General African Cichlid Discussion • Help me stock my tank
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Help me stock my tank
I'm new to Cichlids but very excited to get it going. I'm currently cycling a 55 gallon 48" tank, I'll post a pic below with the rock setup I have.
Looking around for the right fish is a daunting task, I like them all but with the Mbunas, tang, haps etc. I'm lost. I'm looking for the most colorful fish the will coexist. If any of you can give me a list of what you'd start with it would be much appreciated. I especially like the bright yellows and electric blue Cichlids, they seem to catch my eye more than other. thnaks.
Looking around for the right fish is a daunting task, I like them all but with the Mbunas, tang, haps etc. I'm lost. I'm looking for the most colorful fish the will coexist. If any of you can give me a list of what you'd start with it would be much appreciated. I especially like the bright yellows and electric blue Cichlids, they seem to catch my eye more than other. thnaks.
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
For mbuna I would triple the rocks. This combo could work...the electric blues are not ideal for a 55G:
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus (bright yellow)
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (bright rust and purple)
1m:4f Metriaclima callainos (bright [but not dark] blue)
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus (bright yellow)
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (bright rust and purple)
1m:4f Metriaclima callainos (bright [but not dark] blue)
125G Borleyi, Multipunctata
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
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DJRansome - Global Moderator
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:30 am
- Location: Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Re: Help me stock my tank
DJRansome wrote:For mbuna I would triple the rocks. This combo could work...the electric blues are not ideal for a 55G:
1m:4f Labidochromis caeruleus (bright yellow)
1m:4f Iodotropheus sprengerae (bright rust and purple)
1m:4f Metriaclima callainos (bright [but not dark] blue)
Those are all beautiful fish. I'm not sure I can get much higher without it becoming unstable though, and I definitely don't want to adhere them together. If I put more rocks on the side I'll lose all the ground area and don't they like to dig?
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
Don't try to leave cavities or balance them...jumble them all together. You only need enough substrate around the edge to fit your Python when vacuuming the substrate.
125G Borleyi, Multipunctata
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
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DJRansome - Global Moderator
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:30 am
- Location: Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Re: Help me stock my tank
Another tip, they do love digging, so make sure the bottom layer of rocks is physically on the bottom of the tank. Otherwise they could dig out all the substrate underneath and cause the whole pile to shift/fall.
60g 1 Gold Severum, 1 Electric Blue Acara, 1 Platinum Angel, 1 Firemouth, 4 Rainbow cichlid, 10 Tiger Barbs, 1 BN pleco, 1 ABN pleco
10g German Blue Ram pair
3.5g Male Betta, Dwarf Cory cat
3.5g Male Betta
All tanks have MTS and Assassin snails
10g German Blue Ram pair
3.5g Male Betta, Dwarf Cory cat
3.5g Male Betta
All tanks have MTS and Assassin snails
- thornsja19
- Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 2:35 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Help me stock my tank
I have 3/4 large flat "base" rocks around an inch in width laying on the glass, stacked up from there. So right now you can dig and nothing would happen. I try and make it higher. It's a lot harder full of water.
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
So you want Mbuna?
40gB- (2)Gold Severum, (2)Guppies [Unfinished]
30gL-(2)Rainbow Cichlid Pair, (5)White Skirt Tetras [Finished]
29g- (2) Kribensis Pair (4) Mixed Cory Cats [Nearly Finished]
20gL- (1)Male Dwarf Gourami [Unfinished]
10g-Unoccupied
450g Fountain Pond-[HEAVY WORK IN PROGRESS]
30gL-(2)Rainbow Cichlid Pair, (5)White Skirt Tetras [Finished]
29g- (2) Kribensis Pair (4) Mixed Cory Cats [Nearly Finished]
20gL- (1)Male Dwarf Gourami [Unfinished]
10g-Unoccupied
450g Fountain Pond-[HEAVY WORK IN PROGRESS]
- FireHorn123
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:24 pm
- Location: Tampa,Fl
Re: Help me stock my tank
FireHorn123 wrote:So you want Mbuna?
Yes, Mbuna but I keep flip flopping when I see a really cool Hap.
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
im Not as well tuned in mbuna as I am in SA/CA and Peacocks and Haps I’ll leave this to DJ
40gB- (2)Gold Severum, (2)Guppies [Unfinished]
30gL-(2)Rainbow Cichlid Pair, (5)White Skirt Tetras [Finished]
29g- (2) Kribensis Pair (4) Mixed Cory Cats [Nearly Finished]
20gL- (1)Male Dwarf Gourami [Unfinished]
10g-Unoccupied
450g Fountain Pond-[HEAVY WORK IN PROGRESS]
30gL-(2)Rainbow Cichlid Pair, (5)White Skirt Tetras [Finished]
29g- (2) Kribensis Pair (4) Mixed Cory Cats [Nearly Finished]
20gL- (1)Male Dwarf Gourami [Unfinished]
10g-Unoccupied
450g Fountain Pond-[HEAVY WORK IN PROGRESS]
- FireHorn123
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:24 pm
- Location: Tampa,Fl
Re: Help me stock my tank
In my looking around for the right fish, I find that a lot of breeders are selling "unsexed." DJRansome, you indicate that it should be 1m4f, but it seems I can't find anything that will offer sexed Mbunas.
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
That is absolutely normal. Buy 8 unsexed juveniles and rehome extra males as they mature.
125G Borleyi, Multipunctata
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
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DJRansome - Global Moderator
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:30 am
- Location: Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Re: Help me stock my tank
I'm getting closer to getting fish...Just need my cycle to finish. I was looking around online to buy fish because the one near me I don't like the store. I did, however, find another nearby store with a decent stock of african cichlids, the owner was too busy and I wasn't buying so I looked and left. I have no idea if they are all Mbuna or what. Should I chance it with fish or just buy online where everything is listed. Plus the yellow labs looked orange. (if they were yellow labs) Nice fish though, very happy.
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
If they are not labeled with a species name, they could be hybrids. I almost always buy online...or if I buy from a store or hobbyist, I know their source and it is usually one I trust online.
125G Borleyi, Multipunctata
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
-
DJRansome - Global Moderator
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:30 am
- Location: Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Re: Help me stock my tank
DJRansome wrote:If they are not labeled with a species name, they could be hybrids. I almost always buy online...or if I buy from a store or hobbyist, I know their source and it is usually one I trust online.
Who do you recommend online?
- ironspider
- Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:53 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Help me stock my tank
PM sent
125G Borleyi, Multipunctata
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
75G Demasoni, Msobo, Lucipinnis
75G Calvus, Similis, Petricola
-
DJRansome - Global Moderator
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:30 am
- Location: Little Egg Harbor, NJ
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