[gtsum]

Anyone here keep these guys? I picked some up to add to my Demasoni, Kenyi, Red Zebra tank (I know, aggressive, but so far so good) and I like them so far...they hold their own with the Kenyi, and are pretty active...they seem to be a nice complement to the demasoni (my favorite). I would have thought they would be more aggressive then they are (so far), seeing as how they are Melanachromis, but maybe it is because of my other fish in there??

 

[tropheus duboisi breeder]

They should be able to hold their own. IMO Melanochromis can be pretty aggressive or should I say just as aggressive as some metriaclima even though mbuna are aggressive in general just on different levels. What size tank is this? What are your numbers per species?

 

[bmills]

These are my favourite Mbuna of all!!!

They are not overly aggressive but not wimpy either. They mainly act territorially to each other, and ignore the other fish. But when another fish actively bullies them they stand their ground and usually win the stare-down.

 

[Hoosier Tank]

Yep, Mainganos are my "Mbuna of choice"! Not nasty mean, more like tough as far as aggression goes and adding 2 more females for a 1-3 mix helped that a lot.

 

[ermsteph]

I have two electric blue johanni in my tank. They were very agressive and territorial with each other in a smaller tank, so I moved them into a 55 gallon tank with four other cichlids. Now they get along quite well. They all chase each other from time to time, but playfully and not threateningly. I'm still amazed at how much their personalities differ, and that these fish actually have so much personality!

 

[DJRansome]

gtsum, what are the dimensions of your tank?

 

[gtsum]

I have a 75 gallon with 2 C360's and a 600GPH powerhead coming on during the day to blow the detrius up off the sand (black tahitian moon sand). I have about 100 lbs of rock (lots of caves, etc) and have java fern, swords, and anubias. I dose every other day or so (whenever I remember to) with Flourish excell. I have a Nova Extreme T5 lighting (108 watts). I do not run a heater as my temps stay at 79-81 degrees. My water readings are always 8.2ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 0-10 nitrate...I am not good with water changes (I usually only do them once every 2 weeks or so and the water still has those parameters when I change them). I have a high stock load, and have been lucky so far I think:

2 Red Zebras - 1M and 1F (2 females died awhile back) - the male has the middle of the tank staked out and has went toe to toe with each Kenyi
4 Red Top Zebras - 1M and 3F
3 Kenyi - 2M and 1F - each Male has a side of the tank staked out as his own cave
3 Demasoni - 1M and 2F (I had a lot more, but lost a lot when I first put them in...they just disappeared)
3 Mangainos - unsexed at the moment
4 Yellow Labs - 1M and 3F

I know I have a lot of different species, and I might get rid of the Kenyi and the Red Zebras, but I like the Orange colors of the RZ's. The Kenyi were a mistake to get plain and simple - the only way I can get any of the fish out is if I totally take the tank down (have tried catching them, but no luck). I have not had any crossbreading going on yet......my labs tend to hide, being the Kenyi and the RZ's are so aggressive...

 

[gtsum]

also, I should add that the Demasoni and the Mangaino's are my favorites...I like the Dems attitude, and their look, and I really like the colors of the Mangaino's and they seem to hold their own (although they do not face off against the RZ or the Kenyi), but they are not getting picked on either..

One more thing..anyone use Zebra Stampede pellet food from Bluegrass Cichlids? I am using that, but it seems like I may have lost some of my earlier fish from bloat...and that is the only food I have given them....Green stampede and red zebra mix....maybe I need to go with NLS??

 

[eagl97]

Maingano are my favorite fish. If I were you I'd get rid of the Kenyi due to aggression, and you need to choose between the Red Zebras and Yellow Labs because they will cross breed. I was thinking of having Maingano, Demasoni, Yellow labs, and Pseud. Acei in my tank, for a good mix, maybe you' like the same.

 

[gtsum]

Maingano are my favorite fish. If I were you I'd get rid of the Kenyi due to aggression, and you need to choose between the Red Zebras and Yellow Labs because they will cross breed. I was thinking of having Maingano, Demasoni, Yellow labs, and Pseud. Acei in my tank, for a good mix, maybe you' like the same.

Funny you say that...just last night I was thinking of getting rid of the Kenyi and the Red Zebras. I am going to stick with Demasoni, Yellow Labs, Maingano's, and possibly one other, but the Kenyi and the RZ are going to go...