[bbtuna]

I currently am looking to restock my all male 75gal. I am looking to get away from the all male set up and would like about 5 groups of Mbuna of 5-6 each species totaling 25-30 fish. I currently have an ac110 and an xp3 filtering the tank so I have enough filtration. I am setting this up without the specific intent of breeding but would like the option to keep and distribute fry with minimal concerns of hybridization. Problem is I cannot decide what to stock and would really like some input and benefit from the experience of people from this site. So all your comments are welcome!! Here is a list of my favorite species that I have access to good quality stock locally. I would like to avoid mail order and keep working with the breeders I have locally because they are really good and will work with me on m/f ratios! I am open to other species suggestions though if I can find them here in MI. I have a species only tank of Cyno white tops so I would like to do something different in the 75.
Here goes and I apologize in advance for misspellings...

Zebra BB Chilumba F1 Aggressive but I REALLY like these!
Met Msobo Deep Wild . Expensive but VERY nice..
Cyno sp. Lions Cove F1 Fry and will have to grow out for a while..
Feulleborni Katale
Yellow Labs F1 Hard to find good Labs!!
Psudo Elongatus Chewere F1
Psudo Zebra Hara RT Longfin Galilae F1
Cherry Red Zebra Tank raised but nice and can't do with Labs
Cobalt Zebra Tank raised but nice
Psudo Elongatus Mbenji Blue F1
White Labs F1
Psudo Solousi Tank raised

So far I am leaning towards.. 6 BB Chilumbas 2m4f ,5 Feulleboni Katale 2m3f, 6 Yellow labs, 6 Cyno sp. Lions cove 2m4f and 5 Elongatus Chewere 1m4f.

Alt 4 species option. 10 Psudo Solousi, 5 Red Zebras, 5 Feulleborni Katale, 5 Elongatus Chewere.

Thoughts??

 

[cichlidaholic]

You don't want two males of any of these groups. One of each species will be fine, unless you want to reduce your number of species and make each species group larger. (Yellow labs sex ratios won't matter, but the others will.) Having two males of any species never works well, you're better off to have 3, but in order to do that, you'll need ample females per male...For instance 3 males to 9 females of a species...

Personally, in a 75G tank, I'd go with 4 species max.

I'd go with the fuelleborni (1 male, 3 females - girls look pretty good), Cobalt zebra (1 male and 3-4 females - such a nice blue), Yellow labs (as the largest group for the colour - 8), and the elongatus Chewere (1 male, 3 females).

 

[bbtuna]

Thanks for the help! What do you you think about replacing the Cobalts with the BB Chilumbas? From what I've seen on this site I know you are partial to the Cobalts and I agree that they have great colors but I like the stripes of the BB's. Although the females are a little drab the male might be worth it. Do you think this would work or are they just too agressive to bother? :roll: So it would look like this...

5 BB Chilumba's 1m4f, 4 Fueleborni 1m3f, 6 Yellow Labs, 4 Elongatus Chewere 1m3f

Thanks again! :thumb:

 

[cichlidaholic]

I think the Cobalts would look better in the tank, since they have nice females, as well. I'm really fanatical about colour mixes, though.

I'm just wondering if the elongatus and the Chilumbas could be a problem? I've never kept them together, and I'd certainly prefer the elongatus over the Chilumbas, if I had to choose between the two...

 

[bbtuna]

Actually that is kinda what I was wondering myself and why I'm a little concerned about them being too aggressive. My other concern is the coloration of the females. I have seen them and you definitely can tell them apart but it might be a little too close for comfort??? :?

1 side note. I have a 5 inch Male Cobalt. Do you think I could keep him and add 4 2 inch females??? He is a bit bossy! Might be better to start them out all the same size?

 

[cichlidaholic]

Actually that is kinda what I was wondering myself and why I'm a little concerned about them being too aggressive. My other concern is the coloration of the females. I have seen them and you definitely can tell them apart but it might be a little too close for comfort??? :?

That's my concern, exactly...My theory is why ask for trouble when you've got other options? :thumb:

You should be fine adding 2 inch Cobalts to the larger male. He probably won't pay any attention to them until they reach about 3 inches, and by then you should be able to weed out any accidental males. He might get a little excited at first, but when he realizes they aren't quite sexually mature, he'll ignore them until they are!

 

[football mom]

I just purchased 8 juvie M. Zebra Chilumba Maison Reef from Dave's in San Antonio. They are about 1 1/2 inch and very healthy-looking. I have them in a 55 with 7 Lion's Cove L. caeruleus.
Eventually, I will take out males until I have a breeding group of each.
I was advised by the store that the "Maison Reefs" are (for some reason) less aggressive than the Luwino Reef version, even though they are essentially the same fish.
Now I just have to wait till they all grow!