[coopercichlid]

I'm currently setting my a new 75 gallon and i am trying to decide if i want a third species.
currently my plans are 15 demasoni, 8 yellow labs.
I am not wanting hybrids and I was wonding if anyone knew a third species that would look good that wouldn't cross breed with the labs?
I wouldnt want very many of the third group. just something to add alittle more color

tank has sand substrate, ample amonts of rockwork
one marineland C-360 right now, second one to be added as fish mature
will do atleast 25% WC per week

 

[Dewdrop]

I really like my albino socolofi. I think the all white of them would look really nice with the dems and labs and cross breeding shouldn't be much of an issue. Posts some pics when you get it done. Looking forward to seeing you choice and results. :thumb:

 

[TheeMon]

or regular socolofi

 

[coopercichlid]

wouldn't the socolofi be likely to cross breed with the yellow labs since they pretty much look like the blue variety of yellow labs?

 

[DJRansome]

Mine didn't. The colors are different and the group is different (Pseudotropheus vs Labidochromis). I have not heard of a high likelyhood of this before.

 

[coopercichlid]

Mine didn't. The colors are different and the group is different (Pseudotropheus vs Labidochromis). I have not heard of a high likelyhood of this before.

Zebra's have been known to cross breed with yellow labs. I know they are more agressive than socolofi but red zebra's would add more color since i will already have some blue because of the demasoni's.

socolofi are beautiful though...

 

[DJRansome]

My zebras DID breed with my labs, and this is quite common. However, my socolofi did NOT breed with anyone else in the tank, and I have not heard of particular problems with socolofi crossing with anyone else commonly.

I also found my socolofi to be more aggressive than my zebras.

 

[kerbchek]

Just my 2 cents... but I love my yellow lab, demasoni, & acei mix... They're all young, none over 2 inches, so I hope they continue getting along as well as they do now as they mature...

I got the labs first, they staked claim on a few caves on one end of the tank (I have lots of stacked flagstone), then a week later I added the demasoni. They staked claim over the caves on the other side of the tank, pretty much everybody stayed hidden... came out only to eat, no chasing each other at all...

...then a few days later I added several acei's... the labs and demasoni were curious and came out of their caves... the acei would swim back and forth in the open water and across the back of the tank above the rock work, all day long... and now labs and demasoni join the swimming back and forth... they really brought the dems and labs out of their caves, its a pretty active tank - there's always something to look at.

Good luck, I'll be interested to hear what third species you've picked.

Kerby

 

[coopercichlid]

ok, acei are great looking too.
I know it may be better placed in an equipment or diy forum but i have a surpreme 7 sitting in my cabnet right now doing nothing. Since they tank doesn't have the substrate in yet i was thinking about putting in some UGJ. Think its worth my while?

 

[kerbchek]

I got acei thinking, oh well, they've been recommended as a third species, why not... now they're my favorite fish in the tank - they are so entertaining to watch. The demasoni & labs still stay hidden and on "their" side of the tank - but the acei are everywhere - I have the fewest of the acei, but it looks like the tank has mostly acei... They have great coloration - at first I thought they were kind of drab... but the ones I got are really pretty...

As far as the UGJ, I think it'd be a great idea... but I'm no expert. I'm going to build one for my 135, if you do, it'd be cool if you posted your plans, I may want to make one for one of my smaller tanks oneday...

Good luck!