Hey everyone,
I've been out of the aquarium scene since I was a teenager, and to be honest, I didn't know the first thing about keeping fish back then. Now I'm trying to get things right this time around and fix some of the mistakes I made initially.
I'd really appreciate it if some of you could help me identify the type and aggressiveness of the fish I've already brought home. I got these six from a mixed tank, and they're about 1"-1.25" long right now. They're showing some mild aggressive behavior, but that's it so far. I have no idea how to sex them at this size.
I've attached a video, but I'll get some close-ups as soon as I can take them properly. Any advice on compatibility would be great.
The tank they're in right now is way too tall and has too low of a volume (30 gal, 1/2 moon acrylic). I'm actually in the process of exchanging the 55 gal I originally bought for a 75gallon long (almost 5' long), because I think that would be a better fit.
Do I absolutely need a buffering substrate? I was hoping to save some money by using silica sand. My tap water has a pH of around 7.4.
As for stocking, I'm planning to add a few more fish eventually if needed to help temper aggression. I'm really enjoying these fish, but I need some direction to make sure they're as comfortable as possible.
Thanks for your input.
Here's the video - the tank's a bit of a mess since it was taken right after a water change.
A little guidance and identification
Re: A little guidance and identification
Hi Tmiller,
You've got yourself some beautiful Malawi (Mbuna) African cichlids - my personal favourites, I must say.
The fish in your video appear to be as follows: the blue one with vertical stripes is a Metriaclima lombardoi, which can be quite aggressive. The other blue one with horizontal stripes seems to be a Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (maingano), another relatively aggressive species. The yellow one with black horizontal stripes looks like another Melanochromis species, possibly a 'goldenly'. The yellow fish appears to be a Labidochromis caeruleus, and the orange one might be a Metriaclima estherae (red zebra), although it's difficult to tell at this size.
In terms of stocking, I'd recommend keeping only one of the Melanochromis species. Ideally, you'd need a very large aquarium to keep two of these species together. The Lombardoi can be challenging, but that's true of most Mbuna, as each fish has its own personality. The Labs and red zebra's may interbreed due to their similar colouration, so it might be best to keep one or the other.
To minimize aggression, it's a good idea to increase the number of each species. The ideal male-to-female ratio varies depending on the species and tank size. For Melanochromis, I'd suggest having one male and multiple females, as the females can be aggressive with each other. In general, having more males is better than having more females, but be careful not to have too many males, as this can lead to dominance issues. Two males can be a problem, but three or more can help distribute aggression.
Having multiple males encourages the alpha male to show his colours, which helps to protect his female and stimulate spawning. A single female in a group of males is often harassed less than a single pair, as the alpha male spends more time chasing the other males, leaving the female alone. This can help stimulate spawning, as the female is more likely to be attracted to a male that's showing his best colours.
As for buffering the water, you can use baking soda to raise the pH, and then add Seachem lake salts to maintain the hardness and pH. Adding a bag of coflake sand to the external filter can also help. However, this isn't strictly necessary unless you're keeping wild or F1 fish that are more sensitive to water conditions.
Hope this helps you out.
You've got yourself some beautiful Malawi (Mbuna) African cichlids - my personal favourites, I must say.
The fish in your video appear to be as follows: the blue one with vertical stripes is a Metriaclima lombardoi, which can be quite aggressive. The other blue one with horizontal stripes seems to be a Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (maingano), another relatively aggressive species. The yellow one with black horizontal stripes looks like another Melanochromis species, possibly a 'goldenly'. The yellow fish appears to be a Labidochromis caeruleus, and the orange one might be a Metriaclima estherae (red zebra), although it's difficult to tell at this size.
In terms of stocking, I'd recommend keeping only one of the Melanochromis species. Ideally, you'd need a very large aquarium to keep two of these species together. The Lombardoi can be challenging, but that's true of most Mbuna, as each fish has its own personality. The Labs and red zebra's may interbreed due to their similar colouration, so it might be best to keep one or the other.
To minimize aggression, it's a good idea to increase the number of each species. The ideal male-to-female ratio varies depending on the species and tank size. For Melanochromis, I'd suggest having one male and multiple females, as the females can be aggressive with each other. In general, having more males is better than having more females, but be careful not to have too many males, as this can lead to dominance issues. Two males can be a problem, but three or more can help distribute aggression.
Having multiple males encourages the alpha male to show his colours, which helps to protect his female and stimulate spawning. A single female in a group of males is often harassed less than a single pair, as the alpha male spends more time chasing the other males, leaving the female alone. This can help stimulate spawning, as the female is more likely to be attracted to a male that's showing his best colours.
As for buffering the water, you can use baking soda to raise the pH, and then add Seachem lake salts to maintain the hardness and pH. Adding a bag of coflake sand to the external filter can also help. However, this isn't strictly necessary unless you're keeping wild or F1 fish that are more sensitive to water conditions.
Hope this helps you out.
Re: A little guidance and identification
Thanks so much for the detailed breakdown. I really appreciate the insight, especially since I'm still figuring things out.
At this size, I'm having trouble envisioning how to sex them - getting a good look at the vent area seems like it'll be a challenge. I do have a local fish store with a huge supply of these guys, all around the same size, and I'd love to add more to the tank, but I'm hesitant to bring home a bunch only to have to rehome them later if I don't have the right male-to-female ratio when they mature.
At this size, I'm having trouble envisioning how to sex them - getting a good look at the vent area seems like it'll be a challenge. I do have a local fish store with a huge supply of these guys, all around the same size, and I'd love to add more to the tank, but I'm hesitant to bring home a bunch only to have to rehome them later if I don't have the right male-to-female ratio when they mature.
Re: A little guidance and identification
It seems I've got my work cut out for me. After doing some research, I'm starting to think I might've bitten off more than I can chew with these Mbuna's. The Metriaclima lombardoi, in particular, seem to have a pretty nasty reputation - extremely aggressive and territorial. I'm not sure if growing up with the others will mellow them out, but I'm not holding my breath.
The melanochromis cyaneorhabdos, on the other hand, seem like a handful too. They're like little nomads, always on the move and ready to pick a fight with any other horizontal-striped cichlid they come across. I've got to admit, they're pretty cute now, but I'm not sure if that'll be enough to make up for their attitude.
The Labidochromis caeruleus, if that's what I've got, seems like a great starter fish, though. They're supposed to be pretty docile and easy-going, which is just what I need. And the metriaclima estherae, if that's what the orange one is, might not be so bad either. They're supposed to be a bit more aggressive, but nothing too out of control.
So, here's the thing - I'm committed to setting up a Mbuna tank, but I'm not sure if I've got the right fish for the job. I was thinking of returning the ones I've got and starting over with some less aggressive species, but at the same time, I don't want to give up on these little guys just yet. They're already growing on me, and I've got a great deal on more of them at my LFS - $1.99 for a single one, or 6 for $10. The problem is, I've got no way of knowing if I'm getting males or females, which makes things a bit tricky.
I guess my question is, should I take a chance on these guys and see how they develop, or should I cut my losses and start fresh with some new fish?
The melanochromis cyaneorhabdos, on the other hand, seem like a handful too. They're like little nomads, always on the move and ready to pick a fight with any other horizontal-striped cichlid they come across. I've got to admit, they're pretty cute now, but I'm not sure if that'll be enough to make up for their attitude.
The Labidochromis caeruleus, if that's what I've got, seems like a great starter fish, though. They're supposed to be pretty docile and easy-going, which is just what I need. And the metriaclima estherae, if that's what the orange one is, might not be so bad either. They're supposed to be a bit more aggressive, but nothing too out of control.
So, here's the thing - I'm committed to setting up a Mbuna tank, but I'm not sure if I've got the right fish for the job. I was thinking of returning the ones I've got and starting over with some less aggressive species, but at the same time, I don't want to give up on these little guys just yet. They're already growing on me, and I've got a great deal on more of them at my LFS - $1.99 for a single one, or 6 for $10. The problem is, I've got no way of knowing if I'm getting males or females, which makes things a bit tricky.
I guess my question is, should I take a chance on these guys and see how they develop, or should I cut my losses and start fresh with some new fish?
Re: A little guidance and identification
The Lombardoi's and melanochromis cyaneorhabdos are indeed known for their aggressive tendencies, but as I mentioned earlier, individual personalities can vary greatly. You might end up with a real tank bully, regardless of the species. On the other hand, I think the Labidochromis caeruleus would be a great choice for your first Malawi tank - they seem like a good fit for you. Considering you already have one, I'd suggest increasing their numbers. As for the Lombardoi and melanochromis species, it might be best to err on the side of caution and let them go, opting for something different instead. The metriaclima estherae could work, but keep in mind they might interbreed with the labs - it depends on whether you're interested in keeping the fry. Once you've upgraded to the 75G, you'll have more flexibility to keep higher numbers of each species, roughly 6+ per species. You could try taking some photos of the fish at your LFS to see what they have available. As for sexing, you can always thin out the males as they grow - it's not a problem, and multiple males can work well with certain species.