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I just had my first ick encounter. After I know its gone, I plan to get more mbunas. I want a blue one that can be with my red zebras & yellow labs. Any suggestions for a 55 gal?
stocking help needed!
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Are red zebras and Yellow labs all you have in the tank?
How many of each?
Do you plan to breed/distribute fry?
Kim
How many of each?
Do you plan to breed/distribute fry?
Kim
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I have a kenyi hybrid, and a venustus. They keep to themselves. Then 3 red zebras and 2 yellow labs. I'd love to have little fry. I got another small tank in case that happens.
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I wouldn't distribute any fry from the tank, since you're already housing red zebras and yellow labs together - the two will hybridize.
The venustus will outgrow the tank, and the kenyi hybrid has the potential to be a loaded gun as it matures. (Kenyi need a larger tank, and with the hybrid aspect figured into the equation, this could make this fish's behaviour less predictable...)
I would remove those two, add more red zebras and Yellow labs to reduce the risk of hybridization (I still wouldn't keep them together, but getting larger groups of them will help reduce the risk...) and pick a blue barred or striped species for my 3rd group.
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos would make a nice colour combination with what you already have. So would Cynotilapia White Top Galireya...Neither would be prone to hybridize with the other two species, unless you don't have males and females of all species.
Kim
The venustus will outgrow the tank, and the kenyi hybrid has the potential to be a loaded gun as it matures. (Kenyi need a larger tank, and with the hybrid aspect figured into the equation, this could make this fish's behaviour less predictable...)
I would remove those two, add more red zebras and Yellow labs to reduce the risk of hybridization (I still wouldn't keep them together, but getting larger groups of them will help reduce the risk...) and pick a blue barred or striped species for my 3rd group.
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos would make a nice colour combination with what you already have. So would Cynotilapia White Top Galireya...Neither would be prone to hybridize with the other two species, unless you don't have males and females of all species.
Kim
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I've had the kenyi since it was almost a fry. As he grows, the only thing I notice is he will do anything to get to the front of the tank when I come to it. The Venustus, my friend brought him home.
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White Top Gallireya looks very convincing. I like him! The other fish, isn't he somewhat more aggressive than red zebras/labs?
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Ps, my tank is mostly a show tank. Its not set for breeding. I just meant if they did have fry, I wouldn't mind.
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Red zebras are more aggressive than cyanheorhabdos, IME. I've had male red zebras rip a tank apart in the past. White Tops are aggressive, too, but if you keep proper male/female ratios, they are a bit easier to handle. In a 55G, ideally you wouldn't want more than one male of each species.
Kim
Kim
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What about Greshakei? or Cobalt Zebras?
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All zebras can be on the aggressive side...Even females...That's just the nature of the zebras.
If you stock them properly and pay close attention to what you're stocking them with, they are no worse than most other mbuna, IMO.
I don't keep any of the mild mannered mbuna like Yellow labs, acei or Rusties (at this time - I've kept all in the past). Everything I have is on the higher scale of aggression, but every species can be controlled better if they are housed properly. Sometimes it takes a bit of work and even a bit of "fish psychology 101", but IMO, the rowdy fish are worth the trouble.
If you keep them with other fish on the same level of aggression as they are, things tend to work out better.
Kim
If you stock them properly and pay close attention to what you're stocking them with, they are no worse than most other mbuna, IMO.
I don't keep any of the mild mannered mbuna like Yellow labs, acei or Rusties (at this time - I've kept all in the past). Everything I have is on the higher scale of aggression, but every species can be controlled better if they are housed properly. Sometimes it takes a bit of work and even a bit of "fish psychology 101", but IMO, the rowdy fish are worth the trouble.
If you keep them with other fish on the same level of aggression as they are, things tend to work out better.
Kim
Sorry to barge in here but i have to ask something. When u all talk about red zebra and yellow labs hybridizing are u talking about metriaclima estherae and Labidochromis caeruleus??? I`ve never heard of it before here in Norway so I have to ask. I have none of them myself, but I know a few who has..
Thanks for answers..
Thanks for answers..
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Linka, the odds are increased if kept in small groups without proper male/female ratios, but it can happen with any two mouthbrooders.
I think the biggest problem these days is that many people are housing them together, and selling the fry/juveniles to the LFS without even considering that the spawns might not be pure. They can grow up to look just like either species, and you might not realize there is a problem until later on down the line when you have a clutch of fry that just aren't right.
Yellow labs have been overbred in this area for a very long time. Everybody wants them, so supply meets demand. That doesn't mean that the "suppliers" were responsible with their breeding practices.
I had a group of what I believed to be pure tank raised Yellow labs - absolutely stunning specimens...I never had any reason to question their lineage until one clutch of fry from them (after a few seemingly perfect clutches) turned out to be obvious descendents of red zebras...But I didn't have any red zebras! (Half the clutch looked like perfectly nice Yellow labs, the other half looked like perfectly nice estherae...)
I've never seen a male red zebra that couldn't prove dominancy over a male yellow lab.
I have seen male red zebras that thought they were entitled to breed with every species in sight, even though they have their own females.
The LFS are full of "all yellow" yellow labs (no black on the dorsal), too orange yellow labs, and even those that look perfect like mine, but prove to be hybrids.
These two species are very common...You can find them in any big box store (chain store) and any LFS in this area. The colouring is very alluring to beginning hobbyist, and they are pretty cheap compared to some. They wind up in alot of tanks with inexperienced owners who think the fry are cute. Then, they can eventually wind up in the LFS, or your tank...
I have a friend that has a colony of wild caught Yellow labs, and the little ones from those will be the only Yellow labs I ever have again!
Kim
I think the biggest problem these days is that many people are housing them together, and selling the fry/juveniles to the LFS without even considering that the spawns might not be pure. They can grow up to look just like either species, and you might not realize there is a problem until later on down the line when you have a clutch of fry that just aren't right.
Yellow labs have been overbred in this area for a very long time. Everybody wants them, so supply meets demand. That doesn't mean that the "suppliers" were responsible with their breeding practices.
I had a group of what I believed to be pure tank raised Yellow labs - absolutely stunning specimens...I never had any reason to question their lineage until one clutch of fry from them (after a few seemingly perfect clutches) turned out to be obvious descendents of red zebras...But I didn't have any red zebras! (Half the clutch looked like perfectly nice Yellow labs, the other half looked like perfectly nice estherae...)
I've never seen a male red zebra that couldn't prove dominancy over a male yellow lab.
I have seen male red zebras that thought they were entitled to breed with every species in sight, even though they have their own females.
The LFS are full of "all yellow" yellow labs (no black on the dorsal), too orange yellow labs, and even those that look perfect like mine, but prove to be hybrids.
These two species are very common...You can find them in any big box store (chain store) and any LFS in this area. The colouring is very alluring to beginning hobbyist, and they are pretty cheap compared to some. They wind up in alot of tanks with inexperienced owners who think the fry are cute. Then, they can eventually wind up in the LFS, or your tank...
I have a friend that has a colony of wild caught Yellow labs, and the little ones from those will be the only Yellow labs I ever have again!
Kim
Thanks a lot for really good answer. I have never thougt of it that way before. We all know that mouthbrooders can breed with eathother but the "rule" has been that if u have fish from different species and of different colour they would prefer their own.
When that is said I will never have red zebra in my tank cause i simply don`t like it all that much. Red/Orange is not my colour.. :lol:
But it`s good to know.
I will tell my friend in the morning. To late here now. (read 00.20) She has had fry that we couldn`t quite figure out if came from red zebra og labs. Now we may have the answer.
We are three girls doing malawi here and the others will join me in this forum later. So much better than many other forums we have.. :thumb:
When that is said I will never have red zebra in my tank cause i simply don`t like it all that much. Red/Orange is not my colour.. :lol:
But it`s good to know.
I will tell my friend in the morning. To late here now. (read 00.20) She has had fry that we couldn`t quite figure out if came from red zebra og labs. Now we may have the answer.
We are three girls doing malawi here and the others will join me in this forum later. So much better than many other forums we have.. :thumb:
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