Electric Labs

HI guys, Just wondering bought about 15 yellow electric labs for my 125 gallon tank. All is good but they just don’t seem to be growing. Feeding a quality flake food and all else is in range within the tank. I realize they don’t get very big but in 6 months not seeing any changes. Also would like to add something compatible as tank mates so any input is helpful. Thanks

 

What size are they now and what exactly are you feeding? Compatible tank mates would be other African cichlids from the same lake. Mixing other mbuna like zebras, rusties, bumblebees, socolofI etc. and even some peacocks would be good. There are loads of compatible species, just stay away from the larger haps and you should be alright.

 

You might have fallen into the "Electric Yellow" trap.
The Yellows look a lot like Yellow Labs, but are a commercialized Hybrid. Some have a little of the black fin edging standard Yellow Labs have. They stay small. I bought one couple years ago by mistake.

 

What size are they now and what exactly are you feeding? Compatible tank mates would be other African cichlids from the same lake. Mixing other mbuna like zebras, rusties, bumblebees, socolofI etc. and even some peacocks would be good. There are loads of compatible species, just stay away from the larger haps and you should be alright.

At most the larger ones are no longer than 2 inches.The smaller ones are more gray than yellow. The food is a brand name flake type from petsmart

 

What brand? I always use pellets for my African cichlids, even for the fry. Aqeon makes minI pellets perfect for young and even adult mbuna so perhaps try them, 2-3 feedings a day. I have bout them from petsmart before so they should be available.

As for their color, it could be still juvenile coloration but you also may have some hybrids, which can be less colorful.