[Malawi Mac]

My 135 presently houses the following:
6 omnivorous male haps: 3 from the Protomelas genus, 2 from the Copadichromis genus, and one C. Moori. All but the Moori and one Copad. are pretty much fully grown
7 male peacocks, mostly fully grown
2M/3F Pseudotropheus acei
4 Synodontis schoutdenai

How many more fish can I add?

I'm receiving a shipment of five more males soon. Another Copad., another Proto., and a Star Sapphire. Plus two male Lethorinops, a new genus for me. They will be housed in a 55 for the forseeable future but I certainly hope to eventually move at least the first three into the 135.

I also have 4 yellow labs growing out in a mbuna tank that I would like to add. Also a couple of male bristlenoses. And I have seven young albino Eureka peacocks in a 40 gal breeder tank; the dominant male is simply stunning. He's got some growing to do, but once he gets to a size comparable to my other peacocks ....

So I have a lot of options. Probably can't do them all.

There's really not a lot of aggression in the tank. I have a large clump of tall plastic plants in the middle of the tank. The clump is so thick and tall that it effectively divides the tank in two. There's a rockpile on one side (for the acei and the schoutdenai) but it's not real tall; the haps and peacocks can hang out over it. The other side is open water. If one fish chases another, the pursuer seldom follows the pursuee past the clump of plants.

Filtration is provided by 2 AC110's and one Eheim Professional II 2026.

I have a good thing going right now and I want to keep it that way. Hence my request for advice.

Thanks in advance to anyone who cares to offer any.

 

[rgr4475]

From experience in my 180g male Hap/Peacock tank it's basically hit or miss. I found there to be no set of do's or don'ts. Just keep an eye on the tank and be willing to remove the trouble makers. I am not an expert to the point that I know specifically which species will work and which won't. I have 2 yellow labs in my tank and they actually get pretty frisky when someone comes into their territory but overall it's been working so far.

 

[GoofBoy]

From experience in my 180g male Hap/Peacock tank it's basically hit or miss. I found there to be no set of do's or don'ts. Just keep an eye on the tank and be willing to remove the trouble makers. I am not an expert to the point that I know specifically which species will work and which won't. I have 2 yellow labs in my tank and they actually get pretty frisky when someone comes into their territory but overall it's been working so far.

:thumb:

I'll venture to say no one would guarantee which species will and won't work because it is so dependant on the particular disposition of the individuals.

You can pick calmer species to raise the odds, but you still get those who don't read their profiles.

I like fewer fish in my tank, some like to pack with as many as they physically can. It really comes down to how many water changes you want to do and your personal preference.

Good Luck.