You don't want the same species. The more different the fish are...the better your chance of success.

For example, don't mix Metriaclima or Cynotilapia of different collection points. UNLESS...one is barred and one is solid. That works sometimes.

Consider the overall color of the fish...plus the fact that it has bars. Cynotilapia sp Lion is a yellow barred fish. Elongatus usisya is a yellow barred fish. Cynotilapia Cobue is a blue barred fish with a yellow blaze. The yellow blaze does not make it look different enough from other blue barred fish.

Pseudotropheus can be combined because that genus is a holding place for fish not yet classified.

Blue and purple can be considered look-alikes since they are only a shade different in mbuna. Yellow and orange can be considered look-alikes for the same reason.

Faint bars and obvious bars all count as bars.

One of the problems with a mbuna all-male tank is that so many of the mbuna (the ones usually available) are blue with bars or yellow-orange.

Check availability. For example, although there are dozens of Labidochromis species in the lake...you will only see a handful of different types available for sale most of the time. They may not all be imported very often. Four of the ones you mention, I don't see available. Just to give you an idea.

 

Think of it as the bars are black on a blue or sometimes yellow body... fish can be lighter or darker, but the black barring is usually a sign of male dominance.

There is male color and juvenile/female color. The males get the male color as they mature and become dominant. Worry about males that are very similar, or females that are very similar. There are some rare exceptions to this rule, which also happen to be some of the most popular Mbuna for sale because the juveniles are quite attractive.

Worry more about fish that are more closely related to each other, such as fish in the same genus.

 

I wanted to know exactly what you meant when you said, For example, don't mix Metriaclima or Cynotilapia of different collection points. UNLESS...one is barred and one is solid. That works sometimes.?
So I couldn"t put a Blue Barred like the Cynotilapia afra Cobue (Blue Bars) AND say a Cynotilapia "white top hara" Galireya Reef (Blue Bars) together even though they look different from each other, but could I say put the Cynotilapia "white top hara" Galireya Reef (Blue Bars) together with a Metriaclima zebra red top emmiltos mphanga (Blue Bars) which looks nothing a like & they work or NOT?

Can I put say the Labidochromis Sp. Mbamba - Yellow Fin Mbamba (Black Bars) AND a Cynotilapia afra Cobue (Blue Bars) who som what resemble but then thats the only
Black Bar & Blue Bar I can have period, if those are the ones you choose?

I know that there is still a (Yellow Bar) that I can use but is there a (Gold Bar) or a (White Bar) or even a (Brown Bar)? If so, what would an example be?
I know of a Gold Zebra & pics I have seen, their completely Golden & appear to have a (Brown Bar)?

I have seen several different Cynotilapia sp. lion lupingu & Cynotilapia sp. lion cove AS WELL AS Mara Rocks Afra Lions Cove & a zebra gold lions cove, which I stated above. Are they all (Yellow Bars)?

There is a Pseudotropheus Saulosi Taiwan Reef that I really like & it appears a to have a (Brown Bar) as do the Metriaclima sp. "elongatus usisya" compared to the Pseudotropheus flavus (Gold Bars) which on that one just as the Cynotilapia sp. lion cove (Gold Bars)?
Those are obvious just as the (Black Bars) & (Blue Bars) which are clear to me after our discussion on purple still being blue!

So if you don't mind could you explain this part a little more? Also about the collection point which is what made me begin to wonder, per my questions earlier just now?

Can I put a Cynotilapia sp. "lion" of "lions Cove (yellow Bars) with a Cynotilapia afra Cobue (Blue Bars)
Cynotilapia afra "Jalo Reef"

Metriaclima sp. zebra long pelvic "Mdoka"
Can I put a Metriaclima sp. "zebra chilumba" Maison Reef (Black Bars)

 

The more different your fish are the better your chance of success.

Maison Reef is a blue with with bars. Consider yellow and gold the same color for the purposes of choosing fish that don't look alike.

Any color bars are bars. Look at the overall or background color of the fish.

An example of a mix of same genus that might work is Metriaclima estherae (solid color metriaclima) and Metriaclima Maison Reef (blue Metriaclima with bars).

Or to say it another way...have one blue fish with bars in your tank and one yellow fish with bars...and no other fish with bars in your tank.