[fumoffu]

So I have been keeping some Mbuna's for the past 5 years in a 40 Long tank. I have certainly learned a few things and see where not following the advice of this forum got me in trouble! Like having some Cynotilapia afra and Pseudotropheus socolofi together which cross bred. Anyways I have found a couple of homes for my current stock and looking to restock with Haps and Peacock. :dancing:

So now I have upgraded to a 75 gallon! I was thinking of a two harems of Haps with some male Peacocks. I have read some of the profiles and cookie cutter setup, and even retaining some of the info. This seems like it would be a good combination. The Peacocks should not be able to bread with the Haps? What other advice and you guys give me? I have alot of questions and worries.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[hollyfish2000]

It is my understanding that this won't work. When I was doing my research on peacock/haps, it seemed that there are three options:

all male tank (what I did)
single species tank that, if big enough, could include two males with many females
1 M, multiple F of two or three species that don't look like each other.

I think the "spare males" in your proposal is going to spell disaster . . .

 

[fumoffu]

I think the "spare males" in your proposal is going to spell disaster . . .

In what way will they cause problems?

 

[F-1]

Brad,

Peacocks and Haps are a good combination and it's a low probability that they'll cross-breed. What you want to be cautious of is the types of haps you keep together. I'd advise you to keep different species of haps that have different colors, patterns and body shapes such as Protomelas, Copadichromis, Lethrinops, etc. to deter cross-breeding and aggrestion.

Don't worry, you'll find plenty on help on this forum for your new adventure with Peacocks and Haps.

F-1

 

[hollyfish2000]

The peacocks will fight over the females, is my understanding. I do have a trio of labs, at least one female, with my male haps/peacocks and no one bothers the lab female. But I don't know if that would be the case with bachelor peacocks and hap females.

 

[F-1]

The peacock will not fight over the females, only over territory. Although the females aren't as gorgeous as males, females actually do a good job at calming down the males. I suggest that you keep one male peacock with at least two females of the same kind.

And I'm kind of unclear as to how your tank is stocked and how you want it to be stocked. I thought you wanted all peacocks and haps but you mentioned labs. Please list your current stock and let's start from there.

F-1

 

[fumoffu]

The peacock will not fight over the females, only over territory. Although the females aren't as gorgeous as males, females actually do a good job at calming down the males. I suggest that you keep one male peacock with at least two females of the same kind.

And I'm kind of unclear as to how your tank is stocked and how you want it to be stocked. I thought you wanted all peacocks and haps but you mentioned labs. Please list your current stock and let's start from there.

F-1

Thank you for you time to answer MY post!

I have been keeping Mbuna's for some years now. And I do enjoy some the the matting behavior. I don't want to completely get rid of that behavior, unlike I am my Mbuna's which I able to give some to a friend and some to the store.

I also would like a variety of male peacock, because they look nice. I believe that I have read that it's difficult to keep multiple harems of peacocks with out them mixing themselves up. Also my LFSs seem to keep a nice variety of males so I can pick a choose them. I have not seem many female locally that I would get.

I was thinking about ordering 2 groups of several Haps online. And keeping One male with 2-3 females in each of the two groups. Maybe Copadichromis Sp.Midnight Mloto or Cyrtocara Moorii or Protomelas Sp.Taiwan Reef... Something smaller though, I still need to look in to some of the details of them, don't have all the species in my head right now.

Anyways, So I am thinking of a couple of harem's of Haps, and some ~5+ peacocks. And no beading of Hybrids!

I am going to be keeping my Synodontis cat fish, and maybe getting a couple more.

 

[F-1]

Keeping a variey of adult male peacocks can be challenging. I'd advise you to purchase them as juveniles and raise them as tank mates. Joea's article, "All-Male Malawi Tank" discusses this in detail. You should read it: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a ... malawi.php

Secondly, be very cautious of ordering cichlid online because your not able to inspect the cichlids and once you make the purchase there is no getting your money back. I'm not saying not to buy cichlids online but do your research on the seller first before you make the purchase.

Lastly, I like the hap selection you listed. Protomelas Sp. Taiwan Reefs work well with peacocks and so do the Cyrtocara Moorii. I'd hold off on the Copadichromis Sp. Mloto until you gain more experience with keeping haps and peacocks. Mlotos are awesome finish but there isn't much research published on them. I'm currently keeping and studying the behavior the Copadichromis Sp. "Mloto Undu" and these cichlid have a very unique personality. I have 30+ fry and I'd be willing to give you a half dozen or so for free when you're ready.

F-1

 

[fumoffu]

Keeping a variey of adult male peacocks can be challenging. I'd advise you to purchase them as juveniles and raise them as tank mates. Joea's article, "All-Male Malawi Tank" discusses this in detail. You should read it: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a ... malawi.php

Lastly, I like the hap selection you listed. Protomelas Sp. Taiwan Reefs work well with peacocks and so do the Cyrtocara Moorii. I'd hold off on the Copadichromis Sp. Mloto until you gain more experience with keeping haps and peacocks. Mlotos are awesome finish but there isn't much research published on them. I'm currently keeping and studying the behavior the Copadichromis Sp. "Mloto Undu" and these cichlid have a very unique personality. I have 30+ fry and I'd be willing to give you a half dozen or so for free when you're ready.

F-1

What are you current observations of the Copadichromis Sp. Mloto? What are some of their interesting behaviors/personality? I was really leaning towards this fish because it's mostly black and that should be a nice contrast, and the "Mloto Undu" a similar contrast too. Do you have any pictures of your Males and Females? I was looking at the ones at "Midnight Mloto" blue grass cichlids.

I am going to be using the review section heavily on this set to help pick out the a place to order online.

After rereading the Male article it certainly seems that one key thing is going to be finding LFS which I can work with. I just haven't seen many juvenilia peacocks there, is ways that make me very confidante in what I was going to get. But there is a large selection of young adult males. I hope that with careful introduction, refereeing, and ability to trade fish at the LFS I should make out OK with out getting juveniles.

Now the issue I am still unclear with is how difficult it would be to keep breading groups of haps with male peacock. What I have read seems to indicate that they will be more aggressive, due to the female hormone and such. But could be be combated with few peacocks? or maybe a good number, or maybe some kind of dither fish, perhaps a group of smaller mbuna in there too. Hrmm... :fish: what to do...

 

[F8LBITEva]

I keep an all male tank and most are doing great, *** had to sell and trade the trouble makers and as soon as I do another fish steps in! Basically its a constant dominance struggle thats mostly just chasing and fin displaying (like a Peacock bird) :fish: , but as soon as they start getting fins nipped I pull the agressor. One of my favorite and a pretty fish to consider would be a Placidochromis Electra he's the nicest fish and the biggest but gets bossed around by my smaller ones.