[DJRansome]

Are the fish all male?

 

[DJRansome]

Welcome to Cichlid-forum!

If you are going for mixed gender you have too many species. Malawi are kept in harems so think in terms of 4 species in a 48" tank with 1m:4f of each. I would choose 4 species and get females for each group. When did you set up the tank? How did you cycle it?

 

[DJRansome]

For male only, you try for 12 individuals with one of each and none that look alike. All male mbuna may be the most challenging tank to keep because they are by nature on the aggressive side. It can be difficult to find 12 mbuna males that look nothing alike since so many of them are blue barred or yellow-orange.

When I do a tank I try for variety in the genus and fish that look as different as possible. You have 2 Labidochromis and 2 blue barred fish. But recently an experienced member report that saulosi and chisumulae work together. Since you already have the fish, I would try it.

Also note that you usually cannot buy sexed mbuna, so we stock 8 unsexed of each and rehome extra males as they mature.

 

[DJRansome]

jjpro2006, you may run into problems with only 8 mbuna in a 75G with aggression as they mature. Also being a "mixed bag" do you know how many males and how many females? Are they guaranteed pure fish and will they provide the scientific names for each so you know how to care for them?

You may want to start your own thread.

 

[DJRansome]

Choose one blue barred fish...the Cynotilapia OR the Hongi. Both have drab females and the Hongi are more aggressive so since you specified more peaceful I would choose the Cynotilapia. Cobue is the most peaceful and has a contrasting dorsal like the hongi.

Verify this is a standard 75G rectangle? Two other species to consider are acei and rusties.

WYCOBRY85 you may want to start your own thread.