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Mbuna vs Peacocks


BigA
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Hi everyone. I'm thinking of some new ideas for my 65gal. Dimensions are 36L x 18W x 24H. I was thinking about going with a malawi tank, but can't decide what group of fish to use? I don't have any experience with either. I've checked out some websites, and can't decide. What are some suggestions out there? The tank is quite deep, not sure which type of cichlid that would be more advantageous for. Do I have enough swimming room to house a bunch of Peacocks? I was reading that for the most part they can't be mixed either. What have you experienced African keepers discovered? Are there combos that work? Anything else that I may have missed?

Any help would be great. Thanks!!!

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Personally I've never had luck with mixing peacocks with mbuna. The peacocks always got hurt and were constantly hiding. You might have better luck if you choose some of the more aggresive peacock species.

A 3foot tank that deep would be good for mbuna. Make a big rock wall going up the back and they will use the whole tank.

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I've seen a few tanks where mbuna and peacocks were mixed. If you want to mix them, stick w. more peaceful mbuna (Yellow Lab, Acei, etc). Because Peacocks like room to swim, my opinion that adults should have at least 4' of tank. But, if you start w. some young fish, you should do fine.

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I would personally go for mbuna.. I think it would look nicer in the tank and u can get a few different kinds

where as peacocks ur stuck to a few..

As well mbuna females are a bit cuter then peacock females

Edited by Pop Eye
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How does this sound?

Pseudotropheus demasoni

Labidochromis hongi

Metriaclima greshakei

and maybe one or two more species? Was also thinking of using S. multipunctatus as a catfish to offset everything a little.

Suggestions?

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the demosini can be a real terror

Ok, would Saulosi work intstead of the demasoni? Same colour pattern in males. Females are yellow instead of blue though.

Edited by BigA
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  • 2 weeks later...

Your mix doesn't sound too bad. S. multi's get too large for a 3' tank for life, but a school of 6 or so S. lucipinnis (petricola) would do great in that tank. I've got a mix of Haps & mbuna in a 135 too, but wouldn't recommend it to someone who hasn't kept Africans before or for a smaller tank (mine is also heavily stocked and almost empty of rocks).

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Your mix doesn't sound too bad. S. multi's get too large for a 3' tank for life, but a school of 6 or so S. lucipinnis (petricola) would do great in that tank. I've got a mix of Haps & mbuna in a 135 too, but wouldn't recommend it to someone who hasn't kept Africans before or for a smaller tank (mine is also heavily stocked and almost empty of rocks).

I've got 3 S. lucipinnis in there right now, and they are a blast to watch. Very active. In keeping with the Malawi theme, would S. nyassa work any better? Haven't found much info on them, but I do know they are indiginous to Malawi, where the Lucipinnis are Tangy's.

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Good luck finding S. nyassae. I don't think I've ever seen them in any LFS, and most likely they'd also be much more than the others as they're all WC.

The last couple of times I was in BA's here in edmonton, they were available.

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  • 3 weeks later...
In my 4' 55 gal, I have Eureka Peacocks, Sunshine Peacocks, ruby reds, O.B. Peacocks, Acei, Electric Yellow Lap, Electric Blue and perlmutts, and 1 BN, they all get along without any problems.

~~Ray~~

Are you breeding Rubys, Sunshines and Eurekas in the same tank?

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