Lake Malawi Species • How many mbuna in a 50 or 75 gallon tank?

[Fogelhund]

Then I would do this:
1m:4f blue zebra, a.k.a. Metriaclima callainos
1m:4f yellow lab, a.k.a. Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f albino socolofi, a.k.a. Pseudotropheus socolofi
1m:7f johanni a.k.a. Melanochromis johannii

OP, did you want breeding groups? Or did you just want to find out if your fish would work in a 75 gallon? Would you prefer something like this, or just some random fish swimming in a tank?

This is going to be too many fish for a 75 gallon though. Unless it was massively overfiltered and weekely 50% water changes.

[Releasethekracken]

Then I would do this:
1m:4f blue zebra, a.k.a. Metriaclima callainos
1m:4f yellow lab, a.k.a. Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f albino socolofi, a.k.a. Pseudotropheus socolofi
1m:7f johanni a.k.a. Melanochromis johannii

So you’re saying 23 total correct?

[Releasethekracken]

Then I would do this:
1m:4f blue zebra, a.k.a. Metriaclima callainos
1m:4f yellow lab, a.k.a. Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f albino socolofi, a.k.a. Pseudotropheus socolofi
1m:7f johanni a.k.a. Melanochromis johannii

OP, did you want breeding groups? Or did you just want to find out if your fish would work in a 75 gallon? Would you prefer something like this, or just some random fish swimming in a tank?

This is going to be too many fish for a 75 gallon though. Unless it was massively overfiltered and weekely 50% water changes.

Little bit of both, breeding and different breeds

[Fogelhund]

Then I would do this:
1m:4f blue zebra, a.k.a. Metriaclima callainos
1m:4f yellow lab, a.k.a. Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f albino socolofi, a.k.a. Pseudotropheus socolofi
1m:7f johanni a.k.a. Melanochromis johannii

OP, did you want breeding groups? Or did you just want to find out if your fish would work in a 75 gallon? Would you prefer something like this, or just some random fish swimming in a tank?

This is going to be too many fish for a 75 gallon though. Unless it was massively overfiltered and weekely 50% water changes.

Little bit of both, breeding and different breeds

If you could pick three types, out of the ones you have now, that you could get more of, which ones would those be?

[Releasethekracken]

My maison reef died today, effects from the fish stores water parameters, I got him last week, im thinking of getting the sweedish super red hongi, so maybe replace the maison reef... but if I had to pick 3, maison reef, sweedish super red hongi, and either the johanni or yellow lab... too many red zebras may cause issues

[Releasethekracken]

Then I would do this:
1m:4f blue zebra, a.k.a. Metriaclima callainos
1m:4f yellow lab, a.k.a. Labidochromis caeruleus
1m:4f albino socolofi, a.k.a. Pseudotropheus socolofi
1m:7f johanni a.k.a. Melanochromis johannii

OP, did you want breeding groups? Or did you just want to find out if your fish would work in a 75 gallon? Would you prefer something like this, or just some random fish swimming in a tank?

This is going to be too many fish for a 75 gallon though. Unless it was massively overfiltered and weekely 50% water changes.

My maison reef died today, effects from the fish stores water parameters, I got him last week, im thinking of getting the sweedish super red hongi, so maybe replace the maison reef... but if I had to pick 3, maison reef, sweedish super red hongi, and either the johanni or yellow lab... too many red zebras may cause issues

[DJRansome]

I would not do 2 blue barred fish...are you sure you have johanni and not cyaneorhabdos Maingano?

[Releasethekracken]

I would not do 2 blue barred fish...are you sure you have johanni and not cyaneorhabdos Maingano?

What is the other blue barred fish? The blue zebra? Would the hongi be too similar? I honestly wanted a maingano but believe I settled for a johanni , let me take a pic and u can tell me

[Releasethekracken]

I would not do 2 blue barred fish...are you sure you have johanni and not cyaneorhabdos Maingano?

How do i post a photo?

[DJRansome]

Your pick was maison reef and hongi. I thought you meant to buy more. There are instructions on posting photos in the sticky at the beginning of each forum.

A picture won't help ME tell you if the fish is johannii or maingano...the easy way to tell is look at juveniles. johannii are yellow/orange and maingano are blue striped.

If you only have an adult male, they look very much the same.

[Releasethekracken]

Your pick was maison reef and hongi. I thought you meant to buy more. There are instructions on posting photos in the sticky at the beginning of each forum.

A pick won't help ME tell you if the fish is johannii or maingano...the easy way to tell is look at juveniles. johannii are yellow/orange and maingano are blue striped.

If you only have an adult male, they look very much the same.

So hongi and maison reef cant go together? Also, im going to stay with the 50 gallon I believe, so how many mbuna total would you say?

[james1983]

The 50 gallon, only being 36", will greatly reduce the number or fish you can keep and eliminate the idea of having more than one species. You'll want to look at smaller, more peaceful species. Labs, soulousi, rusties, or maybe cynotilapia.

[Releasethekracken]

The 50 gallon, only being 36", will greatly reduce the number or fish you can keep and eliminate the idea of having more than one species. You'll want to look at smaller, more peaceful species. Labs, soulousi, rusties, or maybe cynotilapia.

Could I keep 10 mbuna in a 50?

[DJRansome]

Maybe if you choose of the species james1983 listed.. Think in terms of the 36"...not the 50G. I could fit more fish in a 48" tank with only 33G than a 50G tank that is 36". Saulosi are often popular to try in a small tank because both males and females are colorful and you get the blue barred male and the yellow-orange females.

[Releasethekracken]

Maybe if you choose of the species james1983 listed.. Think in terms of the 36"...not the 50G. I could fit more fish in a 48" tank with only 33G than a 50G tank that is 36". Saulosi are often popular to try in a small tank because both males and females are colorful and you get the blue barred male and the yellow-orange females.

Okay but I mean temporarily... like I could have 9 or 10 in the 50 gallon until they get bigger, and then transition to a 75. 50 gallon would just be while they’re juvenile until they’re full size