[After_Shock]

Planning on putting the following species in a 4ft tank, will these work o.k?

Yellow Labs
Labidochromis Hongi's
Rusty's
Pseudotropheus Acei Ngara

And Either
Pseudotropheus socolofi or
Metriaclima/Maylandia callainos

Currently have a 4ft tank but upgrading to a 6ft one shortly.

 

[yogurtpooh]

callainos would be better (in my experience they have been less aggressive than socolofi)
the previous four sounds great, though i've never had experience with hongi, but i can imagine in a 6 feet tank with enough within their own group they should be okay. As long as you have enough for each group i think you will have success.. .(in a 6 feet tank). You probably want 5 to 6 fish per group, around 30-35 fish should work in a 6 feet tank.

 

[After_Shock]

Thanks for the reply.

Got the odd one of each fish at the moment from having an all male tank. Not had socolofi before so will keep away from them as trying to get a peacefull set up that works!

 

[DJRansome]

I had Socolofi in a 72" tank and they were aggressive, but did fine. I'd do either one.

I've read (no experience) Hongi are just as aggressive if not more. And I've also read that that they crossbreed with labs in case you are thinking about distributing fry from either species. Don't know whether it's truly a risk or not very likely if you have lots of Hongi and Lab females, for FWIW.

 

[After_Shock]

Not read that Hongi and Labs can cross bread, had them together for quite a while now although only a couple of examples of each and had no problems of cross breeding.

 

[DJRansome]

That's what I don't get, how can you tell? I've heard that hybrid fry can look exactly like either parent...so you can't tell by their appearance. Is that wrong?

 

[tropical_tails]

Yes, a lab and a hongi can and possibly will crossbreed. And as for the fry, it's not that they are neccissarily weird or bad. Being a retailer, I can tell you that the problem with hybrids is simply a lack of demand. The fry are fine, but nobody will pay the same for a hybid when they can get whats "Ideal." If your labs and hongi crossbreed it's not a federal offense, but dont expect to be able to get rid of the fry. Unfortunatly most large chains will dunk hybrids in a bucket of bleach. If you do find someone to take them, don't expect anything for them.

 

[tropical_tails]

Yes, a lab and a hongi can and possibly will crossbreed. And as for the fry, it's not that they are neccissarily weird or bad. Being a retailer, I can tell you that the problem with hybrids is simply a lack of demand. The fry are fine, but nobody will pay the same for a hybid when they can get whats "Ideal." If your labs and hongi crossbreed it's not a federal offense, but dont expect to be able to get rid of the fry. Unfortunatly most large chains will dunk hybrids in a bucket of bleach. If you do find someone to take them, don't expect anything for them.

 

[iplaydrums1]

i have had a few complaints at my store about rustys actually being downright crazy. i mean each fish has their own personality obviously, but just something to look out for. other than that i have the same mix with the socolofis and labs and such and they do awesome, even got a couple of afras. but its "their tank"