Bumblebee's compatable with Yellow labs

I have a 55 and I'm just starting to stock. I have 4 yellow labs about 1 1/2" or so. I'm not completly sure what I'm going to ad. Probably 4 or 5 Peacocks and maybe 1 Brichardi.

I have read in some threads people having problems with Bumblebee's and yellow labs. Than I see lots of YouTube videos with them togeather in tanks.

Thoughts please

 

When stocking African tanks you need to find the balance. Often they are overstocked, as is mine(check my aq info), so that aggression is spread thin. Therefore you need to have adequate filtration and a bioload that you can manage!

People often have problems because they start of different sizes, or don't have enough caves and hiding spots. You also need to have clear markers for territory. Also the issue is often that the Male:Female ratio is incorrect. If you meet these and other requirements then there shouldnt be issues. I also plan to feed less, more often so that it curbs aggression as well

 

Thanks Ryan. I have 2 HOB's on the 55 for around 500 gph so I should be fine. My plane is to add more rocks and caves as I add fish and I;m trying to get fish that are about the same size. I'm aware that people say to overstock. I think at the size of my fish it's hard to tell the sex. The feed less sounds like a good ideal.

 

I'm not a fan of HOB's but i'm sure it will work. I would recommend adding as many caves and rocks now so that territories can be established by choice not by lack of choice. But that's just my gut feeling, no fact there

The feed less more often is a widely documented method of curbing aggression

I have the same issue with the size of my fish. I have cracked a deal with my LFS that once I can determine the sex I will be allowed to return for full credit if I need to return any excess males. They like the business and I like the deal. See if you can find soething like that!

 

I have used 2 HOB's on my african tanks and I have also used canisters, to be truthful, I am just not sure where I stand with which method is best. I also would recommend a power head for some current as they love to swim in the current.
I do think Ryan touched on a lot of the key things when it comes to africans, rocks and caves should be in abundance but yet many of those videos you see on youtube they only have 1,2 or three different areas for the fish to really hide. I think if you take all things in to mind when building their home then they can tolerate each other a little better.
Bumble bee and yellow labs have issues with each because of their similiar colors. but offering enough of hiding spaces is the key to making it work. ( although myself, I don't think I would have both of them in the same tank when there are so many others that would work better, just me) I would rather have 2 55 gl tanks with Labs in one and Bumble bees in the other( that's the MTS coming out in me)
I think when someone reads that africans need a lot of rocks, many think rocks covering the bottom of the tank and maybe a second layer in spots is enough. I think the more research I have done on this the more and more I see that rocks should cover at a minimum of half the entire tank. with this kind of aquascape I think many different Mbuna species can survive together.

 

Actually that was exactly what I read was the issues because of similar colors. I kind of thought that was crazy but I won't bother to try mixing them. I am planning on getting a powerhead soon. I thought the main use for them was to put at the back of the tank so the food dosen't settle behind the rocks?

 

because of all the rocks that should be in an african tank, that is one of the main reasons, it will circulate the foods around and keep them from settling to the bottom sooner. it is usually a feeding frenzy with these guys so this gives the extra time needed for most of the food to be eaten. But, you will notice that they will use this current and swim in it, often I have watched mine almost seem to fight over the current. Mbunas especially like to have a lot of water movement.
when I am searching the next Mbunas to go in a tank, a starting point for me is are they similiar in color, if so, it is the first sign they will not enjoy each others company.

 

It serves to catch all this food and to provide a more natural current, which africans do have in their natural environment. Like Disc61 said, they do like a lot of water moving, and this is an advantage to any tank's filtration system. If positioned well vacuuming the sand floor does not have to happen as regularly. I prefer canisters on african tanks because of the bigger volume, but as on any tank, a sump system would be the most amazing way to go about it.

 

I have a ton of different fish in mine with my bumblebee.
I have a few different peacocks, a bumblebee, a couple yellow labs, a white lab, a powder blue, a albino peacock, a red zebra, pleco, a few others as well, they all get along very well. I have some unknowns too in there.

Some of them, tank needs cleaned nd wiped, just did a water change nd vacuum lol its a newer aquarium so plants and rocks still being worked on, also the driftwood. I got many that I'm currently identifying lol. A few are just starting to get their colors.