[DNK]

Due to an upgrade for my Mbuna, I'll soon have a free 39"x16"x15" (actual useful volume) 38Gal tank.

I'd like it to be a Tang tank and after doing my reading am considering:

6-8 Paracyprichromis nigripinnis (for generally open water)
Pair of Calvus or Compressiceps or Julies (for rock work)
Harem of 3-5 Multis or 3 Occelatus Gold (for substrate)

Already have Aragamax substrate, shells and ocean rock.
Any reason this type of mix would not work? Tank too small for the Paracyps?

Ta

 

[Voodoo Chilli]

Personally, I think the tank is too small for the Paracyps. I wouldn't keep them in anything smaller than a 4 foot tank.

 

[Chris2500DK]

I think two species of rockdwellers and some shellies would work better. Rocks at either end with shells in the middle. Julies, Calvus and multies perhaps?

 

[spitfiretjh]

i agree its not big enough for the Paracyprichromis nigripinnis but i agree with the shellies and julies maybe a couple of comps or calvus you will be good for a while with them i have some and they grow soooooooooooo slow :thumb:

 

[DNK]

Hmmm... thought the tank would be a bit too small.

Any other open water Tang fish I could put in there?
I'm thinking with Calvus, Julies and the shell dwellers, there isn't particularly going to be a great deal of movement in the middle/upper part of the tank.

Cheers

 

[spitfiretjh]

yea not alot in the upper although my calvus and comps do go to the middle-upper section quite a bit and i have 6 juvies in a 55 with a lot of big rock and some smaller river rock.

 

[triscuit]

Well, I think it's good for paracyps, particularly if you leave the rest of the tank uncrowded. While I think it's ridiculous, they are listed in the cookie cutters for much smaller tanks than this. I wouldn't try wild-caught, but I don't foresee a problem with paracyps measuring that the tank is 9" short. :wink:

Common experience is that at least 36" are needed for happy paracyps, and in this case we've got extra width. So, in my humble opinion, there's no reason to not stock them.

And multies and calvus are great tankmates. :thumb:

 

[24Tropheus]

I kept and bred 8 TB Paracyprichromis nigrippinis in a 36"x12"x15" with multies.

I would not do it again. Too cramped, long term I thought.

Yours tank size is boarderline yes or no for these in a mixed tank, I think.

 

[Rogue39]

You could try a group of N. leleupi? Maybe 5 or 6? They like the rocks but as a group I've found they will loosely shoal midwater. Also they dont seem as agressive as many other lamprologines and will leave the others alone, even the shellies thanks to the habitat differential despite being lamps themselves.
I would definitely ask the others what they think first mind, as I may just have been lucky.

 

[NeoAlaska]

IME leleupi can be very aggressive. I used to raise them and when they pair, it can get pretty ugly for other tankmates. Even larger tank mates. I had luck with them for a long time and then the battles began. I moved them out to another tank. Of course I had them with brichardi and both teams paired up about the same time so the war was on. It was a good excuse for another tank :thumb:

I have heard that they have been known to pull female shellies out of shells killing them to get at fry. Maybe this is legend, but I have read it on a couple of occasions.

 

[kewlkatdady]

instead of the nigripinnis...

how about Cyprichromis leptosoma...

I think the jumbos would be a little cramped but the smaller varients would be fine.

I had 5 (2m3f) Cyprichromis leptosoma (Utinta) in a 36x18 (58g) with 3 pair of brevis... and they all bred and got along fine...

 

[DNK]

Ok, thanks everyone!

12 Cyp. Utinta too many? It's just that I think there's someone not too far from me selling their whole group.

Ta

 

[Multies]

i dont think its too cramped for paracyps.
the cyps would be too much. and paracyps need less space then cyps.