bought juvie peacocks one time from an expert who swore he/she could do this. Let's just say it will be the last time, LOL.
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125G Calvus, Caudopunctatus, J Gombe, Brevis, Leleupi, Tret, Cyp Kerenge
75G Demasoni, Labs, Cyno sp hara, Red Zebras, Syno Multipunctatus
38G Aulonocara sp stuartgranti Maleri, Syno Lucipinnis

[nick0604]

Alright, so I am going to buy my fish tonight and have decided to go back to an all male tank, spend a little extra so I get all males. I am going for a haps and peacock mixture, 1 male of different smaller species for a total of 15 fish. I will add another 15 or so when I get the money in a month or two and rearrange the rocks before I put the new ones in. Can't wait till Saturday! I may add a male yellow lab and rusty in the near future as my local fish store sells these fish. I think I have made a better decision. Sorry for switching my mind so much, but have learned a lot from this. The tank is pretty much ready to go ph is 7.8 still rising, temps are 78-80F, gh and kh are good, no nitrites or nitrates.

[DJRansome]

Sounds good. I edited out the vendor name.
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125G Calvus, Caudopunctatus, J Gombe, Brevis, Leleupi, Tret, Cyp Kerenge
75G Demasoni, Labs, Cyno sp hara, Red Zebras, Syno Multipunctatus
38G Aulonocara sp stuartgranti Maleri, Syno Lucipinnis

[nick0604]

So here is the final list, one of each fish and I talked to the fish guy and he suggested to go with some small mbuna also:
small: (2 inches)
Afra Cobue
Demasoni
Electric Yellow
Elongatus Jewel Spot
Joanjohnsonae
Red Top Hongi
Red Zebra
Rusty
Snow White

[b]Premium:[/b] (3 inches)
Aristo Yellow Blaze (zimbawe rock)
Borleyi Mbenji
Hap. Insignus.
Hap. Pheno
Venustus

Blue Neon Chiwindi
Chiloelo Red Shoulder
Ngara Flametail (Mdoka Yellow)
OB Peacock (Hybrid)
Sunshine Peacock Benga Yellow
Yellow Collar Peacock
Albino Lemon Jake

Obliquiden Thick Skin, Red Fin

Adult: (4-5 inches)
Regal Blue

[DJRansome]

_________________
125G Calvus, Caudopunctatus, J Gombe, Brevis, Leleupi, Tret, Cyp Kerenge
75G Demasoni, Labs, Cyno sp hara, Red Zebras, Syno Multipunctatus
38G Aulonocara sp stuartgranti Maleri, Syno Lucipinnis

[nick0604]

Tank ph is now 8.0
ammonia is at .25 ppm
nitrites at .25
nitrates are about 10-20
Temps at 78-81 degrees F

Adding fish on Saturday, hopefully all will go well! do you think I should put an ammonia remover in the filter as I am adding all these fish at once?

Also, what kind of food should I get for these fish?

[DJRansome]

Wouldn't you rather wait until the tank is cycled to add the fish? I would not add ammonia remover.

New Life Spectrum Cichlid Formula is a popular choice.
_________________
125G Calvus, Caudopunctatus, J Gombe, Brevis, Leleupi, Tret, Cyp Kerenge
75G Demasoni, Labs, Cyno sp hara, Red Zebras, Syno Multipunctatus
38G Aulonocara sp stuartgranti Maleri, Syno Lucipinnis

[TKC747]

Nick told me in a pm that the tank is cycled, he's using a filter that had been running in a cycled tank...

[DJRansome]

[nick0604]

All the filters and bio wheels I am using are from a cycled tank. I do have 1 fish in it now for a few days and it seems fine.

[nick0604]