Personally, I don't think Auratus should be mixed with any other species period - no matter what continent they are from, but that is just my opinion. I agree Auratus shouldn't be mixed with anything. That was just an example of how it doesn't need to be complicated. Sorry if I muddied the waters with that one. So are you telling us that you think the Aci and the Electric yellow are ok with the Jacks? Nope never said that if you look back earlier in the thread I said mbunas should not be mixed FG made the comment specifically about the aquarium, and you yourself have stated several times that you don't advocate mixing mbuna with New World Cichlids. Again never advocated mixing mbuna with JDThe vast majority of the questions and posts are exactly that; mixing mbuna of some type with New World Cichlids. True and they should be addressed as such Most people also do not keep only one JD, most keep multiples, and thus for the reasons we already stated, even that is an ok situation only in the right conditions/situation.Bad assumption I only keep 1 and from what I have seen a majority only keep one. When you get into multiples you get more into aggression issues In other words, regardless of similarities in water chemistry, you can't keep a group of JDs with a group of haps because of behavior/territorial issues that result from pair-bonding.Agreed already stated a pair would not work you should have seen that in my previous post so I don't understand why you using this as an argument Therefore, you might keep a single JD with a group of haps, but only if its a single JD? So why tell people that it can be done? because it can a singe JD can be kept with a group of peacocks, that is what started this whole thing
In other words, you are advocating for the exception to the rule, rather than the general rule itself. There are always exceptions to every rule, but look at any of the advice being offered on the forums - its generally the rule, not the exception. No the rule is wrong as it stands there are more than jsut a few exceptions.Can I set-up a self-sustaining aquarium that will maintain itself indefinitely, is a classic example. This is a different argument and the answer should be it is possible but typically no, nothing can survive indefinitely with out maintenance. However if you are interested in a self sustaining tank you will need to do a lot of research people have tried it and have journaled resultsThe debate of housing Old Worlds with New Worlds is the same type of discussion.I disagree different argument Even GBR and Kribs, which I believe was one of your examples, is only going to work till the fish mature and start breeding. Are you speaking breading age or actual breeding? I already addressed the breeding issue. But with these two specific species even when breeding if they are in the right size tank it would still work Many people advocate success because they are keeping juveniles, rather than adults.Agreed, but I am discussing adults For the vast majority of people asking the questions on the forum, the rule stands. And actually I said it could be done in my first post, if you read it carefully, by someone who has done the research and knows what they are doing. Most people like that are not going to be posting up a question asking if it can be doneThen what are we debating for? We both believe it can be done. Now our job is to provide accurate information when asked not throughout a blanket statement that it cant be done unless it truly cant be done with those fish. Again I say educate. People with no experience at all are repeating this line and have no idea why.
, but as you pointed out, the crux of this debate comes down to the blanket statement. I would argue it is the same debate as that for self-sustaining aquariums. The fact of the matter is that self-sustaining aquariums can be done, long term with success, if they are set-up correctly. So to say it can't ever be done is an inaccurate blanket statement. Why do we use it? For two reasons; one, most people who ask the question aren't at a point in their aquarium-keeping skills to be able to do it, and two, those who might be, don't want to take the time to write the book that it would take to explain how it can be done. Another common example would be undergravel filters. Lots of people say, "they are junk, they are nothing but nitrate traps that don't work at all." Again, an incorrect blanket statement, but one worth taking the time to point out the errors in?
