Mbuna Community Tankmates

I am new to cichlids but have researched them and their requirements. However I started with a 36" long 40 gallon breeder. Its been fine with no issues yet. I have 10 Yellow labs.
I bought a 55 gallon tank to move them to. I have some buyers remorse as I should have purchased a 60 inch long tank. But the 55 is up and running and I am waiting on some cichlid hardscape to arrive. I have media working away in the other tank. So I'm good there.
I plan to move most of the yellows to the new tank and leave what appears to be a dominant male and a couple females. I hope this will work out. I think it will.

I want to add some color in addition to the bright yellows I have. I am thinking blue and red fish. I have been all over the internet looking and have found what seems to be some very good online fish stores. This is one question. Can you recommend a good online fish resource? And the second question is can you recommend blue and red colored Mbuna? I really like the solid yellow Lab look and hope to find these other colors solid and bright.
I am also looking at the African catfish. Synodontis lucipinnis. My wife wants one so I plan to get 2-3 if I can find them?
I would appreciate any advice, or concerns with my plan.
Thanks in Advance

 

Red Zebra come in Blue and Red and orange and peach/pink, yellow brown, stripped, non-striped, . and yada yada,

they cross breed though. if it looks like a lab and doesn't have the black dorsal, it's a zebra cross. or Pseudotropheus saulosi.

I don't buy fish online. So can't make a recommendation about one on that.

Lucipinnis is what we used to call Petricola back in the day, I haven't seen one in a while, but back then I opted for Eupterus because of the longer fins and stockier build.

On second thought comparing the two, I think it's two different species that are wayyyy similar. S Lucipinnis being more recently identified.
It looks like the spots on Petricola are more defined, and always smaller than the fishes eye. and on Lucipinnis, the spots aren't so defined, and can be larger than its' eye.
S. lucipinnis don't have anaxillary pore, the S. Petricola does. there's slight differences, some people might not catch and list them wrongly.

I'd still look at the Petricola also if looking for that fish, might find them misidentified, or find the Petricola is just about the same thing, but grows a little bigger.

 

Thanks Sparky. I have been trying to find Chindongo saulosi. No store has any and online is my only hope.
My yellow labs do have a dark black dorsal fin.
Are you a sparky?

 

Thanks Sparky. I have been trying to find Chindongo saulosi. No store has any and online is my only hope.
My yellow labs do have a dark black dorsal fin.
Are you a sparky?

it's one of my alias. I also go by Sarsipius Jackson, and Francois Dibodeau depending on who's asking. LOL

Imperial Tropicals has two Saulosi on the website for sale. $23.99 each, 2-2.5" size.
your profile says you are in USA southeast, If you can make it down to Miami, I'm sure you can find them here at one of the many fish farms.

 

I think that Rusty Mbuna would go well with your Yellow Labs. Rusties have a similar disposition as the Yellow Lab. Here's a pic of one of my Rusties.

 

Aquatic Arts is excellent.

 

I have 3 Dwarf Petricola (Synodontis lucipinnis) sharing a tank with Africans.





Try Imperial Tropicals
Dwarf Petricola (Synodontis lucipinnis)

Good Luck!

 

it's one of my alias. I also go by Sarsipius Jackson, and Francois Dibodeau depending on who's asking. LOL

Imperial Tropicals has two Saulosi on the website for sale. $23.99 each, 2-2.5" size.
your profile says you are in USA southeast, If you can make it down to Miami, I'm sure you can find them here at one of the many fish farms.

Thanks Sparky. I am a retired electrician and the slang term from other trades for us was "Sparky".
I was born and raised in North Miami. North Shore hospital on 95th street west of NW 7th Ave. Graduated from N. Miami Sr. High. Class of 1974.
I rarely go down that way and would not want to travel with live fish. We do not have any good fish stores around here. I was very surprised to see the Yellow Labs I bought from Petco. They are actually very good stock.
I will check out Imperial Tropicals.

I think that Rusty Mbuna would go well with your Yellow Labs. Rusties have a similar disposition as the Yellow Lab. Here's a pic of one of my Rusties.

Yes, it looks very promising. Thank you!

 

Thanks Sparky. I am a retired electrician and the slang term from other trades for us was "Sparky".
I was born and raised in North Miami. North Shore hospital on 95th street west of NW 7th Ave. Graduated from N. Miami Sr. High. Class of 1974.
I rarely go down that way and would not want to travel with live fish. We do not have any good fish stores around here. I was very surprised to see the Yellow Labs I bought from Petco. They are actually very good stock.
I will check out Imperial Tropicals.

Yes, it looks very promising. Thank you!

Well yes and no to that, Yes I work for a Marine Electrical Engineering firm that works with cargo and cruise lines, But no I'm not an electrician besides as a bit of a hobby. I do project material procurement, global logistics and warehousing, If I had to call it anything, I'd call it "the doer that gets it actually done" of the company. while bigger brains and bigger egos do the paperwork and the handshakes.

Wow that's funny. I'm in Miramar FL, just north of County Line Rd By the "Joe Robbie Stadium" ( whatever they call it nowadays) and Calder sort of (whatever they are calling it now also). Smallish world, however I was born in 74, and move here in 87. LOL

 

I left S.Florida the year the new stadium was built so I have never stepped foot in it. But I have fond memories of the Orange Bowl. The original name was Joe Robbie stadium. Its now called Hard Rock stadium. I have been a big Dolphin fan my entire life.
I also lived off Davie Rd. Extension. Its only a few short miles to Miramar and the stadium.
Well your not as young as I expected. Its good to meet you. I assume you keep cichlids?

 

I left S.Florida the year the new stadium was built so I have never stepped foot in it. But I have fond memories of the Orange Bowl. The original name was Joe Robbie stadium. Its now called Hard Rock stadium. I have been a big Dolphin fan my entire life.
I also lived off Davie Rd. Extension. Its only a few short miles to Miramar and the stadium.
Well your not as young as I expected. Its good to meet you. I assume you keep cichlids?

Well sort of again, I keep angels currently, I kept africans about 20 years ago.
Davie Rd, Extension.and your age..... I'm sure you know the Galaxy Skateway, Probably remember the Sportotorium, And Six Flags Atlantis also!

Yeah Im nearing 50. But feel like I'm 70, and have the mentality of a 21 year old.,,, but not one of these new sensitive 21 year olds. LOL

Good to meet ya!

 

We called it the Snortatorium. I cannot count how many concerts I have seen there and festivals at the race track next door. I understand its all torn down now.
Good to meet you too. Thanks for the advice and help!