Africans or S Americans

[wayne]

OK, I keep both africans and S American cichlids. I keep the africans for there colour, but frankly I'm a bit bored of their (lack of ) behaviour compared to the s americans and when I get back from my hols I think they're likely out.
Should I do it, and what should I do with the tank - amazon biotope 2? Fast whitewater stream for plecs and suitable dwarfs/dwarf pikes?

 

[Somonas]

Lack of behavior? :gasp:

anyway, a fast water stream might be interesting. but you'd need a long shallow tank (like 8') and a bunch of big powerheads at one end.

 

[fishboy]

Love S. Americans, but never really warmed up or thought much about africans. More stuck on discus now!

 

[wayne]

Yeah , sorry somonas, but compared to s americans I think malawi, esp mbuna don't have much behaviour beyond swim around and bite. I have a feeling that it's the result of controlled overcrowding, and if I had an 8 foot tank, with about 6 fish I'd get some more natural behaviour, but I don't have one. Yet. Tangs seem better for beaviour and ditto naturally shoaling fish ie my Tropheus are a lot more interesting as opposed to pretty to watch

 

[mike the zealot]

actually mbuna nipping each other is exactly what you see in the wild - they're really concentrated, so it's actually natural to have a lot of them together in a small space =)

You are right though, for more interesting behavior, check out some Tangs

 

[Somonas]

MTZ is correct, (re Malawis nipping in the wild). I saw a pair of really big petrotilapia (somethings) at Chinyankwazi Island jawlocking. it was funny watching other fish swim in and say "break it up break it up".