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July 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kimb  No, breeding is not in my mind with these guys. Being a purebread dog owner, I certainly understand the necessity of keeping "pure bloodlines". That being said, I also own a mutt. I imagine with fish it is the same thing, that being said, hybrids are here. I think we can own them responsibly, and not water down the species any more than it already has been. I am trying to get my head around this whole African Cichlid thing, am I right that mbuna is an "umbrella' term that is then broken down into subgroups? If you can explain it in simple terms to me I would appreciate it. I seem to see ALOT of tanks that are simply labelled "Africans"....not sure why  ? thanks in advance. | You could get a few more friends for those 2, just keep with males.
The fish stores are notorious for labelling them "africans". With the rift lake cichlids you have Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganika, and lake Victoria.
Lake Malawi has the Haps, peacocks, and mbuna.
Its where the fish live in the lake. The mbuna are the rock dwelling fish (mbuna in African is "rock dwelling", they are mostly veggie eaters. Then you have groups from mbuna, labrochromis, thropheops, psuedothrophus, melachromis, metriclima, cynatilapia.
The fish stores mostly have "hybrid" fish from fish farms that mass breed and sell. Then they label the tank "assortied africans".
The peacocks and haps are more open water fish, they are meat eaters. | 
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July 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| They are in a 29g...could I still have more? | |
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July 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kimb They are in a 29g...could I still have more? | Are you going to put them in a bigger tank? Most mbuna species need a 4 foot long tank.
Even in a 29 you could have about 5-7 of them. If you overstock and over filter they do better. | |
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July 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| [quote=steveangela1;628720]Are you going to put them in a bigger tank? Most mbuna species need a 4 foot long tank.
Even in a 29 you could have about 5-7 of them. If you overstock and over filter they do better.[/quote
Angela I hope you see this....O.K so following your good advice, I have purchased another 55g. I love these 2 fish so much, they deserve the best. Knowing what you know about them....could you please recommend (using common names if you can) what else I can put in with them. In the tank where I got them from I believe there are a couple more that seemed to get along o.k (look slightly different) The tank will be ready in the next week or so as I am transferring all filters over. Changing out the bottom to sand and have some amazing rocks to create hopefull a good home. They are doing well, losing their shyness and coming out often to say hello. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post (with this new topic) but it was easier to keep adding, since their were picks. Any help much appreciated, thanks in advance! | |
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July 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| [quote=kimb;633827] Quote:
Originally Posted by steveangela1 Are you going to put them in a bigger tank? Most mbuna species need a 4 foot long tank.
Even in a 29 you could have about 5-7 of them. If you overstock and over filter they do better.[/quote
Angela I hope you see this....O.K so following your good advice, I have purchased another 55g. I love these 2 fish so much, they deserve the best. Knowing what you know about them....could you please recommend (using common names if you can) what else I can put in with them. In the tank where I got them from I believe there are a couple more that seemed to get along o.k (look slightly different) The tank will be ready in the next week or so as I am transferring all filters over. Changing out the bottom to sand and have some amazing rocks to create hopefull a good home. They are doing well, losing their shyness and coming out often to say hello. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post (with this new topic) but it was easier to keep adding, since their were picks. Any help much appreciated, thanks in advance! | With not knowing for sure what those fish are you already have I will try to make suggestions (guessing the hybrid is some type of psuedo group). Im glad you have a 55 now, they will really love it.
I would go with the less aggressive species like afra, labs (electric yellows), red zebra.
Then stock 1 male to 2+ females or get all males. Up to 15 fish for that tank. | |
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July 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Thanks so much Angela, I am reading as much as I can and really enjoying these fish. It is a bit overwhelming...now do I have this right that the ones you have recommended would all be Mbuna? | |
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July 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| yes the ones I have recommended are all mbuna. one place you might want to check to buy some is aquabid. | |
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July 20th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| I missed this thread!!!!!! wow what beauties you have kim! congrats!!
the one on the left looks like a blue zebra to me http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/25284...71558030_8PGsQ
but remember, im new to africans and IMO, they are and will be the hardest fish to ever identify ...I have a tank of just a mix of everything...im sure allot are hybrids in my tank as most LFS have no clue whats in their tanks to begin with ....hence the "mixed africans" label...LOL ..im not out to breed either and if and when my fish do, I just give away my fish as I like sharing....seeing how im not sure the exact species of my tank, I feed a combo of kens premium cichlid flakes, veggies flakes, spirulina, daphnia, hikari cichlid pellets , and occasionally frozen blood worms and beef heart...my tank is the most active beggers ive ever had..even worse than my oscars ever were | |
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July 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Thanks Shawnie, I think this tank may be a bit of trial and hopefully not error! As you say, so many look alike,the names sound alike etc, you really can't be sure. Mine eat a good combo of food also, def prefer the veggies based (I make my own too). Will add a few more as we go along and hope for the best. Lots of good advice here as alway, so I know both myself and my fishies are in good hands! | |
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November 1st, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| that isnt an electric blue im about 75% sure of that....look up electric blues you'll see why | |
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