How many small african cichlids would overstock a 75 gallon tank?

I am thinking of getting a couple of african cichlids and I have seen a couple videos where it looks like they have atleast 50 medium size fish in a 75 gallon. I want to get different types but don't want to have any problems so I wanted to know around what number should I stop adding fish?

thank you

 

Well, I am getting ready to jump off for a bit. but give me some info and I will look at it later if someone else doesn't come along.
What size tank?
what particular African do you have an interest in? for example - Mbunas, Peacocks, Haps , victorians
I will be gone for a few hours.

 

I want a few yellow labs. don't really know which one they fall under but a few mbunas and haps. not too big on peacocks though I already have one lol.

will be putting them in a 75 gallon. and just thought about a hood. right now I don't have a hood and haven't had anybody jump out yet and I keep the water level pretty close to the top. do people usually have problems with Africans jumping out of tanks?

Well, I am getting ready to jump off for a bit. but give me some info and I will look at it later if someone else doesn't come along.
What size tank?
what particular African do you have an interest in? for example - Mbunas, Peacocks, Haps , victorians
I will be gone for a few hours.

 

I wouldn't mix the Yellow Labs with any Peacocks or Haps. You might be able to get away with it, but just one aggressive Lab and it could be a problem. They are considered less aggressive, but this is in comparison to Zebras, Johanni, Auratus and other Mbuna type cichlids.

I would suggest all Peacocks, Haps or Mbuna. You might get away with a Peacock/Hap mix but you're better off with one kind. My Mbunas attacked my Peacocks relentlessly until I had to re-home them because they were stressed all the time (inviting disease).

The foot print is more important to stocking African Cichlids so the dimensions (LxWxH) would be needed to suggest an appropriate stocking.

 

I would agree with above, Mbunas, Peacocks or Haps. Mbunas should definitely have a species only tank. I would say with a 75 gl the length and width are 48" x 18" which will give us a nice footprint.
I would go with Mbunas, but your mentioning a few and when it comes to Africans a few is not a good idea. Africans are aggressive to say the least, and although Yellow labs are mild for africans they are still very aggressive. because of this you want to be heavily stocked, this will help spread aggression out across the tank. with just a few one would get targeted and killed then they would move onto the next until only one is left and that one would be battered so bad it would probably die as well. in a 75 gl I would stock upwards of 24 juvies and I have seen up to 30 work just fine. ( understand I say juvies, as you may return some down the road)
it is important to have a ratio of 1 male to at least 3-4 females, but in this case I would make the ratio 1:6-7
I would also add a couple of BN plecos for a little bottom work on the tank and keeping the glass clear of algea.
So,
you could go with your Yellows ( Labidochromis caeruleus -) 1 male and 7 females
I would also recommend 2 other sub-species the Acei's (Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei") 1 male and 7 females
and the Red Zebra ( Metriaclima estherae) 1 male and 7 females
this would be a nice group, and again I can't stress the importance of proper quantity to spread the aggression more evenly. I have seen this happen in person. I had a 55gl with 15 in it, I had some issues and had lost half the stock, after that I begin losing a fish every couple days ( pardon me as I explain the were ripped to shreads) it gets ugly quickly.

 

75 gallon which I think is 48 x 18 x 21 could be wrong. atleast that's what I built my table to

I wouldn't mix the Yellow Labs with any Peacocks or Haps. You might be able to get away with it, but just one aggressive Lab and it could be a problem. They are considered less aggressive, but this is in comparison to Zebras, Johanni, Auratus and other Mbuna type cichlids.

I would suggest all Peacocks, Haps or Mbuna. You might get away with a Peacock/Hap mix but you're better off with one kind. My Mbunas attacked my Peacocks relentlessly until I had to re-home them because they were stressed all the time (inviting disease).

The foot print is more important to stocking African Cichlids so the dimensions (LxWxH) would be needed to suggest an appropriate stocking.

ok well when I said a few I was thinking atleast 30 aiming for around 45 or more eventually, which brings me back to my overstocking question lol, but I wouldnt beable to buy them all at once. at local prices maybe 6 to 7 a week right now. would that be a big problem?

also you mentioned plecos I have one right now and assumed that I could add some flying foxes seeing as how the tank would be less aggressive than what it is now with Oscars and other CA SA?

would I beable to add some active scavengers like maybe a pictus or maybe a crew of corys?

and as for the male female ratio, for all africans is it still the vertical line through the eye for the males or is there a diff way of sexing them?

I would agree with above, Mbunas, Peacocks or Haps. Mbunas should definitely have a species only tank. I would say with a 75 gl the length and width are 48" x 18" which will give us a nice footprint.
I would go with Mbunas, but your mentioning a few and when it comes to Africans a few is not a good idea. Africans are aggressive to say the least, and although Yellow labs are mild for africans they are still very aggressive. because of this you want to be heavily stocked, this will help spread aggression out across the tank. with just a few one would get targeted and killed then they would move onto the next until only one is left and that one would be battered so bad it would probably die as well. in a 75 gl I would stock upwards of 24 juvies and I have seen up to 30 work just fine. ( understand I say juvies, as you may return some down the road)
it is important to have a ratio of 1 male to at least 3-4 females, but in this case I would make the ratio 1:6-7
I would also add a couple of BN plecos for a little bottom work on the tank and keeping the glass clear of algea.
So,
you could go with your Yellows ( Labidochromis caeruleus -) 1 male and 7 females
I would also recommend 2 other sub-species the Acei's (Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei") 1 male and 7 females
and the Red Zebra ( Metriaclima estherae) 1 male and 7 females
this would be a nice group, and again I can't stress the importance of proper quantity to spread the aggression more evenly. I have seen this happen in person. I had a 55gl with 15 in it, I had some issues and had lost half the stock, after that I begin losing a fish every couple days ( pardon me as I explain the were ripped to shreads) it gets ugly quickly.

how would a few convicts be in a mbuna or hap tank?



this is my setup right now and I was going to add more rocks for hiding places but is there anything that I don't have that I should add?

I don't have a hood right now, would they jump out if the water level is high?

 

ok well when I said a few I was thinking atleast 30 aiming for around 45 or more eventually, which brings me back to my overstocking question lol, but I wouldnt beable to buy them all at once. at local prices maybe 6 to 7 a week right now. would that be a big problem?

also you mentioned plecos I have one right now and assumed that I could add some flying foxes seeing as how the tank would be less aggressive than what it is now with Oscars and other CA SA?

would I beable to add some active scavengers like maybe a pictus or maybe a crew of corys?

and as for the male female ratio, for all africans is it still the vertical line through the eye for the males or is there a diff way of sexing them?

There has been all kind of myths on sexing, but really they are really tough, reason I said you may have to return some. venting is the only true way to do it.
BN would be the obly pleco that would work, corys NO, pictus - I have no experience with, Syno's work well.
adding 7 every week would work as long as you stick to the buying routine, if you allow to much size difference it could present an issue. when doing this method start with the least aggressive sub-species and add the most aggressive last. 45 would be overstocked in a 75gl I would go 30.

how would a few convicts be in a mbuna or hap tank?

NO, in a simple word. Other than a BN or syno these guys should be "species only" as adults it would become a war zone.

View attachment 98804View attachment 98805 this is my setup right now and I was going to add more rocks for hiding places but is there anything that I don't have that I should add?
I don't have a hood right now, would they jump out if the water level is high?

MORE ROCKS FOR SURE, 1/2 -2/3 of the tank should be filled with rocks, especially with the amount of fish you will have. look at it this way, if you have 30 fish, then you should have at least 45 hiding places. not necessary for them all to be caves just a place for them to get to quickly, a tunnel or bypass. ALSO, I do not see a powerhead, you should definitely have a powerhead to cause a good current ( water movement)
YES, these fish will jump and without a hood it will just be a matter of time before one ends up on the floor.

 

Yea more rocks. Your tank should be at least this full. I still intend on getting more rock soon when I add 3 more fish.





The texas holey rock as it creates lots of caves and tunnels. 4 loaches live inside, because it has interconnecting tunnels, of the large holey rock on the very left.

With my Mbunas I keep a Synodontis Eupeterus (Featherfin Catfish) and 4 Loaches (Yo Yo and Zebra).
Synodontis multipunctata (Cuckoo Catfish) also work very well with Africans.

 

Yo-Yo Loaches should not be in with Mbunas. I had them in the beginning and they seem to pester the Mbunas and the water parameters are of different value and that may cause some issues later on. Just thought I'd add that.

 

Yea I plan on trading all 4 into lfs soon, probably within the next month. They've done fine with them so far but I really want more cichlids.

 

I'm building up a Mbuna tank myself. I love those the most out of the Cichlid family.

 

Yea more rocks. Your tank should be at least this full. I still intend on getting more rock soon when I add 3 more fish.

View attachment 98830View attachment 98831

The texas holey rock as it creates lots of caves and tunnels. 4 loaches live inside, because it has interconnecting tunnels, of the large holey rock on the very left.

With my Mbunas I keep a Synodontis Eupeterus (Featherfin Catfish) and 4 Loaches (Yo Yo and Zebra).
Synodontis multipunctata (Cuckoo Catfish) also work very well with Africans.

P.S. Does anybody know why this picture below would become attached? And I can't remove it? It's not even on of the 2 I posted, it was on the same camera though.

Don't have an idea on the other Pics, but nice lookin tank. I am a firm belive you cannot have to many rocks, no such thing.

 

I am a firm belive you cannot have to many rocks, no such thing.

I totally agree, Disc! Rocks, rocks, rocks!

 

Yea when I started getting texas holey rock, I couldn't get enough. Like I said, I still want more!

 

I just go to the Lake down the road a bit and gather rocks there. Just as good to me! My Mbunas and Cats LOVE them!

 

Better?

There has been all kind of myths on sexing, but really they are really tough, reason I said you may have to return some. venting is the only true way to do it.
BN would be the obly pleco that would work, corys NO, pictus - I have no experience with, Syno's work well.
adding 7 every week would work as long as you stick to the buying routine, if you allow to much size difference it could present an issue. when doing this method start with the least aggressive sub-species and add the most aggressive last. 45 would be overstocked in a 75gl I would go 30.

NO, in a simple word. Other than a BN or syno these guys should be "species only" as adults it would become a war zone.

MORE ROCKS FOR SURE, 1/2 -2/3 of the tank should be filled with rocks, especially with the amount of fish you will have. look at it this way, if you have 30 fish, then you should have at least 45 hiding places. not necessary for them all to be caves just a place for them to get to quickly, a tunnel or bypass. ALSO, I do not see a powerhead, you should definitely have a powerhead to cause a good current ( water movement)
YES, these fish will jump and without a hood it will just be a matter of time before one ends up on the floor.

 

very nice

 

Looks good