information about stocking needed

[regrex]

I've got 3 Yellow Labs in separate tanks, a 55 and a 36 gal, and they're about 3.5-5" long. Aggression issues prevent me from housing them together in the 55. My goal is to get all three in the 55 with 6 more cichlids, preferably females. The problem is, my LFS only has smaller ones, around 1 1/2" - 2". I'm concerned about introducing these smaller fish to the larger ones. Would it be a bloodbath or would having multiple smaller ones minimize aggression? Ideally, I'd keep the three larger ones together and grow the smaller ones, but the three just won't get along. If this is a bad idea, what size should I look for instead?

[coltin]

I'm assuming the Yellow Labs in question are Labidochromis caeruleus, given the description. These fish are generally quite peaceful for cichlids, so they can be kept in pairs or even colonies.

If you're only able to get your hands on smaller fish, I'd recommend growing a group of them out in a separate tank. Once they've had time to grow, you can re-arrange the main display tank to break up the established territories. Then, and only then, would I introduce the new caeruleus to the existing group.

Here's how I'd do it: keep your current adults in the main tank, and put the new ones in their own tank for a while - six months should do it. Once the new fish have reached 4-5 inches or so, re-arrange the rocks and ornaments in the main tank to break up the established territories. Then, and this is key, introduce the new group of caeruleus to the main tank, along with the other fish.

By moving the rocks around, you'll be breaking up the established territories, which should help reduce aggression. And by introducing a group of new fish all at once, you'll be spreading out any aggression among the new fish, rather than focusing it on just one or two individuals.

[regrex]

I'm assuming the Yellow Labs in question are Labidochromis caeruleus, given the description. These fish are generally quite peaceful for cichlids, so they can be kept in pairs or even colonies.

If you're only able to get your hands on smaller fish, I'd recommend growing a group of them out in a separate tank. Once they've had time to grow, you can re-arrange the main display tank to break up the established territories. Then, and only then, would I introduce the new caeruleus to the existing group.

Here's how I'd do it: keep your current adults in the main tank, and put the new ones in their own tank for a while - six months should do it. Once the new fish have reached 4-5 inches or so, re-arrange the rocks and ornaments in the main tank to break up the established territories. Then, and this is key, introduce the new group of caeruleus to the main tank, along with the other fish.

By moving the rocks around, you'll be breaking up the established territories, which should help reduce aggression. And by introducing a group of new fish all at once, you'll be spreading out any aggression among the new fish, rather than focusing it on just one or two individuals.

Thanks for the info, I was thinking along those lines. My Yellow Labs are Labidochromis caeruleus, and like you said, they can be pretty peaceful, but I do get some nipping when there's not enough shelter. I'll work on a setup that'll make everyone happy until they're all on equal terms. Fingers crossed my LFS has some bigger ones now, haven't been there in 2 weeks. One more thing, do I need to stick with more caeruleus or can I mix in another African cichlid to diffuse aggression? Any suggestions?

[coltin]

You're not limited to just adding more caeruleus to ease aggression, you can introduce other cichlids to the mix. However, it's crucial to consider the compatibility of the new additions with your existing fish. Some species, like Melanochromis auratus, are known to be quite aggressive, while others, such as peacocks (Aulonocara sp), are generally more peaceful.

The key to a harmonious coexistence lies in rearranging your tank to break up established territories before introducing new fish. This simple step can make a significant difference. Additionally, try to add a group of new fish at the same time, rather than introducing them individually. By doing so, you'll be distributing any potential aggression among multiple new fish, rather than having it focused on a single individual.

[regrex]

I'm looking to add some contrast to my tank, so I'm considering a darker cichlid. Getting a group of grown ones would be ideal, that way I can quarantine and sex them before adding them to the main tank. I'm also thinking about adding some synodontis catfish or a smaller plec, but I've heard mixed reviews about plecs and Africans.

[coltin]

If you're looking for a darker cichlid to add some contrast, you might want to consider Pseudotropheus acei or Sciaenochromis ahli males - they turn a beautiful dark blue. I've found that Ahli are generally more peaceful and make a great addition to a community tank. Plus, they're relatively easy to sex at a young age - if you see any blue, you've got a male.

As for Synodontis catfish, they do best in groups of six or more, so if you're thinking of adding them, be prepared to make a bit of a commitment. They can be a really interesting addition to a tank, though, especially if you don't have too many other fish.

I've heard that Plecos can be a bit tricky in African cichlid tanks - they're from soft, acidic water, and rift lakes are hard and alkaline, so it's not the ideal environment for them. Common Bristlenose catfish, on the other hand, have been domesticated for years and are much more tolerant of hard water. They might be a better choice if you're looking for a catfish to add to your tank.

[regrex]

I'm assuming the Yellow Labs in question are Labidochromis caeruleus, given the description. These fish are generally quite peaceful for cichlids, so they can be kept in pairs or even colonies.

If you're only able to get your hands on smaller fish, I'd recommend growing a group of them out in a separate tank. Once they've had time to grow, you can re-arrange the main display tank to break up the established territories. Then, and only then, would I introduce the new caeruleus to the existing group.

Here's how I'd do it: keep your current adults in the main tank, and put the new ones in their own tank for a while - six months should do it. Once the new fish have reached 4-5 inches or so, re-arrange the rocks and ornaments in the main tank to break up the established territories. Then, and this is key, introduce the new group of caeruleus to the main tank, along with the other fish.

By moving the rocks around, you'll be breaking up the established territories, which should help reduce aggression. And by introducing a group of new fish all at once, you'll be spreading out any aggression among the new fish, rather than focusing it on just one or two individuals.

I'm considering those Bristlenoses, they do look nice. A group of 4, maybe that would work? I don't think I could swing the Synodontis, 6 or more is just too many for my tank and some get huge. I did see the Synodontis nigriventris, but I've heard they're not the best fit for an African cichlid tank. The Acei are still on my radar, but I'm also looking at the Sciaenochromis ahli - my LFS has some bigger ones, but I'm worried about the size, they can get up to 8" and I don't want any issues with my 4-5" labs.

[coltin]

I've never seen Sciaenochromis ahli grow over 6 inches, their body length excluding the tail, and they're known to be peaceful fish.

If you're looking for a suitable catfish to pair with your mbuna or other boisterous cichlids, Synodontis nigriventris isn't the best choice as they prefer soft acid water. Instead, consider Synodontis multipunctatus as they naturally occur with rift lake cichlids and can even use mouth-brooding cichlids to care for their eggs and young. They're peaceful and only grow up to 5-6 inches.

Common Bristlenose catfish are another great option. They grow about 4 inches and live in loose groups with each male having a small territory around a cave. Females move around, breed with different males, and then leave the males to care for the eggs and fry. You can easily keep 2 pairs without any issues. The males are easily distinguishable from the females due to the bristles on their head and pectoral fins.

If you decide to get Bristlenose, make sure to include some driftwood in the tank for them, and feed them bottom-feeding foods that are mainly plant-based. Also, ensure you get captive-bred common Bristlenose and not Peckoltias.

[regrex]

I'm assuming the Yellow Labs in question are Labidochromis caeruleus, given the description. These fish are generally quite peaceful for cichlids, so they can be kept in pairs or even colonies.

If you're only able to get your hands on smaller fish, I'd recommend growing a group of them out in a separate tank. Once they've had time to grow, you can re-arrange the main display tank to break up the established territories. Then, and only then, would I introduce the new caeruleus to the existing group.

Here's how I'd do it: keep your current adults in the main tank, and put the new ones in their own tank for a while - six months should do it. Once the new fish have reached 4-5 inches or so, re-arrange the rocks and ornaments in the main tank to break up the established territories. Then, and this is key, introduce the new group of caeruleus to the main tank, along with the other fish.

By moving the rocks around, you'll be breaking up the established territories, which should help reduce aggression. And by introducing a group of new fish all at once, you'll be spreading out any aggression among the new fish, rather than focusing it on just one or two individuals.

I was thinking of checking my LFS for some sort of wood when I'm out that way, want a nice big piece for the tank. For the Synodontis multipunctatus, I was wondering what type of group size I should look for? I'll have at least 7 cichlids of about 5-6 inches in the tank, and it's only a 55 gallon, so I'm guessing a large group of multipunctatus might not be feasible.

[coltin]

You'll want a group of at least 4 Synodontis multipunctatus, but if you can manage it, 6 would be even better. With the space in your 55g tank, I think you can easily accommodate 12 fish of around 5-6 inches, assuming you're doing regular water changes and have a solid filter in place. What's crucial here is good filtration - in a rift lake tank with high pH, any ammonia that builds up can be extremely toxic, and if your filtration isn't up to par, both the catfish and the cichlids will suffer as a result.