Cichlid Tank - Aquarium Advice

Alvarez · 12-10-2005, 11:15 PM

Ok I am gonna start up the Cichlid tank. It is the 56 gallon 30 inch tank I have mentioned before...

I have been told to go with Malawian Cichlids and I have a list of some I would like to add, someone tell me if I may run in to some problems

Yellow Lab, Blue Peacock, Parrot Cichlid, Yellow Peacock, and a Peacock OB.

Should these 5 mix well? They are already mixed at the [acronym:c6d1ae1424="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:c6d1ae1424] together and are all Malawian Cichlids. However should I go couples? or just these 5?

Alvarez · 12-11-2005, 09:43 AM

Noone know much about cichlids?

**Zagz** · 12-11-2005, 12:26 PM

Yellow labs are mbuna and I keep them with my peacocks with no trouble, the parrot cichlid I don't know much about, the names of the other fish aren't terribly helpful, a blue peacock could actually be a few different types of peacocks as that is not a scientific name. The yellow peacock is most likely an Aulonocara baenschi. It will get along with the other fine. The OB is something I am also familiar with, I have a few and they are peaceful and will get along fine with most of the others. Just know that they are an off breed, a mixed strain.

Also just because the [acronym:f9ff9963b3="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:f9ff9963b3] has fish housed in the same tank does not mean they are supposed to go there. The fish at the [acronym:f9ff9963b3="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:f9ff9963b3] are rarely in the same tank together for any lenght of time. Also not all fish from Lake Malawi can be mixed together, some are far more agressive. I would say that the fish could go together [acronym:f9ff9963b3="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:f9ff9963b3] with the exception of I dont know anything about the parrot cichlid.

Alvarez · 12-11-2005, 03:23 PM

The parrot is listed as being very peaceful and can defend itself in a mixed cichlid tank. I like how they look so I listed it... its not a malawi cichlid but I have seen many people that have mixed them in their profiles on forums.

TankGirl · 12-11-2005, 03:33 PM

In a tank that size you can mix mbuna and peacocks (Aulonocara), but I would get more than 5 individuals, as they are going to have conflicts over territory. Labs are probably the best choice to mix with peacocks, if you are going to do it.

The peacocks you list are all pretty much the same type of fish, just from different parts of the lake and with different coloration. [acronym:56aa728935="As far as I know"]AFAIK[/acronym:56aa728935] the parrot can handle themselves with Africans but I have never kept one so I can't comment on them.

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-11-2005, 07:45 PM

Parrots are a South American Cichlid, not Africans. They can be kept with Africans but they grow very large in size and should be in a tank larger than 56 [acronym:44fec62709="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:44fec62709]. They grow to approx 8 inches.

The OB Peacocks should be ok until they start to breed. They become very aggressive. More so than any other Hap that I have owned. The other options sound great. Have you thought of Acei's?

buckshot · 12-12-2005, 10:26 AM

Parrot are not really anything. they are a cross bread and do not exist in the wild, right? Or I could be totally wrong, lol. I have never had them personally

TankGirl · 12-12-2005, 10:31 AM

Right, buckshot. They are supposed to be a cross between the midas cichlid and the redhead cichlid, but some say it is severum and red devil. There is disagreement about this. I don't personally like to mix Old World cichlids with New World, but people do it all the time and it is personal preference.

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-12-2005, 10:43 AM

Technically they are farm raised hybrids between two South American cichlids. That's why I said they were South American. As TG stated, there is a debate about which two cichlids have been bred to form the Parrot. But regardless, they can be aggressive, but most are very docile. I had two that could handle their own against the Africans. But then I had another one that would hide all the time away from the other fish because it was being picked on constantly.

Alvarez · 12-13-2005, 04:34 PM

Ok scratch the last list... I was told to just stick with Malawian Cichlids, the peacock gets too big anyways at 8 inches... Also I was told a good rule of thumb was to stay with omnivores around the same size.

If all the fish were say Yellow Labs size 4-6 inches... how many would I be able to keep in my 56 gallon 30 inch long tank without overstocking it?

12-10-2005, 11:15 PM	#1
Alvarez Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 185	Cichlid Tank Ok I am gonna start up the Cichlid tank. It is the 56 gallon 30 inch tank I have mentioned before... I have been told to go with Malawian Cichlids and I have a list of some I would like to add, someone tell me if I may run in to some problems Yellow Lab, Blue Peacock, Parrot Cichlid, Yellow Peacock, and a Peacock OB. Should these 5 mix well? They are already mixed at the [acronym:c6d1ae1424="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:c6d1ae1424] together and are all Malawian Cichlids. However should I go couples? or just these 5?

12-11-2005, 09:43 AM	#2
Alvarez Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 185	Noone know much about cichlids? __________________ http://www.ramzmusic.com/pics/alvarezsig.jpg

12-11-2005, 03:23 PM	#4
Alvarez Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 185	The parrot is listed as being very peaceful and can defend itself in a mixed cichlid tank. I like how they look so I listed it... its not a malawi cichlid but I have seen many people that have mixed them in their profiles on forums. __________________ http://www.ramzmusic.com/pics/alvarezsig.jpg

12-11-2005, 03:33 PM	#5
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	In a tank that size you can mix mbuna and peacocks (Aulonocara), but I would get more than 5 individuals, as they are going to have conflicts over territory. Labs are probably the best choice to mix with peacocks, if you are going to do it. The peacocks you list are all pretty much the same type of fish, just from different parts of the lake and with different coloration. [acronym:56aa728935="As far as I know"]AFAIK[/acronym:56aa728935] the parrot can handle themselves with Africans but I have never kept one so I can't comment on them. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

12-11-2005, 07:45 PM	#6
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Parrots are a South American Cichlid, not Africans. They can be kept with Africans but they grow very large in size and should be in a tank larger than 56 [acronym:44fec62709="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:44fec62709]. They grow to approx 8 inches. The OB Peacocks should be ok until they start to breed. They become very aggressive. More so than any other Hap that I have owned. The other options sound great. Have you thought of Acei's? __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-12-2005, 10:26 AM	#7
buckshot Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ft. Belvoir, Va Posts: 28	Parrot are not really anything. they are a cross bread and do not exist in the wild, right? Or I could be totally wrong, lol. I have never had them personally __________________ Feel free to ask me any questions

12-12-2005, 10:31 AM	#8
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	Right, buckshot. They are supposed to be a cross between the midas cichlid and the redhead cichlid, but some say it is severum and red devil. There is disagreement about this. I don't personally like to mix Old World cichlids with New World, but people do it all the time and it is personal preference. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

12-12-2005, 10:43 AM	#9
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Technically they are farm raised hybrids between two South American cichlids. That's why I said they were South American. As TG stated, there is a debate about which two cichlids have been bred to form the Parrot. But regardless, they can be aggressive, but most are very docile. I had two that could handle their own against the Africans. But then I had another one that would hide all the time away from the other fish because it was being picked on constantly. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-13-2005, 04:34 PM	#10
Alvarez Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 185	Ok scratch the last list... I was told to just stick with Malawian Cichlids, the peacock gets too big anyways at 8 inches... Also I was told a good rule of thumb was to stay with omnivores around the same size. If all the fish were say Yellow Labs size 4-6 inches... how many would I be able to keep in my 56 gallon 30 inch long tank without overstocking it?

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