webtrawler84

hi all.

After seeing a thread on here from a certain person recently I decided to go down to the LFS after work and have another look at the malawi cichlids that they had.

The girl at the LFS has told me that she has had them for about 3 months and that no one wants them and they cannot sell them. I have managed to get a bit of a deal if I take them off her hands over the next months or so, this will mean that she can then use the tank for "better selling fish".

The only problem I have got is that part of the deal is that I take the two firemouth's aswell. there is already one in the tank and another has already been ordered for someone that nolonger wants it, but wanted a pair.Will the two firemouth cichlids be ok with malawi cichlids?

as I say, one of them are already on the tank with the malawi's and has been since they all arrived and seems fine but after reading here that the firemouth's are american and should not be kept with the others.

I feel for the little blighters and would really like to give them all (or as many as possible) a better home.

I already have 3 cori's in there that im using with TSS to cycle and all the signs are REALLY good with the tests, will these be ok in there aswell or will I have to rehome them (this would not be a problem)?

thanks in advance for any information

harpua2002

Cories do not belong with African cichlids. The cichlids are far too aggressive for them.

I wouldn't suggest keeping firemouths (or any SA/CA cichlids) with Malawi cichlids. Malawis prefer different water parameters than SA/CAs, and their behavior is completely different. If they are mbuna, their dietary needs are much different as well. Some people seem to get away with it just fine, but I can't say it seems like a good idea to me.

bolivianbaby

I have to agree with Harpua. A Big Rule in cichlid-keeping is not to mix cichlids from different lakes or environments.

Also, Firemouths are very aggressive as they get older, so you'd pretty much have a war zone.

harpua2002

LOL... inch for inch, I think Mbuna have firemouths beat on aggression level!
There are many Mbuna that are HUGE fish in a relatively small body!

Shawnie

they both IMO have the same agression depending on what type of mbuna they are...but I agree the water parimeters are way different for each and just because a firemouth is in with an african tank now, doesnt mean the tank is set up correctly for either fish....cories deffinately will NOT be ok with any africans...and would be iffy with the firemouths....although we feel bad and try to make things better for most fish at our LFS, its not always possible....

Angela_96

Malawi cichlids require a veggie diet low protien, high pH 7.8+ and hard water where most all American cichlids are softer water, meat eating fish that need a lower ph of 7.0 and bellow.

They should not be kept together. Also I agree the corys do not belong either.

webtrawler84

thanks all. Im going to remove the cory's into other tanks(I can see that is going to be fun). Im thinking about getting another tank setup for the firemouth's and that way I can have two tanks dedicated to cichlids, one american and one african. the only other thing i can think of is get a small tank just for the firemouth's. what would you guys say the minimum size tank would be for two firemouth's?

thanks again in advance

harpua2002

I would recommend a 30 long. I've seen others recommend a 20 long or 29 (same footprint), but based on the attitude of my late FM I'd say the extra 6 inches in length may be of importance.