[pikklez]

Hey guys, I'm setting up a 60 gallon Malawi tank. I plan on having Electric Yellow Labs, Electric Blue Haps, and Peacocks (maybe a school of Giant Danios or Tiger Barbs), and I was wondering how many of each type of Cichlid I should get. I'm leaning towards 4 or 5 of each type of cichlid, and I was wondering

1) Whether or not that would be a good amount for a 60 gallon

2) How many males/females I should get (and whether or not it matters since I plan on having a lot).

 

[mokujin22]

I would start with 8 of each as juveniles and shoot long term for 6 of each. For the peacocks and ahli, you will want to end up with a ratio of M/F of either 1M/3-4F or 2M/4-6F. The yellow labs will not be as aggressive as the others so you can get away with a more even ratio (good because they're very difficult to tell apart).

Be wary that the blue ahli eat fry for a living in nature, so provide plenty of hiding spaces if you want to let some fry survive (Pretty sure the barbs are predatory as well).

 

[pikklez]

Yea ima have a bunch of texas holy rock in my tank and prolly some stones+driftwood caves set up. I was thinking about getting the barbs/danios when the cichlids are just a little bigger than them that way the cichlids don't get messed with too much

 

[Cognition]

Be aware that the "electric blue haps" are known to LOVE peacock females, I've read several accounts were the electric blue hap had murdered his competition for the peacock females.

 

[dielikemoviestars]

You're going to have a lot of drab fish if you go breeding colonies of each... And I agree, the haps and peacocks will crossbreed. You could do yellow labs + 1m Fryeri ("Ahli") + 1m peacock + another group of tame mbuna. Maybe acei?

 

[DJRansome]

What are the dimensions of the 60G?

 

[mokujin22]

Be aware that the "electric blue haps" are known to LOVE peacock females, I've read several accounts were the electric blue hap had murdered his competition for the peacock females.

hmmm... didn't think of that. Good catch.

 

[pikklez]

What are the dimensions of the 60G?

48 1/2 Long x 15 1/2 Wide x 17 1/4 High.

And thanks for the info about Haps and Peacocks. I plan on adding some acei as well, but would bumblebee cichlids work too?

 

[mokujin22]

In my opinion, bumblebees are the largest, meanest mbuna in the trade. Big fish with teeth and a bad attitude.