[KokeBlak]

I currently have 2 snow white socolofi, 4 yellow labs, and 2 blue zebras. I really want at least one big fish in my tank that can be like the center of attention, but all i know of that gets big are american cichlids! any thoughts or ideas on my situaltion? oh! and it will be a 75gal tank that i'm stocking with sand as the substrate and lava rocks as the decor.

 

[river7495]

A good large African is a Venustus. I have not had any problems keeping them with Mbunas, they tend to keep to themselves. They tend to hang out in the open near the top of the tank which contrasts the Mbunas well.

 

[DJRansome]

You probably want to add a couple to your other groups as well. Malawi don't pair and the pairs will harrass each other to death unless you have all females. I'd add 2 females each to the labs, Socolofi and zebras.

 

[KokeBlak]

is a venustus easily available to get? and i have NO IDEA how to sex my fish. all i know is my two socolofi are females cuz they hold eggs every now and then. :fish:

 

[Gibbs]

With the fish you keep it's almost impossible to tell what sex they are anyway, the only real way is by venting or seeing them hold. I would add more of the Socofoli and zebra, hopefully you will get hit with a male of each.

Venustus are pretty available, it might take all day but atleast 1 of your LFS should have one

 

[KokeBlak]

i don't have any lfs in my area though.

 

[Gibbs]

Really? That sucks :?

Maybe try online http://www.davesfish.com/ This sight is ment to be good and there are a few other sites that pop up on this site that might be of help to you. Otherwise look in the local advertiser for local breeders

 

[KokeBlak]

well i'm not too trusting to get fish from an online source. i'm going to try out a midas for a while after i get a bunch more lava to stack and make caves with so my africans can hide if they are ever in danger....but first things first: fixing the silicone of my tank. =D

 

[DJRansome]

I wouldn't mix SA or CA cichlids with Africans. It's REALLY surprising that there are no LFS in a large city like San Diego! Also there is a fish club in San Diego, go to the menu at the top of the page and click on links. At the bottom of the page is another link for Local Fish Club. Many fish clubs have auctions every month, and you can meet members who sell/trade fish with other local fishkeepers and get better fish than an LFS at a lower cost too.

 

[Laurel]

I would avoid putting venustus in a 4 foot tank. They get quite large and the smallest tank suggested for them is a 125 I believe.

 

[KokeBlak]

alright. thanks for all your help! i decided against the midas, but i still want a large fish and if a venustus is too big, what else should i get? :fish:

 

[Laurel]

Ps. Crabro get up to about 8" long but lots of people have had bad experiences with them being vicious. That said, mine are pretty nice and by far not the most aggressive from what I've seen, but nobody messes with my male either.

I wouldn't go any bigger than that in a 75 gallon tank.

 

[KokeBlak]

well i was told of a red hap, and i've kept an electric blue hap be4, but i have no idea where to get a red one! but they sound really cool and i loved my electric blue so if i can find one i'm totally going to get it. =D

 

[Fogelhund]

The question is, do you want a fish compatible with your existing fish, or do you want to get rid of them and get a singular large fish? There really aren't that many fish, that under most circumstances are appropriate for a 75 gallon, and will get along with your fish.

 

[KokeBlak]

well if worst comes to worst, i'll auction off my current fish and get something else, but truthfully i think my fish are beautiful and would like to keep them and just get like a hap or somthing else. but i agree that i need a red fish. xD

 

[KokeBlak]

so yes: i want a fish compatable with my existing fish.