Looking for some good tank mates for my tropheus that won't set him off, I stumbled upon the pundamilia - some articles say they're peaceful, others claim they're peaceful but get territorial when breeding, and then there are those that say they're just plain aggressive... and of course, the fish shop assured me it would be "fine".
Would really appreciate any info on this fish, or suggestions for other tank mates that would get along with him. If you need any more details, just let me know.
Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
What's the tank size you're working with?
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
My tank is 120 litres, around 34" in length, I'm aware it might not be the largest space for my tropheus, but I'm working with what I have.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
I think it's a gamble, it might be okay to start but could lead to stress or all-out war down the line. Have you considered keeping him with his own kind instead - how many would you need for a harmonious group?sundot wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 2:32 am Looking for some good tank mates for my tropheus that won't set him off, I stumbled upon the pundamilia - some articles say they're peaceful, others claim they're peaceful but get territorial when breeding, and then there are those that say they're just plain aggressive... and of course, the fish shop assured me it would be "fine".
Would really appreciate any info on this fish, or suggestions for other tank mates that would get along with him. If you need any more details, just let me know.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
I've got just one tropheus, a Julidochromis, and some albino bristlenose in there too. Yeah, I figured as they grow, there's a good chance they'll start fighting.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
Considering a Pundamilia or a rainbow shark to pair with my tropheus. Had a rainbow shark before, really liked it, but I can imagine two aggressive fish wouldn't mix well.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
Tropheus are from Lake Tanganyika, so they need hard water - we're talking GH above 350ppm and pH above 8.0. This isn't ideal for your bristlenose or rainbow sharks, though. If your water isn't hard enough, your Tropheus will struggle. But if it's hard enough for them, the other fish will suffer.
Tropheus are herbivores and can't handle meat in their diet. They'll bloat up and die if they eat it. Pundamilia, on the other hand, are predators that eat small fish, shrimp, and other organisms. So, feeding your Tropheus a veggie-based diet while keeping the Pundamilia from eating meat-based foods can be tricky.
That being said, if you can feed the Pundamilia separately, it might work out. Just make sure the Tropheus doesn't eat its food.
Rainbowfish are a better option for tankmates, as they're fine with a veggie and insect-based diet. Check out this website for more info on Rainbowfish - it's dedicated to Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae from Austflakeia and New Guinea. The link is rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au.
Tropheus are herbivores and can't handle meat in their diet. They'll bloat up and die if they eat it. Pundamilia, on the other hand, are predators that eat small fish, shrimp, and other organisms. So, feeding your Tropheus a veggie-based diet while keeping the Pundamilia from eating meat-based foods can be tricky.
That being said, if you can feed the Pundamilia separately, it might work out. Just make sure the Tropheus doesn't eat its food.
Rainbowfish are a better option for tankmates, as they're fine with a veggie and insect-based diet. Check out this website for more info on Rainbowfish - it's dedicated to Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae from Austflakeia and New Guinea. The link is rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
My water's at 14dgh for hardness, but the pH is a bit off at 7.6 - I've always known that's not ideal. I've been using algae wafers stuck to the glass, cichlid pellets, and veggie flakes for my tropheus. In terms of food, I'm not sure if the pundamilia could thrive on these options, but I was thinking more about compatibility in terms of behavior.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
Considering the Pundamilia's requirements, I think its behavior could work out with your Tropheus, but its diet is where things get tricky. The food you're offering, mainly algea wafers, cichlid pellets, and vegetable flakes, isn't well-suited for a Pundamilia. They need meat-based foods, and it'd be challenging to keep them from eating the Tropheus' food. Also, your water parameters, especially the pH, are a bit off for your Tropheus' long-term health.
Re: Is a pundamilia compatible with a tropheus duboisi?
I was thinking anything above 200ppm would be alright for my tropheus, but I suppose that's not the case. I've been going off one source, and I'm not sure how reliable that is. Would it be possible to alternate their food, maybe two days of veggie-based foods and one day of standard flakes or crisps, but with as little protein as possible? I wouldn't even think about trying live food with them, that just seems like a recipe for disaster.