does it matter how many different types

[fishtankmaster5]

does it matter how many different types of Lake Malawi cichild species are in one tank, for example, if you have 12 cichlids in one tank, is it ok to have 11 or 9 different species of cichlids or is that bad can someone help me please, because there are so many, and they are all so gorgeous, please help any one

 

[Orion]

If the tank is large enough you can have many different species. However, its more important to have the correct ratio of females to males on a particular species than total number of species for most.

Mostly males have the most briliant colors with Malawian cichlids. I don't know how well it would be to have a tank full of males from different species. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Mbuna, both female and male posess good colors. In haps and peacocks the males are really the show.

It shouldn't matter. Just make sure you have the room and no overly aggressive species. If you don't my hybridization (basically you'd get the LFS "Mixed Africans") then you shouldn't worry.

 

[Orion]

Thanks for clearing that up more for us Matt. I'll get those straight one of these days.

 

[fishtankmaster5]

when you say "Just make sure you have the room", how many cichlids would you put in a 55 gal, i was hoping, about 11 or 12, is that too many? and about 9 or 11 different species, is that okay?

 

[Orion]

12 sounds about right. If memory serves, thats what C-man has in his 55 gallon.

 

[Kuroshio]

The true extreme cichlid hobbyist’s that I know would say a 4ft long 55 gallon tank will hold 30 Malawi cichlids. I know that some feel this is over crowding, but with aquarium cichlids it really isn’t. Any less then this and you could have trouble with aggression; with these numbers the aggression is non-existent and the fish are really happy and showy. Of course you need to have a good amount of hiding spaces, and (ever been to the horse races?) almost stall-like décor, columns and the like. You need to be slightly over filtered as opposed to under filtered as well. I know many people with successful tanks set up like this; I have one with 26 fishes set up at work currently.

(and for those hobbyist's that think cichlids NEED to have there own environment replicated, please don't bite my head off , I can't afford to turn my whole house into one aquarium for one fish)

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Is it possible to keep that many in a 55gal, yes probably, provided enough W/Cs and the right species stocking. Would i reccommend it? Probably not. I base my stocking plans on the general stocking plan. I usually see/hear about about 15 mbuna in a 55gal. The number works out well. Show tanks are usually know to have lots packed in like Kuroshio suggested.

cichlid-forum.com/tanks gives you an idea of general stock plans. And setup ideas.

Orion, thats the number i am planning on 12-15 . After i get the species all sorted out.

Of course this all based on Mbuna and not Haps and Peacocks...that can change things a bit.

 

[fishtankmaster5]

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