Who Gives A Fish Forums

can mbuna cichlids be kept in a community setup?

I think cichlids, especially mbuna, have pretty specific water requirements, so you'd need to ensure those parameters are met in a community setup.

Stick with other mbunas, and you'll be fine. Throw them in with your standard tropical crew, tetras and whatnot, and those little guys will get eaten alive. You really want that on your conscience?

Honestly, it's a recipe for disaster. Mbuna are naturally aggressive, so they're best kept with their own kind, in a slightly overstocked tank to dilute the aggression. Mixing them with fish from other regions is just asking for trouble - they'll harass them relentlessly.

aw that's a shame.

guess that means i need to get another tank then.

my local fish shop said my water is perfect for them, high ph and really hard, so that's a plus. just need to do some more research, i didn't know they were so specific. x

dusk92 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:00 pm can mbuna cichlids be kept in a community setup?

I'm with you on that, same water type here and I've been thinking of setting up an Mbuna tank too, high pH and hard water, perfect conditions.

Mbuna cichlids aren't exactly ideal for a community setup. Their territorial nature and aggressive behavior can make them a handful. You'd also need to be careful when mixing them with other cichlids, so some research is a must before bringing them home.