Setting Up A Lake Malawi Cichlid Tank

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#1
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#1
I've recently decided to keep cichlids (well actally yesturday) for the first time. Up untill now I have been keeping live bearers for a few years. I've been doing some reasearch, but I wanted to ask you guys about it. How do I set up a lake malawi cichlid tank? Well first off I want to keep the Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellow Lab, Lemon drop cichlid, or just Yellow lab). I also want to keep the Aulonocara nyassae (Malawi Red Peacock) not the german red though. With that being said how should I set up the tank? I know they need rocks. I'm going to use sand. I also know I have to be carefull of my plant selection. But if some one could lead me in the right direction. Maybe a "blue print" type thing of where to put the rocks, plants, how high the rock go, etc. Also is it best for me to use a high tank or just a normal one? I plan on using a glass tank of atleast 55 gallons. Also any other additional information on mantaining this tank will be appratated. Oh, one last guestion. Can german blue rams also live in this tank? Or will it be to aggresive in there for them? Thank you very much. *PEACE!*
 

G

Going for broke

Large Fish
#2
Jul 28, 2006
125
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0
#2
I wouldn't even try to have any live plants in there.. when mature the cichlids will destroy them. you have two different types of cichlids listed but I think they can co-exist. the peacocks like a little meatier food where the mbuna can possible suffer from bloat if fed too much protein. I have both in my tank and to this point things are fine so far. I'd have to say I wouldn't try the rams in there they are just not aggressive enough in nature. as for Rocks I think if you provide some places for the fish to hide that would be sufficient enough. I have a lot of rock in my tank but I don't think it's totally necc.
 

Katie217

Katie217

Superstar Fish
#4
Jul 15, 2006
2,494
5
0
Florida
#4
Yellow labs are about the only mbuna that should be kept with peacocks and haps because they are one of the most calm mbuna. So I think the general stocking plan would work out. As for plants, they arnt needed. In lake Malawi there are SOME plants, but mbuna means "rock fish" so naturally mostly rocks is the best way to go. Sand is a good idea because they like do dig alot. But if you are going to do this, put some egg crate on the bottom of the tank, then place the rocks on top, then add sand around the rocks. Just incase the mbuna dig out too much sand, and rocks come falling down and break the bottom glass. On the question of how high the rock should go, its really up to personal preference, and stability of the rock. Additional info for maintaining the tank would be...hmm...Oh, since the tank will be heavily stocked (There should be about 12-14 fish in a 55gal tank) Water changes are soo important. Other then that, same general care for a regular tank.
Also, no german rams in the tank, not only will they stay too small, they will get beaten up...maybe to even death if you didnt catch it in time. Also, GBR are from south america and have different water quality requirements to be happy, so its just not a good idea to mix cichlids from round the world. When you get the tank set up we want pics! Good luck, hope what I said helped!
 

Kephren01

Kephren01

Large Fish
#5
Aug 29, 2006
134
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0
New Jersey
#5
hahah.... I like this katie
"Sand is a good idea because they like do dig alot"

I have some decent sized gravel (big enough that they can't chew on it) and it's really funny looking at the wholes they dig. So far they dug out one area just to get to the bottom, and another area under a rock so they have another escape route. So yea, they like to dig, Silly Fish
 

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#6
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#6
I was only going to put in a few plants. I know they are rock dwelling fish. I heard they don't like the taste of some plants like the java fern. Thats why I am going to put a few plants in. Probably towards the back away from the rock. Maybe some on the rock. I will see what I can do as far as pictures go. We plan on moving soon. Same town just a different house. So I will likely just wait till after the move to start the tank up. It might be a couple of months before you see your first pic so hang in there. Are there special rocks I can get for my cichlids? Where can I get an egg crate? What is an egg crate? Thanks for the help! *PEACE!*
 

C

Cichlid-Man

MFT Staff
#7
Jul 9, 2003
8,866
14
38
38
Columbia, SC
www.youtube.com
#7
Lets start off easy, like everyone said no to the rams.

Plants. Its possible. I personally don't like plants in african tanks just because of the fact that they might get torn up or messed with. That being said look into things like Java Fern or Anubias....those can be tied onto rocks and are pretty hardy plants. Also different types of Val might work. Hit or miss.

As for the rocks, most any will work in about any layout. Nothings perfect. In Lake Malawi itself it just looks like rock piles all over the place...no real aquascape. To give you an idea here is my 55gal African tank. You can see i used big rocks as a base and kind of threw (not literally) rocks onto and around them for a "rubble" type of look.



Sand is good. You want them to sift the sand. Not only is it an awesome and entertaining behavior but it also keeps your tank a bit cleaner...they will find the pieces of food they missed at feeding time...which really isn't much because they go crazy for food.

Most of this is up to you. Not sure of your source, but most fish we have in our tanks are tank raised and don't know the difference between the Mickey Mouse bubbling diver or the real Lake Malawi. Things don't have to, and won't be perfect...set it up how you want. You of course will be the one looking at it every day.

Just be sure to give the fish a few crevices to go into the rockwork and it should be fine. Also peacocks do like some open water to swim in and may not hang out on and around the rocks like Mbuna do a lot, so i would leave some open space either above or around the rocks.

As for the fish species, i think it could work. Be sure to work some Spirulina Flakes into their diet. They are both prone to Malawi Bloat if fed to much protien.

I think i've covered it all for now but feel free to post about anything you are unsure of, we'd be happy to help the best we can. Looking forward to seeing it setup.

Oh and if i were you i'd look for something like a 75gal tank. Same Length and height as a 55gal just a little wider and its much easier to work in. If i could do it over i'd get the 75gal over my 55gal.
 

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#11
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#11
Perhaps some Electric Blue Haps. I just want one more type of fish so I will have 3 types of cichlids. Also will the electric blue and electric yellows cross breed? I don't want them to that's why I'm asking. Well this is the ratio I plan. 1 male pescock 2 female peacock. 1 male electric yellow 2f yellows. 1m blue hap 2 female hap. What do you think of that? Will it work? Thanks. :D
 

G

Going for broke

Large Fish
#12
Jul 28, 2006
125
0
0
#12
Unexpected said:
Perhaps some Electric Blue Haps. I just want one more type of fish so I will have 3 types of cichlids. Also will the electric blue and electric yellows cross breed? I don't want them to that's why I'm asking. Well this is the ratio I plan. 1 male pescock 2 female peacock. 1 male electric yellow 2f yellows. 1m blue hap 2 female hap. What do you think of that? Will it work? Thanks. :D
Click to expand...

I'd say that combo would work ok.. Cross breeding is always poss. but I think you limit tha chances of that when you have females of the same species present
 

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#13
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#13
Ya, I guess if they do I will just cull the eggs or fry. Or if I do keep them I will just put them in a seperate tank. I know not to breed or sell them. A few more guestions. First off after the parents are done mouth-brooding the fry will they eat them. Or will they just leave them alone. Also if hybrids are made what are some good ways to cull them. If the other fish will eat them then I could just leave them in there. Also what is a good way to get the eggs. Do I just have to wait and cull the fry after she spits them out. Or is there a safe way to get the mother to spit out the eggs. Thanks. *PEACE!*
 

FreddyJ

FreddyJ

Large Fish
#15
May 5, 2006
187
0
0
#15
Chances are your fish will take several attempts at births until one is actually successful. I think younger fish need a few practice runs.

It all depends on the size of your fish at purchase, I suppose.

Usually they just spit them and provided you have enough nooks and crannys and crevices, the fry will hide until they are big enough to fend for themselves. In my experience, I always lose some but that is ok (in my case) because I don't have room for 24-fish broods ever two months. Yikes!

Good luck!

Oh and I think it was Katie who posted a really good post about "Stripping" your cichlid of fry if they refuse to spit them. I've done it twice, following the same lines as the video, and it was very successful.

Oh yeah, and they don't spit eggs, they spit free-swimming fish.
 

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#16
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#16
Um, I know that they spit out fry. I meant is there a way to get her to spit out the eggs before they hatch. I'll look into this stripping. Wo Wo Wo, do you mean they have 24 babies every two months or 24 batches of babies every 2 months? I think you mean 24 babies every two months. I will just sell the babies. Maybe keep a few to replace ones that die. Hmm...if I sell them at even $1 each I will get ~$20 every two months. Depending on how many babies there are. Not much, but if I save that up those twenties I can buy better equipment bigger tanks and things like that. I will probably sell them at $2 each which still is a good deal. Even the wal-mart ones cost ya $5 each. And those wal-mart ones could very well be hybrids and lower quality cichlids. At $2 each I will get $40 every two months. I just read that they breed every month. So by that rate that is $40 month. At that rate I can save up a few months and by a bigger tank and what not. Forget mowing lawns. *celebrate
 

C

Cichlid-Man

MFT Staff
#17
Jul 9, 2003
8,866
14
38
38
Columbia, SC
www.youtube.com
#17
Its possible to get the eggs from a female before they hatch, but the stress put on her while trying to catch her to strip them would probably make her swallow them or spit them in the tank where they fall down in the rocks or get scooped up by the other hungry fish really fast. You'd then need an egg tumbler to hatch them.

Breeding them every month might require you to have a good bit of females. Sometimes the current breeding females need a break from all the beating and breeding.

I wouldn't count on fish breeding as a business, at least not yet. Keep mowing lawns, much more efficient and garunteed profit. ;)
 

Unexpected

Unexpected

Large Fish
#18
May 1, 2007
117
0
0
MI
#18
Well, I wasn't going to force breeding. I'm just going to set it up and if they breed then the breed. Is it common or umcommon for them to breed with no help from me? If so how often will they breed?
 

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