How many?

[Joanne]

Slightly confused here. According to the cookie cutter at http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php I should be able to keep 3 yellow labs and 3 socofoli in a 20g long or a 29g. This seems rather overstocked to me or am I completely wrong?

 

[blueturq]

ya, i wouldn't risk putting three of each, let alone one of each in a 20 gal, also because you may or may not be able to enough room for making territories........

They maybe at war in a tank like that too........

 

[JWright]

Yeah, I would agree that that tank is overstocked. I would even question 3 labs in a 20L...

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I question the whole cookie cutter setups on their site.

 

[Joanne]

So is there anything you would put in a 29g then?

 

[wayne]

How long is that - 3 feet? Try to work out what are small, peaceful mbuna, or look to small peacocks. Yellow labs should be ok.
Controlled overstocking isn't going to work in a tank less than 4 feet long (and not well there) - there's nowhere to esape to.

 

[Joanne]

Are there any peaceful mbuna? According to everything Ive read the electric yellows are the most peaceful and even they can be aggresive.

Ive never actually considered peacocks but there are a couple of nice ones about.

The thing is I need to decide beforehand because my lfs is going to order them for me - they dont actually stock them. So any and all advice or suggestions are very welcome. I have a couple of weeks before I plan on adding anything anyway so Im in no desperate rush.

 

[Somonas]

I question it too. A 20 gallon tank is far too small for any adult Malawi cichlid.
Even the smallest ones (metriaclima livingstoni aka pseudotropheus lanisticola) would be cramped in a 20.

Joanne please consider a 55 gallon for that combination of adult fish.

 

[Joanne]

The 29g is only temporary. Im planning on moving within the next year so the 55g is on hold until I do.