Mbuna tank up and running

[ridgewalker]

Just dropping you all a line to let you know my mbuna tank is up and running now. It is a 4ft tank with lots of Tufa rock for caves and passageways. I am stocking with the smaller mbuna so I should be able to get 25-30 according to the lfs who specialise in Malawi.

Currently I have 15 fish as I was short on cash this week but will get more in the next few weeks. Anybody else with Mbunas have any recommendations? I have 3 each (1M 2F) of

Melanochromis johanni
Metriaclima (Pseudotropheus) crabro
Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus flavus
Pseudotropheus socolofi

Can you suggest any suitable tank mates?

I thought about adding an auratus last of all but was wondering if that might be too aggressive?

 

[blueturq]

auratus are very aggressive, but crabro's are very aggressive too

I've heard that crabro also lose their colour as they get older.

Why not exchange the crabros for some yellow labs?

 

[Tanganyikaman18]

I had an auratus but my oscar ate him and about 3 others, he grew to fast. But from wut i saw the a. wasnt a bad fish.

Oh and my oscar isnt around anymore either

 

[ridgewalker]

Thanks for your replies.

I did a bit of reading on the Crabro and found that they can change colour depending on how threatened they are. They can change from Yellow Orange with faint stripes, through to dark stripes and even to jet black if in an aggresive mood. I think I will hold onto them as they grow to 4.5 in an look quite interesting.

I might skip on the auratus since they seem so aggressive.

Yellow labs may be a bit peacefull, but I agree are a real nice fish. I have seen some Blue Cynotilapia afra with Black stripes which looked really impressive. The great thing about mbuna is the range of colours.

 

[ridgewalker]

Thanks for your replies.

I did a bit of reading on the Crabro and found that they can change colour depending on how threatened they are. They can change from Yellow Orange with faint stripes, through to dark stripes and even to jet black if in an aggressive mood. I think I will hold onto them as they grow to 4.5 in an look quite interesting.

I might skip on the auratus since they seem so aggressive.

Yellow labs may be a bit peaceful, but I agree are a real nice fish. I have seen some Blue Cynotilapia afra with Black stripes which looked really impressive. The great thing about mbuna is the range of colours.

 

[wayne]

I would give the auratus a miss. They seem to live up to their terrible rep.
Bear in mind a 55 isn't huge. Any Labidochromis should be ok, and afra are another good pick. Pseudotropheus demasonii?, though everyone on here who's had them has hada tough time with them

 

[ridgewalker]

What kind of problems did the demasoni give? I thought that they were a mild mannered small mbuna. Are they likely to get chased by slightly bigger fish like the crabro?