mbuna

[Swordtail8]

I have seen this word quite a bit but am still unclear as to what it exactly means. It seems to be the name for the more aggressive african cichlids such as the Pseudotropheus, the Labidochromis, and the Melanochromis. I have have seen tanks labeled mbuna tanks with frontosa's in them too, are they mbunas also? Are mbunas limited to lake Malawi or are there some in lake Tang(however u spell it)?

Can someone give me a list of with fish are mbunas?

 

[mike the zealot]

Mbuna are a group of cichlid species from Malawi that live among the rocks along the shoreline. They're all similarly shaped. If you can see the similarity between a "yellow lab" and a "red zebra" you'll know the basic characteristics of Mbuna. Adult size can range from 3 - 8", depending on the species. They are generally considered more aggressive than haps & peacocks (the other two cichlid groups in malawi) They're herbivores, feeding them too much meat can cause Malawi Bloat (just like the lion fish in deuce bigelow =P)

 

[mike the zealot]

Oh yeah,
Here's the best list of mbuna that I know of:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2

And frontosa are from tanganyika

 

[oscarowner559]

the words definition is: Rock dwellers

 

[wayne]

Is it really 'rock dwellers' . I assumed it would be swahili for small fish or something similar. Anyone with an online swahili dictionary.
Most are non obligatory herbivores, meaning they eat a lot of algae by mistake trying to eat small crustaceans. Only a few are 'obligatory' herbivores.
Frontosa aren't mbuna. They aren't from malawi, don't live in rocky areas and just aren't.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

In the language of Chichewa, native to Malawi and the Bantu families the word Mbuna means "Rock Dwellers"

You can just say Lake Tang, or Tang cichlids and we will know what you are talking about . Some people mix the lakes so you will see some tangs in Malawi tanks.

Mike has the best list out for Mbuna IMO. On that site there is also a list for lake Tang cichlids, and malawi peacocks and Malawi haps.

 

[Swordtail8]

Are frontosas compatable with mbuna? A guy on tank of the month did it on aquahobby.com.

And another question: how do you pronounce "mbuna"?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Yes they are. Of course Frontosa grow pretty large, but very slowly, and require quite a large tank after a while. If you are going to mix Fronts with Mbuna i would make sure i got one a little bigger than the Mbuna (so they won't outgrow it fast and pick on it, and so it can hold its own.) Tang cichlids grow at a pretty slow rate, malawis can grow pretty fast. I'd only keep 1 in a Mbuna tank too. If by themselves Frontosa are pretty docile and shouldn't cause an agression problem.

We had a thread about pronouncing it a while back pretty cool to see what everyone else says.... I say "mmm-buna".

 

[wayne]

Frontosa are obviously compatible with mbuna and find the smaller mbuna excellent food.
Fronts are large piscivores that are pretty adept at hunting. Mix at your own risk.

 

[oscarowner559]

I have a front with mbuna, no problems..except the one little thing..overcrowding....I know, I am overcrownded, BUT I am getting another 29 gallon, and a double 55 stand and getting another 55....

 

[Swordtail8]

what is a piscivores?

I am working on having my parents get me a tank for christmas. I originally asked for a 55 but then they told me it was too much so I said get me a 29 then.

Currently I have 2 mbunas in a ten gallon. I think they are cynotilapia afra and an orange pseudotropheus zebra. The cynotilapia afra is a mean fish that has killed many other fish. He likes to dig in the sand and has created a bunch of caves by digging between the rocks. The pseudotropheus zebra is faster than the other fish so he never gets beat up, but any other fish that goes in the tank he fights as well.

I had a walmart african cichlid that was murdered in 5 hours and I kept my brothers evil kribs in that tank too and lost one of them. I put a honey gourami I didn't like in there in the beginning but he died slowly so I probably wont do that again. I gave them feeder fish too (bunch of minnows) and they were all killed in like 12 hours but they didnt really eat them, the snail did most of the eating.

I do plan on getting them a bigger tank somehow or another. If that doesn't work, the LFS will take them off my hands.

It is good to know that frontosas grow slow. However, considering their price, I will not get one till I get a bigger tank.

 

[Aaron]

piscivore=fish eater