Electric Yellow Cichlids in a 55 gallon

doctawife

doctawife

Large Fish
#1
Sep 25, 2003
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Houston, TX
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#1
I want to have a planted, rocky 55 gallon cichlid tank - and I want to have electric yellow cichilds as one of the main fish. The Labidochromis caeruleus seems like an ideal fish - less aggressive than the average cichlid and omnivorous (sp?).

But I want more than one type of fish. What can I put with the electric yellows in a 55 gallon? Furthermore, how many should I have? The LFS advocates overstocking, and suggested a total of 20-25 fish. Now, if you've seen my ten gallon tank in the rate-my-tank forum, you know that I'm not scared of a high fish count. I just want to make sure that the number of fish in the tank is maintainable. I don't want to kill anyone, or have anyone eaten.

I'm interested in the pseudo-mbunas at the LFS (one sex is blue and the other is orange, both are without stripes), but I want to make sure that everyone will get along.

Suggestions?
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#2
Oct 22, 2002
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#2
Beware mixed mbuna, pseudo mbuna et al. Only buy mbuna you can actually put a name on that's recognised other. Less chance of buying other peoples rubbish/psychotics.
Anyway yellow labs are pretty docile for mbuna, and I've kept them with a few things that weren't too aggressive. It's easier to ask, what can you get?
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
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#5
Yes in a big enough tank. I've always found socolofi pretty aggressive and unless there's space the labs will likely take a beating. Four foot tank would be the very minimum for long term success.
I'm not being evasive, but what can you get? You're in Houston so you should be able to get quite a lot of stuff. What have you kept before, and what do you want.
Yello labs aren't strict herbivores, they're a deeper water fish that browses algae and crustaceans. It's not normally recommended that you mix mbuna and peacocks, but that is a combo that typically works. I'd say Ps. demasoni, but a lot of people here have found them terribly aggressive..
I'd go and see what they have at Village (2612 S Shepard) or Neptunes World and see what you like), then start asking. At all costs avoid all Melanochromis , and all the smilar aquatic psychotics
 

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