Any Catfish with Cichlids?

[greyboysix]

I'm starting a Cichlid tank, but only after finding out that the water in my area isn't really suitable (comfortable, really) for many of your more usual freshwater species. When I originally started, I really wanted to get a tank started so I could have some catfish. According to the books I have, I can't really find a catfish that would fit in with the water I have (Hard, alkaline, pH 8.2, 75 degrees F). The Cichlids I'm looking to get are electric yellow Labidochromis (about three of 'em) and maybe one or two others that are tame. Anyone here know of a good catfish that would fit into my little (29 gallon) tank?

 

[Wy Renegade]

You might try the upside down catfish. I've stocked them with ALC for years with good success. Additionally, since they actually swim around upside down they make a great topic of discussion.

 

[mattrox]

I have a feather fin http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_feather.php it is not from Lake Malawi, but the fish in the tank don't know that!

Here is a list of rift lake species.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/riftcats.shtml

 

[tomanytanks]

cory cat

You can never go wrong with a cory cat!

 

[tomanytanks]

try cory cats

 

[toddnbecka]

You really need a larger tank than a 29 for yellow Lab's, that size is better suited to Tanganykian shellies, with possibly a pair of Julies to share it.
Synodontis lucipinnis (formerly S. petricola) is a dwarf species from the same lake, but again, you would really need a larger tank for a group of those. They're a social, schooling fish, not happy being kept alone.

 

[greyboysix]

Yeah, I think I'm just gonna stick with the Yellow Labs. Maybe one other cichlid. I'll get 'em as babies so they aren't agressive towards eachother.

 

[JustOneMore20]

You really need a larger tank than a 29 for yellow Lab's, that size is better suited to Tanganykian shellies, with possibly a pair of Julies to share it.
Synodontis lucipinnis (formerly S. petricola) is a dwarf species from the same lake, but again, you would really need a larger tank for a group of those. They're a social, schooling fish, not happy being kept alone.

Agreed. I wouldn't put Mbuna in a 29g. That just isn't enough space for territories and such. Tangs would be a better choice.

You can never go wrong with a cory cat!

Do not keep Cories with Mbuna. They will be killed.

 

[greyboysix]

My water's no good for tanganyikan cichlids. Perfect for Malawi's though. I don't know who to listen to anymore, as I've had just as many people tell me that what I want to do is fine as I've had tell me it's a mistake. Basically, I'm going to get baby Yellow Labs and let 'em grow into the tank. I'm not going to buy a bunch of full grown ones and try and shoe-horn them in. I'd love a larger tank, but I don't have room for anything larger than my 29 gallon right now. As I've lamented before, the water I have greatly limits what I can put in the tank baring totally bombing the water with chemicals to make tiny fish happy. And, nobody would recommend dousing the fish with chemicals. More than that, I don't want tiny fish, and I don't want big fish. From everything I've read off of the forums (specialist books and the like), a 29 gallon tank with proper filtration, heating, water make-up, and decor (lots of substrate for them to dig in, a few rock caves, lots of plants [plastic in my case, I have the opposite of a green thumb]), should be just fine for three or four yellow labs. Not trying to tick anyone off here, just getting really frustrated.

 

[JDogg]

try cory cats

corys with malawi cichlids better your tank then mine

 

[greyboysix]

corys with malawi cichlids better your tank then mine

No no no. I didn't mean to intimate that I would put cats in my tank. I might try it if I had a huge tank where they would be able to have their own space, but I don't. I was hoping that someone who had some experience trying it might be able to give some advice, positive or negative.

 

[JDogg]

No no no. I didn't mean to intimate that I would put cats in my tank. I might try it if I had a huge tank where they would be able to have their own space, but I don't. I was hoping that someone who had some experience trying it might be able to give some advice, positive or negative.

Maybe I should put it this way...
I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank, and I AM going to put three yellow labs in it (and nothing else). If anyone has some constructive advice about doing so, I would be only too happy to listen.

my comment was directed twords the person who suggested Cory cats (not a good choice IMO)
there are cat species as others have mentioned that are fine with african cichlids.

for example i have a Featherfin Syno in my Malawi tank. it is the "Alpha" and most aggresive fish, the cichlids get to eat his leftovers.

but as others have suggested a 29 is going to be small for the fish you want, but its your tank i would go with 1 male and 2 females in that case, if you get two males you may have a dead fish on your hands.

 

[greyboysix]

An Apology

My last post was a little acrimonious and combative, and I want to appologize about that. I thought I edited it before anyone saw it, but I was too late. I'm originally from New York, and am most definitely fully programed to operate in said city. So, when I get frustrated, I get angry, and when I get angry, I lash out at people that don't deserve it. Hey, it comes from being a Sheepshead Bay dago, I guess. Haha. Anyway, again, sincerest appologies.

If anyone's got a suggestion for a comfortable make up of the tank that includes very colorful fish and at least one yellow lab that will all get along together, I'm all ears.

 

[kay-bee19]

A 29gal is small if trying to keep mbuna's, even the less aggressive types like yellow labs. With that species a 55gal or larger would be best, however there is a chance that a 29gal would work, in which case you'd want to go with 1m/3 or 4f.

This species is particularly difficult to sex, especially when they're tiny so you may actually initially stock with a greater quantity than four (maybe six to eight of them), then weed out (sell/trade) the excess males as they become apparent. Even with 1m/4f, it's a risk in a 29gal (especially if the male ends up being over eager), but may work.

For a small variety you 'could' substitute one of the females with a rusty cichlid (Iodotropheus sprengerae): 1m/3f yellow labs, 1 rusty. A less risky set up would be 3-4f yellow labs (no male) & 1 rusty.

Finally, mbuna aggression tends to develop over time, especially if starting out with tiny juvies. Initial peaceful coexistence (~first year), isn't a definative indicator of how coexistence will continue to go in the long-term. 2-3 years down the road (in my experience) is when aggression potential peaks.

 

[Rome720]

Cichlids and Catfish live in peace!

I have had a 20 gal. tank with multiple Cichlids (Af) and Catfish living together in harmony ... I have a Rapheal Cat and 3 cory cats that have no problem getting along with the 4 Cichlids I have in the tank that are very aggressive. Also I have a pleco that seems to get along great as well ... my next experiement with the community is getting a few sharks and seeing how they will respond ... the nice thing about having the cats and the pleco is that i does make cleaning up of the algae and tank a cinch and I rarely have to do water changes and such ... Plus they seem to adapt to the African cichlids living conditions (Ph wise) so i have no problems there.

Hopefully this helps if you are looking to combine Cichlids and Catfish in one community ... But let me warn you ... i have no clue how this might work with the SA Cichlids ... I only have African.

Aaron

 

[dxs2104]

Sounds similiar to what I'm looking to do, minus the Mbuna.

Although I think I'm going with a pair of Bolivian rams and 6-8 Corys in my 29g.

 

[toddnbecka]

Err, this thread is 2.5 years old...