A few quick questions about a Cichlid tank.

[FUBAR]

Sorry about starting another Cichlid topic, but the search turned up about a million different threads. (might be a slight exageration)

I have six cichlids. Three Electric Yellows, and three Cobalt Blues. They all appear to be male.

So here's my questions.

1) They're growing faster than I thought, and getting more aggressive. So I thought about adding females. How many would I need to keep them happy and not compete with eachother?

2) About how big of a tank would I need? I'm sure the one I have in mind is large enough, but I'd like your opinions.

3) What sort of bottom feeders could I mix with them?

Thanks for your time!

 

[Menagerie]

The general rule is 2-3 females per male. However, that will probably not stop the aggression, as there will be a reason to show off. Right now, the aggression is over territory and it sounds like there is not enough of it. You can stick with all males and upgrade the tank, provide lots fo caves and hope for the best. I have never kept Cobalts, so I'm not sure how much more aggressive they are when compared to the Yellows. You can add Synodontis Petricola or Synodontis Multipunctatus as bottom feeders. However, do your homework, as they are parasitic (sp) breeders and if they breed, any female yellows will not be able to hold the young.
It all comes down to doing some research and getting the largest tank possible (and even then you'll want to upgrade in a few years). You can see my Mbuna set up in my gallery.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

I have Cobalts and Labs together and they are both not very aggressive towards each other. Although, the Cobalts will become aggressive during breeding. Are you sure that all of your fish are males? Yellow Labs are hard to sex and Cobalts have slight variances between male and female.

In general, African Cichlids need at least a 55 gal tank. Cobalts dart around more than the labs, and could benefit from a 75 gal tank, but can be housed in a 55. Labs can be housed in a 30 gal as juvi's, but really need a 55 gal to thrive.

I agree with Menagerie, they will definately benefit from more hiding places. Add caves and a few bunches of plants. My labs like to hang in my greenery if it is densly placed.

What size of a tank are they in now?

 

[FUBAR]

For the time being, they are in a 35. They're fine for now, but I know I need something bigger. The sooner the better.

The reason I said they were males is because a friend of mine (who lives for cichlids) said they were. I asked if he was sure and he claimed he was a 100% on it.

I would be bugging him about it, but he's out of town. So here I am.




Now, I do want females because I want them to breed. So considering my six are all males... according to the rule, I should be getting a minimum of twelve females. Is 75gal going to be enough? Seem's like a lot.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

If you are going to want to breed, you'll definately need a larger tank. I'd say a 75 gal minimum. And even then, I would trade some of your currect stock in and replace with females. For example, I would trade in one or two of the male Cobalts and get 4 Female cobalts. Then trade in one of the labs and get 4 females. That will put you at about 12 fish. Provide plenty of rockwork and the Cobalts will breed like crazy.

African Cichlids need rockwork to breed. So provide a large area of stacked pieces of rockword and in no time you will have fry. I did that in our 150 gal tank. One day we added a large structure of rockwork and 3 weeks later we had 29 Cobalt fry. Of course you'll have to increase the temp of the tank to between 79 and 81 and have water conditions in favorible conditions.

Yellow Labs are very difficult to sex, even for the most experienced. So when you go to purchase females, be sure to purchase them in the adult stage. Juvi's are impossible to sex because they have not grown the distinguishing characteristics yet.

HTH.

 

[fantasticaqua]

Start with adjusting your aquariums setup, add caves and other structure for the cichlids to hide out in. Try to have a way in and a way out of each spot so they can chase each other through but not get trapped. If that doesnt work consider a dither fish or two such as the infamous danio.

Cichlids are going to be a bit aggressive no matter what so are they just chasing or are fish getting hurt?

 

[FUBAR]

I feel silly now about the "all males" thing. Found out tonight that at least two are female, and are having babies/fry/spawn....

And none have been hurt so far. Mostly just chasing, but one of my Cobalts has been fighting one of the Yellows. Not much, but it's increasing in frequency. I will add more rock though, see if that makes a difference.

Fishyfanatic- How do you go about sexing them? Both the Yellow Labs and the Cobalts.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

There is a debate about sexing Cobalts. I have heard conflicting information. I read that male Cobalts will have beetween 5 and 10 egg spots whereas the female will have between 1 and 4. This is true in my Cobalts. But it depends if you have the Cobalt Zebra or the Maylandia Callainos. I have the latter.

Yellow Labs are impossible to sex as juvi's and still difficult as adults. Males will have darker bottom fins (not sure of the exact name of them) and a darker black strip on the top.

Aggression really shows during breeding. Cobalts will become very territorial. You can always tell if they are about to breed if aggression increases and the female does the shimmy over rocks. Being a mouth broader, she will hold the eggs in her mouth until they hatch. Then she will hold the fry in her mouth until she feels safe to release them into the tank. She should be removed as soon as she has the bulge in her mouth and put in a seperate tank by herself to release the fry. You may have a situation like mine. I noticed the female was holding so I setup the QT. I put her in the QT in the evening and the next morning there were 29 fry swimming in the tank. I had another that released the fry in the transfer bag before she was even acclimated.

 

[FUBAR]

Sorry, haven't been on for awhile.

It looks like I have two male yellows, and two male cobalts. One female for each. The female cobalt is the dominant fish.

I'm only guessing they are males. The females I know for sure because they've both released fry.

Do male cobalts have darker stripes than the females? The female's stripes seem faded compaired to the other two.

One other question, if I were to setup java moss in the new tank... would they have their fry there? So that I could avoid setting up another tank just for fry? Or would that not provide enough cover?

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Which cobalt do you have? There are two different Cobalts. To distinguish, click on the links I provided in my previous post.

Cobalts are diggers, they may tare apart the plants, but they may not. Travis Simmonson(sp) has had great luck with plants and Africans. But they definately need a place to dig.

They may release their fry in the main tank. In all probability they will get eaten by the other fish.

 

[FUBAR]

I have the zebras.

 

[FUBAR]

I keep bringing this thread back... sorry. Haha. Figured it's better to keep everything in one thread than to start new one's all the time.

Ok...

So I bought a really nice 150gallon. My new questions are.

Are there any fish/snails/whatever, that will airate my sand? And that wont be eaten by the cichlids/catfish?

Also, since I have Yellows/Cobalts.... what other cichlids can I mix safely? I want more color. I like the Red Peacocks (i believe that's what they were).

Oh, and no one ever told me how to sex the Cobalts (zebras).

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Africans will eat snails, but I have found several survivors in my 150 African Cichlid tank that they haven't gotten to. Look for Malaysian Trumpet Snails. I get them free from the lfs and they gladly give me more when I come in.

Have you considered Acei's? They are purple with yellow fins and tail. Very attractive fish. Snow Whites are also attractive and offset the coloration of the other fish.

Sorry, I don't know how to sex Zebras. I thought you were referring to the other Cobalt. Try visiting www.malawimayhem.com

 

[FUBAR]

Ok, tell me if this will work.

150 gallon tank.

3 Yellow Labs
3 Cobalt Blues
3 Aceis
1 Frontosa
1 Tiger Oscar
2 Syndontis Eupterus
1-2 Common Plecos

 

[Fishyfanatic]

The Labs, Blues, and Acei's are Lake Malawi African Cichlids. The Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika Cichlid. In general, these two lakes should not be combined. If they are in the same tank, caution should be used. The Oscar is a South American Cichlid and should not be housed with Africans. I would say that the Syndontis Eupterus would be fine with the Lake Malawi Cichlids, but the tank will require more maintenance since the Eupterus is sensitive to nitrates. The pleco's are fine with whatever you want to add to the tank. They can pretty much handle almost all fish as tankmates.

 

[FUBAR]

Is the reason they can't be mixed due to agression? Or more with water parameters?

Bah! I like the colors in the Malawi Cichlids, but the others are so interesting looking. Bah I say!

Maintenance doesn't concern me as setup and taking care of the fish are my favorite parts.

I should probably just start PMing you.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

It's partially agression. Also the water conditions differ and the dietary needs. The Africans are Omnivores while the Oscar is a Carnivore.

You can PM me. I'll try to help as best as I can. I've become infatuated with African Cichlids, trying to read up on them as much as I can. IMO they have so much personality and color. They are unlike any other fish.

 

[FUBAR]

Ok, so here's my tank setup so far.
(excuse the poor quality... all I have is a camera phone)

ViaAqua 150 gallon glass aquarium and stand. (Model 180 I believe)
This came with a hood that holds 6 25w 14000k florecent bulbs. And a wet/dry filter with 5 chambers.

2- 300w ViaAqua Titanium heaters.

2- Via Aqua 1300 powerheads.

That's it for equipment. I plan on adding a canister filter.

The rest is just sand and rock. Oh, and some crushed coral to raise the ph.

Any suggestions?

 

[rich311k]

Looks great. Cant wait to see it full of fish.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Where did you get the rock? Is it slate?