African Cichlids

[FishKid]

Good news (I guess?) I found a pretty good LFS a short drive from my house, and they have some really healthy africans! PLUS, he said he'll take my S. Nattereri off my hands (somehow he claims to have a liscence to sell them in NY, i thought they could be owned but not purchased in NY?!) Nice guy too! i didnt see one sick fish in the whole joint! except for a tank with a dozen seemingly doomed oscars but it was clearly marked NOT FOR SALE!


anyone know of an african cichlid forum comparable to Refund? I pretty much know exactly what i am doing (even though Ive never owned brackish) but its nice to have somewhere to ask ?'s

mark

[organicreefer]

Originally posted by FishKid



I pretty much know exactly what i am doing (even though Ive never owned brackish)

mark

ummm ,mark,africans are not brackish water fish you do need a forum ,quick! j/k(not about them not being brackish)
i keep africans and i would like to discuss them too,any other malawi/tanganyikan/lake victoria fans on the board?

[RobG]

I've kept a 55g Malawi tank for about 5 years now -- that's what started this fish-keeping addiction. I love my Cichlid tank, but since I got into reefs, my girlfriend's pushing me to convert everything to saltwater (She doesn't have to pay for it, obviously )

I agree, they are definitely not brackish fish, though I do add a small amount of salt to the water for them as a stress-reducer (Just about one tablespoon per 5-10gals during a waterchange -- defintely doesn't count as brackish).

I think Aqualink has a cichlid forum, though they are never really very busy...

[FishKid]

Hmmm, I was always told they were maybe i should look into getting a few books... (cheap skate)

I know they require a high PH, so i thought in turn they were brackish fish...

Rob, You have mail!

mark

[Mikeman]

I love africans, especially malawi, I'm converting my community tank into africans. Can you guys give me some basic info? Especially on what Malawi cichlids work best together(37g long)

also what is that site that just has tons of africans cichlids for sale? Also some african catfish. shoot I can't remember the link.

[organicreefer]

im not sure if you already know of it but here is a great starting point for anyone interested in africans:http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cichlidrecipe/
if you have any specific questions after reading that let me know ,ive been keeping mbuna/tropheus for about four years.

[RobG]

Check out here:

http://www.ohiexchange.com/armke/index.html

They have an amazing selection of rare & beautiful cichlids and discus. As well as catfish and other stuff.

The basic info on Africans? Lots of rocks for caves and hiding spots, high pH (8.2 ish in my tank) and hard water (I use the waste water from my RODI unit). They're tough fish, and you can stock a tank pretty heavily as long as you do weekly water changes.

[Mikeman]

maybe the best quality of the african cichlids, being able to in all other tanks overstock it.

some questions:

I know that if I for the overstocking route, I really won't be able to have to many if any breeding pairs in the tank, but what african species are mouthbrooders? In my 37g tank how many cichlids can I keep, or does it depend on the individual species? thanks all

[organicreefer]

mike,africans will breed,trust me,the thing is if you want them not to be "mutts",its best to stick with maybe two species that look very different and are from a different genus.i basically keep a mix of africans,and there are some "mutts"in there,ones that wetrea ble to fend for themselves,somehow.since i keep a mix,i never net holding mamas ,i just let em spit in the tank and whoever makes it makes it.
if you were thinking of breeding,for a tank like youres i mght consider some pseudotropheus demasoni ,they dont get too big,and are really easy to breed/ sell at a decent price(high demand)and very beautiful.

[Mikeman]

wow those pseudotropheus demasoni are really awesome, how many should I keep in my tank? At armkes(I'm probably going to have to order online cause my lfs stinks) they sell small unsexed demasonis for 5 bucks

I also like there Aul. stuartgranti “Ngara Flametail” would I be able to keep these two species together with maybe a couple electric yellows?

how many of each should I keep? I'm thinking of getting some old crushed coral for the sand bed, what do you think?

Also what kind of food should I feed them? A flake with more plants in it or more protein?

thanks again

[organicreefer]

mike those small demasoni go for 12-15 around here ,minimum.i can get 4 bucks for each from one of my lfs's,for little 1 inchers.
as for how many,37 g,id start with say 20(if all demasoni).the males will kill each other until you have 2-3 at most and the rest will be females.you probly end up with 10 or so.the aul stuartgranti are real wimps,i wouldnt keep a "peackock"with mbuna.mbuna means 'rockfish",and as the name implies these fish live in around "reef structures"in malawi.they are algea grazers,and aggresivily defend territorries,little algea farms if you will.the peackocks live in the sand /intermediat zone and mostly eat invertebrates in the sand.two different habitats /diets,not the best mix.the electric yellows would mix nicely with the demasoni,same habitat/diet.mbuna should be fed a mainly vegetable diet,my personal choice is osi spirulina.you can cause these "vegetarian"(they arent really thier diet does include meaty items they graze in addition to algea,chef salad .)fish a multitude of health problems by feeding to much protien.
if you decide to keep "mbuna"(my reccomendation,there are alot of very colorful peaceful "open water" africans,but they arent as interesting as the mbuna imo)you will need a rock structure in the tank reaching all the way to the surface,with as many caves as possible(territories).plants and a dsb with a substrate heater would work awesome("natural system;) just like reefing ,kinda)if you need more info ,on specific fish or whatever ,feel free to ask ,ive got books;) i would take a good look at the site i posted above(cichlid recipe)like i said its a great starting point.

[organicreefer]

Originally posted by Mikeman

I'm thinking of getting some old crushed coral for the sand bed, what do you think?

a calcerous substrate will have the same "buffering'effect it has on youre marine aquarium,its slight ,but helps keep the ph up.

37gid say 12 fish max,depending on size

[FishKid]

I would rather keep this tank with CC, since i can get it really cheap (like $0.10 a lb) because my tank needs 150 LBS to get about 2" deep.
Substrate heater? Like the ones used with herps? anyone here use an undergravel jet, with there powerheads, and some pvc?

Would it be better to order unsexed, or pay $5 more and they are sexed, and you can pick 'em out?

mark

[organicreefer]

i suggested the substrate heater if you want to go the dsb route,i have a dsb in my malawi tank and nitrates are undetectable.the substrate heater sort of takes the place of microfauna,in a reeftank we use "live sand" full of microorganisms that turn the sand for us helping to aerate it.in a dead sand bed,the substrate heater will pull water through it,helping aerate it.
as afr as cc or sand,ime the africans "prefer " sand,but i have had sucess both ways.
imo,a fine substrate is better ,for the same reasons its better in youre marine tank,more surface area,denitrification,less likely to be a detritus trap.jmo

[Mikeman]

so it looks like I'm going to keep some demasoni, the only african cichlid I can get in town are electric yellows so I'm not going to worry about them, should I get the demasonis first? thanks

do you keep any african catfish?

I was thinking they would help clean up, but him I'm going to over filter anyways....

I already checked out cichlid recipe, really cool, got any other sites?

[organicreefer]

yes get the demasonis first.i might consider just demasoni,no labs.trust me the tank will be very interesting.youll probly end up with 2-3 males with territories.like i said before i would start with 20,sounds like a lot for a 37 ,but it isnt.(some wont make it,and it can be very hard to introduce new ones to an established tank)
i have kept synondontis catfish in the past(both kinds).they can be very aggressive(not the upside downs though,they are shy).not neccesary but can be interesting for variety.
remember ,tons of caves,rock structures to the suraface,good lighting to help some green algea to grow for browsing(they nibble all day long)feed spirulina.really simple