[goldtopper]

Hello, newbie here.
My 29 gal Mbuna tank is getting weird. I found a dead peacock (2") this morning and the other peacock is nowhere to be found! I mean I tore the tank apart- not on the floor, under rocks; not it that it could jump, my tank is well covered.
My blue Aceis (3") are shimmying next to each other and the male yellow lab (3") sometimes joins one of them in a hollow cavern. I also have a 1.5" zebra and a 1/2" baby lab from the last brood.
All appear to be healthy;
I did add a rubberlip pleco last week- for fear od Petsmart induced ich, I just gave it a stronger salt dose.
My numbers are good, chemical wise.
Any flashes of brillianct to impart?
Many thanks!

 

[Number6]

My 29 gal Mbuna tank is getting weird.

Welcome to the forum.
Just to let you know, your 29g tank is experiencing what almost every single 29g mixed African cichlid tank will hit... a point in time where the size of the tank is beginning to show it's effects (all of which are negative).

If you are in a position to get a 55g tank, do so... if you are not, then you will be experiencing losses of any weaker or hounded fish and others trying to claim the tank as their territory. Mbuna and peacocks will breed in such a small tank which might be mistaken for success in cichlid keeping, though it's just the tenacity of the fish to credit for that. I've had cichlids breed in buckets and no one would attempt to say that's my excellent skills at caring for these fish!

I'd say you've reached a point in your tank and cichlid keeping where you have to pick a path... switch over to more suitable cichlids or get a bigger tank. Hope that helps!

 

[emptyhead]

Me thinks your fish are entering adolescence and need more space.

What color were your peacocks?

What fish are left in the tank?

 

[goldtopper]

It does help, thank you! so what should I get for the tank- shellies?
Or should I just keep either the labs or the aceis in there alone?

My 29 gal Mbuna tank is getting weird.

Welcome to the forum.
Just to let you know, your 29g tank is experiencing what almost every single 29g mixed African cichlid tank will hit... a point in time where the size of the tank is beginning to show it's effects (all of which are negative).

If you are in a position to get a 55g tank, do so... if you are not, then you will be experiencing losses of any weaker or hounded fish and others trying to claim the tank as their territory. Mbuna and peacocks will breed in such a small tank which might be mistaken for success in cichlid keeping, though it's just the tenacity of the fish to credit for that. I've had cichlids breed in buckets and no one would attempt to say that's my excellent skills at caring for these fish!

I'd say you've reached a point in your tank and cichlid keeping where you have to pick a path... switch over to more suitable cichlids or get a bigger tank. Hope that helps!

 

[goldtopper]

Me thinks your fish are entering adolescence and need more space.

What color were your peacocks?

What fish are left in the tank?

Peacocks were aqua blue tinged fins with redish blue fronts.
I've got-
2 blue acei
2 yellow labs
1 orange/red zebra
1 teeny baby lab
1 rubberlip pleco

 

[emptyhead]

Me thinks your fish are entering adolescence and need more space.

What color were your peacocks?

What fish are left in the tank?

Peacocks were aqua blue tinged fins with redish blue fronts.
I've got-
2 blue acei
2 yellow labs
1 orange/red zebra
1 teeny baby lab
1 rubberlip pleco

My guess is that your acei are spawning or attempting to and that they wanted your blue peacocks gone and harrassed them to death.

I would not try to keep more than a single acei or a single lab in a 29 gal. There just is not enough space to maintain territories or overstock. I think you could keep a group of dwarf cichlids in the 29.

 

[goldtopper]

Me thinks your fish are entering adolescence and need more space.

What color were your peacocks?

What fish are left in the tank?

Peacocks were aqua blue tinged fins with redish blue fronts.
I've got-
2 blue acei
2 yellow labs
1 orange/red zebra
1 teeny baby lab
1 rubberlip pleco

My guess is that your acei are spawning or attempting to and that they wanted your blue peacocks gone and harrassed them to death.

I would not try to keep more than a single acei or a single lab in a 29 gal. There just is not enough space to maintain territories or overstock. I think you could keep a group of dwarf cichlids in the 29.

As in 1 fish of the species or 1 pair of the species?
Thanks again for the great help!

 

[cichlidaholic]

Acei grow relatively large and do better in larger groups, so they won't fare well in this tank long term.

The Yellow labs are really the only species of cichlids you have that stand a chance of working in this tank long term. You should be able to keep 5-6 of them in this size tank, no more than that.

 

[emptyhead]

1 fish.

These fish don't do well in pairs. The lone female would get overly harassed and the tank is not big enough for a group.

May I suggest some of the smaller more peaceful SA cichlids for your tank or some shell dwellers.

Edit - I take that back - cichlidaholic is much more knowledgable than I am - sounds like you could do a group of labs. Personally - my labs have been fairly aggressive in a group (2m/2f) in a 55g.

 

[cichlidaholic]

I'm assuming this is the standard 29G long tank, but I really should ask...What are the dimensions?

 

[goldtopper]

Yep, standard 29 long.

 

[cichlidaholic]

Then I would go with the Yellow labs and remove all other cichlids.

If you want more than one species, you might try a trio of Yellow labs and a male peacock, but you'd need to go with one of the milder mannered species.