55 G Mbuna Stocking

[vivienb]

Trying to help a friend in another city stock his 55 g with Mbuna. This is what he has to pick from

Yellow Labs
Saulosi
Rusty's
Acei
Red Zebra's

and he's wondering if Rainbow Cichlids would work (Central America)

any suggestions for stocking?

[jon carman]

Saulosi will be most aggressive, looks like a good stock list. Rainbow might get beat up, might not, I dont know.

[vivienb]

Thank you Jon, can you tell me how many of each fish you recommend? This guy is a newbie and I don't do Mbuna's.

[jon carman]

3 of each

[vivienb]

Thank you! When you see Brad tomorrow can you please bring me 2 large fish bags? If you have to make a special trip to the fish farm, don't go through all that, we can just use buckets. We are supposed to be moving the Oscar and Dragon this week and Brad gave you all the large bags we had back.

[jon carman]

If I have a chance to go out there, I will grab you a few things. Bucket would be better than bag regardless because once they get a certain size, it gets hard to do unless you use three or four bags. But I will bring them if I can.

[vivienb]

Thanks Jon, don't worry about the bags then, I will just ask dude to bring 2 buckets

[signde]

a good guide for 55g african setup

www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

[vivienb]

Hey Jon, the guy I am trying to help with the 55 Mbuna stocking will be joining the group. He may also want to see about shipping fish to Virginia. Thanks!

[cja313]

Gang, I'm the newbie to African Cichlids that Vivienb was asking stocking tips for. Decided to join the forum. Jon, was on your website and really impressed with your tank videos. What type of Lighting (# of bulbs, wattage, colors,) are you using in the 3 videos on the website's homepage?

Also, you mentioned 3 fish per species.....considering that Im most likely going to purchase juveniles which are impossible to sex, would I need to be concerned about harrasment as the fish mature or are these low-key fish as it is and should be ok since they are being raised together as juveniles?

Thanks in advance!
-Chris

[vivienb]

Hello Signde, thank you for that link. Very helpful info. We are helping a friend so I will point this out to him when he get on the forum.

[vivienb]

Hello Chris! Welcome! Very nice folks here will help you get started, have fun Oh... check out the link Signde just posted also.

[jon carman]

I wouldn't worry about it. If you get juvies just get what you like, in what ever numbers, and know that by the time they are large, you will lose a few but it will shake out and you will end up with a stable tank. When breeding happens is when it could get tricky. If you have an open mind to what you get you could do one male of a lot of different species and it would be safest bet.

[cja313]

being to to Cichlids, I'm not so sure Im comfortable with them breeding, and what to do with the fry, etc. Maybe an all male tank would be best....but that would require purchasing all adult fish, once they've been sexed, correct? Say I went the Juveinle route and a pair of fish did breed. What would I do with the fry? Im guessing I'd have to set up a small fry tank, raise them and then either try and sell/give them away or see if my local fish store would take them?

[jon carman]

No you can usually sex males at a small size. Subdominate males and females are where it gets tough.