information about malawi

[burdley]

I've come across a tank in the classifieds that seems like a great deal, but I've got some concerns that I'd love some help with.

The tank in question is a Juwel Trigon 190, and it comes with a complete Malawi setup, including 30 Malawi fish - no specifics on the types, though. To be honest, I'm not exactly a expert, but that seems like way too many fish for a tank of that shape and size.

I really like the idea of having a Cichlid tank to complement my community tank in the living room, but I've heard a lot of people say that these fish can be pretty aggressive. That's a major worry for me, as I keep fish mainly for the relaxing atmosphere - I don't want to be stressing out over fighting fish all the time.

So, can these fish actually live harmoniously, and is a corner tank like this one suitable for them? I'd really appreciate any opinions you've got on this. Thanks.

[zenith4]

I've had my fair share of keeping Malawis in the past, and from my experience, overstocking actually helps reduce aggression. These fish are truly amazing - I recall having them in a 3-foot tank, and every morning I'd find they'd rearranged the substrate (I used coflake sand). One particular fish even developed a quirky habit of sucking up mouthfuls of the substrate and spitting them at the glass when she was hungry.

Malawis do require plenty of hiding holes - I used ocean rock, and I mean a lot of it - to distract them and provide a safe haven for the victim to blend in with the crowd, so to speak. While I'm no expert, I'm sure someone here will offer more valuable insights. However, I do intend to set up another Malawi tank in the future, as I genuinely believe they're one of the best fish species out there.

[dynamo7]

I've got a Trigon 190 Malawi Mbuna setup and it's one of my favorites, the corner design is really useful for creating interesting layouts with ocean rock - my fish love swimming in and out of the nooks and crannies. Depending on the filtration system and water change schedule, I don't think 30 fish is overstocked - I've got over 30 in mine, although I do have a larger tank as well and a few are still young.

If you choose your fish carefully and are willing to make some changes until you find the right balance, they can definitely live harmoniously. You'll get the occasional chase, but no more than I've seen in my community tank.

[kalevi]

While it's true you can overstock Malawis to a degree, there's a fine line between that and overdoing it. I think 30 fish in a 190L tank is pushing it, to be honest. Yes, it can help reduce aggression, but it's not a magic solution - you'll still get the odd clash, and that's just the nature of these fish. If you pick your species wisely, you can have a more relaxed environment with fewer fish, giving them ample space to swim without feeling like they're packed in like, well, sardines.

[burdley]

I reached out to the seller for a photo of the Trigon so I could get a sense of its condition, but what I got back was a picture of a Vision 180. Not exactly what I was hoping for. Guess the search will have to continue.

[dorviko]

A corner tank isn't ideal for Malawis. When a fish is being chased, it needs space to escape its pursuer's territory. In a standard tank, it can flee to the opposite end. In a corner tank, that's not possible.

I have personal experience with Malawis. I started my fish-keeping journey with them five years ago, after hours of research and consultation with experts. I even got my fish from a reputable breeder who advised me on a combination of species to minimize aggression. I followed the advice to overstock, expecting a harmonious environment. Instead, all I got was constant fighting, battered fish, and fish that hid in the rocks, never to be seen. It didn't matter that I had a well-planned combination of species; the fighting persisted.

I eventually grew tired of the chaos and switched to geneflake tropicals, which I much prefer. In hindsight, I might have started with Tangs, as I've heard they're less aggressive than Malawis.

[burdley]

I really appreciate the time you've all taken to share your thoughts on this. Your collective experience is incredibly insightful and I'm grateful for the honesty.

My initial reason for considering this setup was a bit of a sneaky one - I thought if I picked up a second-hand tank with an existing alkaline setup, I wouldn't be able to transfer any fish to my community tank, giving me a legitimate reason to have two tanks in the living room. Oh well, I suppose that plan isn't going to work out.

I do understand that a conventional tank would be more suitable for a Cichlid setup, but I'm limited to a corner space. However, I think a corner tank does lend itself quite well to a rock-based setup, which I think would be really interesting.

If I were to go for a small Trigon, I think Tangs might be the way to go, but I've heard their more docile nature comes with less vibrant coloring. Leleupis seem like an exception, but I've read they can be very territorial - are they aggressive with each other, or just with other species?

I'm also wondering if a New World setup might be a better option for me.

[mizonix]

Tangs have a more understated beauty, their colours aren't as flashy but they're incredibly striking in their own way. I've got Brevis shellies that are supposed to be dull, but they've got these gorgeous purple and metallic green tones that shine under the right light. And my julies, they've got this bold black and white colouring with neon blue highlights on their fins - it's amazing. A lot of tangs look pretty ordinary in the shops, but once they settle in at home, their true colours come out.

What really fascinates me is their behaviour, though. They can be a bit feisty, but they seem so intelligent, each one carving out its own little niche in the tank. I've had visitors who aren't even into fish just standing there, mesmerized, watching them defend their shells or foraging for food in the rocks. They're just so deliberate in everything they do, unlike some community fish that just seem to swim around aimlessly all day.

[burdley]

That's a great point, thanks for sharing your thoughts and the pictures, it's really helped me see the beauty in the subtle colouring of Tangs. It's definitely given me something to think about, especially considering my limited space and the type of setup I'm looking to create.