verbal
CCA Members
I think Bolivian rams are a great suggestion.
It all depends on which species you get. If you have your heart set on one of the "domestic" strains give it a shot. However leave the wild types for when you have more experience.
Jefft
Members
I have a lot of the fish you are looking at in your Cynotilapia choices I enjoy them to no end.
jonclark96
Past CCA President
I'm no expert when it comes to mbuna, but I think most would recommend only one species per genus to reduce the chance of hybridization and aggression. Pick either the zebras (which I think are on the higher end of the aggressions scale) or the afra (which Ad Konings says are actually zebroides), but not both. I'm sure the experienced mbuna keepers will chime in and correct me if I am incorrect.
verbal
CCA Members
I would probably wait until you have more experience with mbuna before trying the polit. They are apparently among the meanest of them.
Leffler817
CCA Members
I have kept fish from LFD. They seem like quality fish, but IMO Dave's Rare Fish, Atlantis Tropical Fish , and AMS (http://www.aquariumspecialist.net) are better.
dogofwar
CCA Members
In a 125 polit aren't anything crazy... I had a colony in one of my 2'x2'x1' 30gs for a couple of years (with more offspring than I could sell)...
Matt
Matt
hollyfish2000
Members
I had a poor experience with LFD. But that was some time ago. I've had very good luck with Dave's.
Dave's all the way.
One thing to consider in the "one genus per tank" is that Mbuna genus are not exactly written in stone...It is a helpful guideline but it doesn't mean that your Pseudotropheus - Metriaclima mix won't become Pseudo-Pseudo next year.
Now, at least my fish don't read the news so I don't think they are going to suddenly go from not hybridizing to hybridizing...I am more inclined to think the fish as always happy to hybridize...
So try and get fish that are different as well as different genus. I think the genus thing is good general rule - but don't get two blue barred fish just because they are different genus. Get a blue barred and a yellow or orange or whatever.
One thing to consider in the "one genus per tank" is that Mbuna genus are not exactly written in stone...It is a helpful guideline but it doesn't mean that your Pseudotropheus - Metriaclima mix won't become Pseudo-Pseudo next year.
Now, at least my fish don't read the news so I don't think they are going to suddenly go from not hybridizing to hybridizing...I am more inclined to think the fish as always happy to hybridize...
So try and get fish that are different as well as different genus. I think the genus thing is good general rule - but don't get two blue barred fish just because they are different genus. Get a blue barred and a yellow or orange or whatever.
verbal
CCA Members
Agreed. Even if there aren't hybridization issues this can also limit aggression between species. If you want more blue barred fish in the tank, get a bigger group of the same species
dogofwar
CCA Members
dogofwar
CCA Members
Get a couple of used sponge filters and/or some used media from a fellow member. Your tank will be "cycled"...
Matt
Matt
verbal
CCA Members
Or some filter media from his 29 can help get things started.
dogofwar
CCA Members
rob3rtphan
Members
I personally have tropheus, haps, and mubuna and a few dither in the same tank. But my tank is 180 with at least 80 cichlids with a full grown syspillium and festae and breeding pair of convict. nothing dies lots of stack rocks hiding places and lots of fish so no aggression in my tank been 11 months and no death. It's all up to the fish if they live or die. IMO
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jonclark96
Past CCA President
Pretty bad advice to give a new fish keeper. I wouldn't mix those, regardless if you say all is good. The fish have different requirements to thrive. They may not be dead, but I would bet some aren't thriving.
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rob3rtphan
Members
