40 gallon breeder with yellow labs and peacocks

Hey guys I’ve been thinking about turning my 40 gallon breeder into a cichlid tank. I’ve been reading up as much as I can but can’t find specific answers for my situation. Ideally I’d like to have both yellow Labidochromis caeruleus and some peacock cichlids (unsure what kind yet but I like the OB). I know I only have a 40 though so I was wondering if anyone has tried this and knows the best number of each or if I can even have both. I’m okay with one or the other if both won’t get along in my tank. I’m assuming an all male tank is out of the question and from what I’ve read I’m assuming it would be best in my case to only have one male in the tank. Can anyone clarify that for me? So far I’m thinking 4-6 female yellow labs and around 5 peacocks with one being male but I want to run that by someone first since I’m new to cichlids. Also can I mix different peacocks or should I stick to one kind? I don’t have the fish yet so feel free to give me any advice you have. I’m planning on running two aquaclear 50s but that can be changed. I was also wondering if it’s best to have a bunch of caves for territories or just a bunch of rocks piled up so there isn’t much to fight over. My last question is since they have different dietary needs would it be okay to provide foods like spirulina and bloodworms in addition to cichlid pellets so they can each pick out what they need? And what pellets would be best for them? The well-being of the fish comes 1st and I just want to get some clarification so I don’t jump in and do things wrong. Thanks for any help!

 

1. the tank is too small for peacocks. 40 gallons is half of what you would need for them.
2. Peacocks are carnivorous and yellow labs are insectivorous. Hence spirulina are not the right food. Instead of bloodworms tubifex and brine shrimp are closer to their diet. For the labs rather take white mosquito larvae instead.
3. Peacocks prefer open water, Labs are Mbuna preferring a lot of rocks and cravisses. So I'd propose rockwork (up to half the tank's hight at least, more is always good) to the back of the tank and open space in front.
4. I'm on my way out right now, I'll be back in some hours. Until then I hope some of the others can help you out.

 

So if peacocks are out of the question would a yellow lab only tank be best? If so how many should I go with and what would be the best number of males and females?

 

Still a clear no. Malawi cichlids in a 40 is absolutely not advisable.
In a 55 gallon 2-3 males and 4-6 females of the labs could work. Try to get F1-F5 generations from a breeder. Commercially available fish from petstores are overbred with weak health usually. The fish farms have not brought in much fresh blood the past 20 years.

I just posted a list for tanksizes for cichlids in another thread, just so you have an idea.

What’s the best tank size for Big Cichlids? | Cichlid Forum | 500135

 

Hey guys I’ve been thinking about turning my 40 gallon breeder into a cichlid tank. I’ve been reading up as much as I can but can’t find specific answers for my situation. Ideally I’d like to have both yellow Labidochromis caeruleus and some peacock cichlids (unsure what kind yet but I like the OB). I know I only have a 40 though so I was wondering if anyone has tried this and knows the best number of each or if I can even have both. I’m okay with one or the other if both won’t get along in my tank. I’m assuming an all male tank is out of the question and from what I’ve read I’m assuming it would be best in my case to only have one male in the tank. Can anyone clarify that for me? So far I’m thinking 4-6 female yellow labs and around 5 peacocks with one being male but I want to run that by someone first since I’m new to cichlids. Also can I mix different peacocks or should I stick to one kind? I don’t have the fish yet so feel free to give me any advice you have. I’m planning on running two aquaclear 50s but that can be changed. I was also wondering if it’s best to have a bunch of caves for territories or just a bunch of rocks piled up so there isn’t much to fight over. My last question is since they have different dietary needs would it be okay to provide foods like spirulina and bloodworms in addition to cichlid pellets so they can each pick out what they need? And what pellets would be best for them? The well-being of the fish comes 1st and I just want to get some clarification so I don’t jump in and do things wrong. Thanks for any help!

I have a 46 gal tank, and started with a pair of yellow labs several years ago. I had a pair of silver dollars with them. They multiple, and if you have places for little ones to hide long enough not to be eaten, they do well. I recently moved the dollars, thinking they would do better in a quieter tank, because there is a herd of labs now. They move gravel around, and are territorial when they have young ones. So caves and places to hide are good. They are very active and pretty easy to raise.

 

You should look into Pseudotropheus Saulosi, their smaller than Electric Yellows and you get a nice blue, yellow, mixture with the male/females.
Here's just an example I found for you,