DARB

I got a good runing tank all my cichlids are getting along fine. The big question is that I have 6 Demasoni which I know I need at least 12. Thats when I run in over stocking. My LPS has a shipment comeing in this week they have demasoni for me and 3 female hongi red tops. Befor I go on here is what I have.
6 Demasoni
2 male Hongi
2 zebra sex ?
2 Acei
1 plecostomus

My Demasoni have had there chases but no real bad nips. Would 4 more not be anuff. I have like 12-14 caves
And my hongi there the ones I have to watch nobody messes with them. Thats why I need 3 females.
Plus I would like to add 2 more acei female. But would I run into cross breeding with my hogi.
All in a 55 gal tank. NEED HELP

Alessa

I would wait for Allie, she is the cichlid guru

Angela_96

Honestly you have too many different species of cichlids in a 55g. I would also watch pairing up groups that are different aggression levels, like the demonsoni and the hongi, and acei. The hongi and acei would go together as far as aggression levels, but I wouldn't mix the demonsoni w/ the hongi. The red zebras aren't as agressive as the demonsoni, but they aren't on the same aggesion level.

Also when putting mbuna together you have to remember not to put 2 of the same groups together ie met species, psuedo species, lab species. Your acei and demonsoni are under the pseudo. The red zebras are under the Met. Then your hongi are under the lab group. This will cause hybrids, aggression, etc.

Then having 2 males in one tank isn't a good idea as well, you need at least 2-3 females per male to scatter out the aggression.

In a 55g tank, you can stock 15 fish easy, I have about 15-17 in my 55g mbuna tank right now, around 16 in my 56g tank, and then 10 in my 36g. Then my brooding tanks are full of fry and mommas. Just remember when overstocking these mbuna tanks, make sure you have heavy filitration, and do good 25% water changes at least once a week (I try to keep the twice a week routine, with one good vaccum a week on each) I have eheim eccos rated well above what the tank size is and biowheels going on each tank for filitration.