[fumoffu]

This is what I am currently thinking about stocking in my 75G:

(just 2 of the following)
1M 2-3F Copadichromis trewavasae Makonde 'Fireline Mloto'
1M 2-3F Placidochromis sp. 'Electra Blackfin' Makonde 'Yellow'
1M 2-3F Protomelas sp.'Taiwan Reef'

(3-5 Peacocks)
1M Aulonocara maylandi 'Sulferhead'
1M Aulonocara sp. 'Stuartgranti Maleri' Maleri Island
1M Aulonocara jacobfreibergi 'Eureka Red' (or German Red)

3 Synodontis multipunctatus

What do you guys think? Any suggestions for other smaller peacocks to look at for?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[eyezak]

Add maybe a Lwanda"Red Top",Ngara"Flame Tail",or Hai Reef"Blue Neon"peacocks. Those are some nice multi color peacocks. Also try to add some Lithobates,those are some nice peaceful Haps not to mention very colorful once they mature.

 

[wmayes]

A. hueseri are beautiful and A. kandeense can be, too.

Have you considered a Lemon Jake instead of the Maleri Island?

Stemming from what you've said I'd take the C. trewavasae and P. electra as the two Hap groups that you want and have all three of the peacocks you mentioned and a male of just one of the five species eyezak or I suggested (Lwanda, Stuartgranti "Ngara", Stuartgranti "Hai Reef", Hueseri, or Kandeense). If you want to switch out the Maleri Island for the Lemon Jake you could do that as well - don't have both though.

 

[fumoffu]

Well it's good to hear that nobody has seen any major problems with the stock list!

Those look like some good suggestions for other peacocks too! Thanks!

It looks like is going to be rather difficult to track down many of these peacocks, not to mention finding them at a reasonable price too. But is going to be fun!!! :dancing:

 

[MalawiLover]

Having lone males in a tank with females is never a good idea. You really have to go one way or the other, all male or breeding groups. Plus multiple species with similar females will make hybridization a really problem. The groups you listed in the first part (the haps) have different enough females, that hybrids between them would be unlikely (though definitely possible). However the male peacocks will try to and likely succeed in breeding with any one (or two or more) of the females. This fierce competion for mating rights will also really ramp up the aggression levels of all the males in the tank.

I had an entire all male peacock and hap tank turn into a meat grinder when one of the uncolored juvenile males turned out to be female. I lost several beautiful males during a single night of bloodshed. The next morning she was holding. I removed her immediately and the tank has been quiet and peaceful ever since.

 

[fumoffu]

Having lone males in a tank with females is never a good idea. You really have to go one way or the other, all male or breeding groups. Plus multiple species with similar females will make hybridization a really problem. The groups you listed in the first part (the haps) have different enough females, that hybrids between them would be unlikely (though definitely possible). However the male peacocks will try to and likely succeed in breeding with any one (or two or more) of the females. This fierce competion for mating rights will also really ramp up the aggression levels of all the males in the tank.

I had an entire all male peacock and hap tank turn into a meat grinder when one of the uncolored juvenile males turned out to be female. I lost several beautiful males during a single night of bloodshed. The next morning she was holding. I removed her immediately and the tank has been quiet and peaceful ever since.

Thanks for your response. This is exactly the kind of information I have been looking for!

I was hoping that the peacocks and haps were different enough to make hybridization unlikely.

What about a breading group of some mbuna with male Haps and peacocks? Perhaps some rusties, or yellow labs.... a smaller more docile omnivore type mbuna.

 

[MalawiLover]

You will still have the issue of the lone males. They will try very had to "get some action' from the mbuna females but the male mbuna will take their heads off. Plus the rowdyness of mbuna in general tend to stress peacocks and hap so they end up never showing good color.

You really should consider an all male tank or if you really want some breeding activity to, try a species that is so very different in breeding habbits (like a substarte or cave spawner that makes pair bonds rather than the harems. I have had both my multie colony and a tbreeding trio of in my all male peacock tank and there were no issues. The haps an peacocks don't see the pairs as competition for breeding. And the pair doesn't worry about the peacocks and haps, because they don't hang out with them. Granted I probably lose a few fry to the carnivorous Malawians, but that gives the pair a chance to show you some other natural behaviors like guarding and sometimes I think it works to make the pair bond stronger to have some predators in the tank to unify against.

 

[fumoffu]

You will still have the issue of the lone males. They will try very had to "get some action' from the mbuna females but the male mbuna will take their heads off. Plus the rowdyness of mbuna in general tend to stress peacocks and hap so they end up never showing good color.

I could have sworn I read that a couple of people were mixing certain mbuna with the haps/peacocks successfully. :?

 

[eyezak]

Mbuna are terrors to Haps and Peacocks with exception to Yellow Labs,but even Yellow Labs like to nip at tails :x