@1983DAZZY Not too many fish (about 30-35 in a 125gal) for a mbuna set up. Due to the aggressive nature of these african cichlids, larger group size decreases aggression while smaller group size increases aggression. Additionally, these fish can be found in even greater population densities in their native environment (Lake Malawi). Rift Lake tanks are stocked differently than tropical community tanks and such. Of course larger bioload means larger water changes. Now you know.
@Damarris100 African cichlids are best kept with other african cichlids, particularly with african cichlids of the same lake and same group. The cichlids in this video are various species of Lake Malawi mbuna's. However, due to varying aggressive natures and dietary requirements and other variables, not all african cichlids are compatible, even those from the same lake. I would recommend keeping them with cichlids from other regions in the world.
hi Love your tank just love the design, but i have a question. During feeding with my fish i put cichlid pellets in the the tank but the fish don't notice them at all. I have 4 juvenile Yellow Labs. They been in the tank for 2 days now and this was the first feeding so i am worried about them. Please respond thx.
@gee3770 This video is from 4 years ago. I estimate at that time I had about 32-36 fish in the tank. There are currently more fish (and rocks) in the tank now (I guess it's time for an updated video).
Awesome tank! I just got a 35 gallon tank, and was wondering if I could maybe get a few of the smaller African cichlids. the tank is 35 inches long, 20 inches deep and 18 inches from front to back.
@raj5033 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli) also known as the Yellow Tail Acei. They have perhaps one of the most peaceful temperments of the mbuna's. They're actually more of a purple though the intensity of the purple can vary upon their mood. They max out at about 6" or 15cm.
@robdawg300 I've got two that meet that description. The one that comes into center frame at about 0:07 is a Metriaclima sp. zebra 'Chilumba' (Luwino Reef), also known as a Black-barred Zebra. The one that comes into center frame at about 0:14 is a Pseudotropheus demasoni (Pombo Rocks). The black-barred zebra maxes out at 7"-8", the demasoni's are smaller and max out at 3"-4",
Really upset today. Bought a 1" green puffer and put him in with my cichlids. I have a 5" beautiful Jack Dempsey that tried to eat him, then spit him out. 2 minutes later, the Jack is dead! Was it because of the Pufffer??
@professorxox Many types of puffers are poisonous though I'm not sure if green spotted puffers are a toxic species or not. But it definately seems like some sort of toxic self-defense mechanism was in action due to the circumstances and rapid demise of the jack dempsey. Sorry about the loss. The green spotted puffer will eventually require brackish water for long term success (not really compatible with cichlids). They get aggressive as they mature and will max at close to 6".
@y2kenny :updated: Lost another fish. Male Convict trying to protect its fry. Died minutes after chasing off the puffer a few times. Had to take it back to the store. Not a good day for the original members of my tank. ;-(
@octapus200 Depending on variables (species, water quality, diet, etc) it takes about 2 to 3 years for them to attain adult size. After that growth slows but continues, particularly with the males. For example I have mbuna's which are about 6yrs old which still a bit larger than their offspring which are over 4 years old.
@J22R22 You could probably add 4-6 more (or more if you wanted to overstock). When adding new mbuna's it's best to add them in groups of 4+ because they may initially be treated as intruders by the established occupants. In some cases tank rearrangement is necessary.
@J22R22 if you want to keep the aggression of african cichlids you can lower the temperature and you can add more cichlids. when I first started out my 125 gallon, i only had my demosani, electric blue and yellow. My demosoni would always bully the blue and yellow. However, as I started to add more fishes he would become less aggressive to them and the same with the other aggressive cichlids. Therefore, crowding up a african cichlid tank is a good thing. Well in my opinion anyhow.
Love you fish, also you artificial rock cave, i use those myself. One thing only that i would do different, i wouldnt use those rounded stones in the front, i would try and dig up some more square stone that could resemble the artificial cave :)
Since making this video I've removed most if not all of the smooth rocks (placing them in a different mbuna tank). Initially I had placed the smooth river rocks in there to provide crevices for fry. I should post an update to this video since I made it about 3yrs ago.
Yellow labs would best be kept with other mbuna's (so that would exclude them from being kept with jewels and firemouths). While a kenyi is a mbuna they're very aggressive and may pose some problems, particularly since male kenyi's may unleash aggression on other yellow-colored fish. The two species, however, could be kept if decent aggression management techniques are in place.
cool thanxz for the advice, gonna go buy new mbuna and sell my kenyi. o0o and by the way, is there a specific temperature they must live in? i think its between 78-86 correct me if im wrong
Kenyi, Jewels and Yellow labs will all get well together, because they are all from lake malawi, Kenyis are very aggressive and some say even more aggressive than the Demasoni.
well in my tank, the most aggressive fish are my 2 jewels, which always attack each other. They are the most dominant, and almost all the other fish are the same size. jewels arent from malawi tho.
Be aware that the aggression level of many mbuna's are greater than those of most peacocks. The mbuna's may intimidate the peacocks and prevent them from attaining full coloration. Low aggression mbuna's such as yellow labs, however, should be fine with peacocks. Do you have six fish total or six different species?
im setting up either a 55g or a much larger tank, it depends on where i move.
any way, i would like to keep some yellow labs, bumble bees, red zebras and a common pleco, could you mention some good fish for those, i would like to fill up both tanks to full capazity, the larger tank will probably be 150g. it will be lightly planted and heavily filtered with a varied diet.
A common pleco probably isn't required. If you go with one, make sure it's in the tank first. Mbuna's sometimes treat new comers with aggression and might take an eye or two from the pleco if added while they're already established. Mbuna's are typically compatible with all other mbuna species. Just make sure you have adequate gender ratio's and be aware that sometimes multiple males of hyperdominant species aren't well tolerated by their own kind. Mbuna's may munch on your plants.
Very easy to breed and highly prolific. Each female is capable of producing 20-40 fry every other month. Very hardy fish, though their aggression has to be managed (with appropriate group size and gender ratio's).
Im getting a 60 gallon tank. about how much should i put in there (med - large)..also do they breed electric yellow to yellow or do they breed with everything creating hybrids?
60gal, about 12-15 mbuna's, give or take. Yellow labs (labidochromis caeruleus) aren't hybrids, but mbuna's in general are capable to breeding outside of their species (so, for example, yellow lab X red zebra hybrids are possible). To greatly minimize the potential of hybridization, install an adequate gender ratio (1 male per several females per species).
Hey I have a cichlid tank with some unknown cichlids im pretty sure theyre from Lake Malawi can you help name them please? Check my channel for the videos.
is that substrate sand or gravel in ur tank.I just switched from gravel to substrate sand and my tank has a dull look to it now.think it will go away? its been 3 days now
That's sand in the tank, and when I initially added it the tank water was cloudy for perhaps a day or two. It should clear up soon, especially if the sand was thoroughly rinsed prior to adding it to your tank. I'm assuming by 'dull look' you meant cloudy?
great setup. can anyone help me. ive got 12 chiclids in a 32 gallon tank with plenty of ocean rock. how many more can i put in there. the ones i have r around 3inchs? also how can i keep my rocks looking immaculate?
Rchana86, What type of cichlids do you have? Have they maxed out at 3" or still have some growing to do? (Remember, even a 12" cichlid was 3" once). So, it all depends on the species. None of the cichlids in my video would do well in a 32gal.
It's a juvenile metriaclima sp. zebra chilumba. They develop a striped pattern when matured. The adult version of this fish appears at 0:07 and also 0:50-0:52. The juveniles are more of a solid dark purple/brown and become striped as the mature, particularly the males.
These are so awesome. One question thoug? Ive heard that these are a friendly type of chiclid. Can I put them in my 65 gallon tank with zebra danios, glofisg, tetras, tiger bars, beon tetras. I will provide hiding spots for them, and nice sand they can "roll in"?? I will get 2 or 3 so they can keep company.???please tell me??
Maybe a non-african cichlid such as a bolivan or german ram might work with what you've got; I'm not really sure (I only keep african cichlids). Mbuna's (which are the category of fish in this video) aren't suited for community tropical set ups; even the most peaceful mbuna's might be too aggressive for you tank.
nope, sorry, they are too aggressive. unless its small. if its more than 1 inch, they can not be together. less than 1 inch is ok my guess. but its a big NO. sorry
fucking beautiful tank m8. nice variety you have in there too. cichlids rule and i like your setup i see alot of my own fish in your tank you just have the labidochromis everything else i have.
I have 16 African cichlids in my 55 gallon. I'm going to get a 30 gallon to spit up some of the smaller ones that I have. I'm waiting for the day when I get a huge 200 plus gallon tank and have a large mass of them. I don't have too many of the same type in the tank as you do, but I will once I have more room. They don't seem to be too agressive at the moment but once they get bigger they surely will.
yoo visit this website and go to videos section they mine and gert this community going wit me u need to bring the w's and c o m together and the dot, youtube dosnt alllow us posting website names.
These are mbuna's, which are aggressive african cichlids. Keeping them in well-sized groups minimizes aggression and provides protection by spreading out aggression and prevents singling out.
Aggression INCREASES the smaller the group is. If I had only 8 in this tank, the aggression would be one-sided and constant.
However, my tank isn't even overstocked by mbuna standards.I do regular large water changes, though, to keep nitrate levels down (50% weekly).
nice chilids they look like pretty good jumps when i first got mines they were getting caught and when they got in the bag they started jumping out lmfao
you can also add a canister or wetdry filter of an existing filter tospeed up the process thats what idid itook the filter from my other tank and connect it to start the new tank with adding afew fish saves time
No, running a tank for three weeks is cycling the tank. The beneficial bacteria is already present and able to mulitply in an unstocked aquaria. I get what you are coming from, but i think that this can be much more confusing to a new fishkeeper. The method that I stated is tried and true. you have made good points and i am positive that your method works, but i am suggesting this way to reduce confusion and problems with the tank. You are very knowledgable and experienced, and i respect that.
If your a new fish keeper, your probably starting your hobby off with some beginner fish, which are almost always hardy, so it doesn't matter about cycling your tank.
I agree with branbits yes there is a much larger difference when you cycle your tank for 3 weeks if you are doing a fishless cycling. It gives tank time to produce the helpfull bacteria needed for the start of fishkeeping. Also adding cichlids in groups is a very unwise thing as they may not be compatable. It would be best too wait for about 3 weeks then add 1 or 2 cichlids for about a week. remember to do your reasearch.
For the beneficial cycle to start the tank REQUIRES an ammonia source. Running a tank empty without adding ammonia does NOTHING to get the cycle started. The cycle can only start if an ammonia (and subsequent nitrite) source is present in the system.
In regards to doing research, I suggest you research fishless cycling. Cycling without fish involves using houeshold ammonia instead of fish to get the cycle going. In this way you can build up a very large beneficial bacteria colony by dosing the tank with ammonia. If you cycle the tank (which will take 1-3 months) in this method utilizing an amount of ammonia equal to two dozen fish, you can then add two dozen fish all at once.
This process ALLOWS you to add a greater number of fish since the tank has been processing and converting large quantities of ammonia and nitrite for weeks. The BENEFIT is that mbuna's due to their aggression, are better off starting in larger numbers than being built up to larger numbers. For me, to add 24 right from the start (INTO A FULLY CYCLED tank) is better (in terms of aggression) than adding additional mbuna's in smaller increments.
In response to the comment that "adding cichlids in groups is a very unwise thing as they may not be compatible" doesn't apply with mbuna's. They do BEST when added into groups as it spreads out aggression to minimal levels. Were I to add a single labidochromis mbamba's to this tank it would be singled out and harassed on sight. Were I to add GROUP of 6 additional mbambas the level of aggression they'd receive would be significantly diminished and intergration into the tank would be easier.
You want to make sure that your water can handle the bioload, so wait about three weeks(then you will be sure ) and put one or two small fish in and wait another week or two. most cichlids are hardy, put you want to get small ones so you can put other things in without them being too aggressive. Have fun!
Running a tank empty for 3 weeks prior to adding any fish is practically the same as running the tank for 3 minutes and adding the fish. The tank will still be uncycled. If cycling with fish, there's no reason to wait so long (though I prefer 'fishless cycling' and seeding tanks than using fish to get the cycle going.
ok so you just said that cycling the tanksfor three weeks is equal to three minutes but then you just said that there is no reason to wait so long...i dont really get that logic. And cycling the taks for three weeks does cycle the tank, so i dont know where you are getting that idea from. lets see...try putting a dozen cichlids into your tank and we will see what happens. It has never worked, and will never work. Cycling with fish is much better, and the point you made of the groups is true(cont
The premise of my statement is: adding fish to a tank running empty for 3 weeks IS adding fish to an UNCYCLED tank. Adding fish to a tank that has been running empty for 3 minutes IS adding fish to an UNCYCLED tank. The logic being BOTH methods are bad and not recommended.
By "no reason to wait so long" I meant that if a person is going to cycle a tank WITH fish (which I don't recommend), then there is no reason to add fish 3 weeks later since NOTHING is happening (cycle-wise in the tank)during that 3 weeks running empty. For clarification, running a tank empty for 3 weeks is not equal to running a tank empty WHILE dosing ammonia for 3 weeks.
Research how to cycle a tank using the fishless method. It will take several weeks. The fishless method allows you to add a greater number of fish at a time (if done right you could add a dozen, after a certain number of weeks, of course). A 38gal tank, by the way, is slightly undersized for the type of cichlids in this video, except for perhaps the yellow labs.
Adding mbuna's in groups is better than adding them one or two at a time (since the established fish may regard the new cichlids as intruders to their territory and deal with them in that manner). Mbuna's do better when added in groups at a time, and fishless cycling allows that.
and is valid. but for a beginner to add a group of fish is VERY unwise, because he might buy fish that are not compatible and end up in more mess than he was in before. Get a feel for the fish and do your research, then make concrete decisions on what to buy next.
So far i have a fire mouth with my community tank. What other types of cichlids could i get? my community fish are mollies, tetras, ballas,some algae eating fish and a BGK. i dont mind if the tetras or mollies are killed.
Well if you dont care abot your old fish, you coud go for other South America or Central American cichlids. oscars and jack dempseys are really agressive and should be avoided unless you have a large tank with good fltration. green terrors or severums are ok and there are alot more SA or CA fish that are good looking and decent on the agressiveness scale.
Can you tell me what kind of fish i have.its purple or blue like that color with the outline of white and black.appreciate it if you would tell. (-_-)
Depends on the type of african cichlid. But mbuna species (such as the one in this video) are capable of breeding at 1yrs old or about 2inches in length. In each instance I've had that happen, though, I had matured males in the tank (which I suspect sired the fry).
because they fear other people, my mbuna have grown accustomed to having my hand in the tank and no longer fear it, they see me and know its safe and that food might be coming but if my brother were to come and look at it they know the difference and fear such a large creature.
Nice tank, nice fish, nice layout. I have a question, I got 5 Malawi Cichlids, 3 Electric Yellows and Two purple dudes. They're all not fully grown, Malawi Cichlid's have to be kept in a tank no smalelr than 120 litres, so i'm gonna have to get a bigger tank later (Juwel Rio 180) but at the moment they're in a 35 litre tank. Is this alright for them until they get bigger?
I'd recommend moving them from the 35liter(9.2gal) tank by the time they attain 4cm-5cm (1.5to 2 inches) OR when serious aggression starts to manifest, which ever occurs first. I'd also go as far to say that 209 liters (55gal) would be the recommended minimum.
Depends on what type of cichlids they are and how mature they are. If they're mbuna's like the one's in this video, a 20gal would only work for the purposes of growing out fry and small juvies. As they mature they'd become too aggressive for such a small tank and would end up killing each other. Other types of cichlids (shell dwellers, rams, etc) might work though.
Possibly with yellow labs or rusty cichlids. The more aggressive types require larger tanks to manage aggression. A tank length of 48" is recommended. A 30gal will work for a while when they're young, though.
55gal is considered the minimum due to their often aggressive and territorial nature. However a small group (5-6) of yellow labs or rusty cichlids 'might' work. Problems may manifest when their fully matured though.
Nice tank! Some nice looking fish you have in there. I like the Blue Striped ones. Sorry Im not good with names. Check out my tank. Eventually it will be all African Cichlids.
Wow that tank looks amazing, nice fish. I set up a 35 gallon tank, and was wondering how many cichlids would I be able to put in it. Also would they get along with a jack dempsey?
Thanks!. How many cichlids you could keep in your 35 would depend on the type and species of cichlid. In many cases a 35gal would probably be too small (even for a jack dempsey). With the type of african cichlids in this video, a 55gal is generally considered the minimum (at which 10-15 could be kept).
Depends on species and gender. 4"-6" for most of the ones I have, though the zebra chilumba (seen in the last couple of seconds of the video) get upwards of 7" or 8".
Pseudotropheus sp. acei also known as the yellow tail acei. They're more purple than blue and are among the most peaceful Lake Malawi cichlids to have.
I have a bunch in there ranging from about 2.5" to 4.5". The smallest ones are the offspring of the larger ones in the tank (I grew them out in a separate tank and returned them to the tank when they were large enough not to be eaten by the others. So I've had the 2.5" yellow labs since they were born (length 1cm or less).
Far to many fish. You should be shot!
1983DAZZY 6 months ago in playlist -Freshwater Tanks
@1983DAZZY Not too many fish (about 30-35 in a 125gal) for a mbuna set up. Due to the aggressive nature of these african cichlids, larger group size decreases aggression while smaller group size increases aggression. Additionally, these fish can be found in even greater population densities in their native environment (Lake Malawi). Rift Lake tanks are stocked differently than tropical community tanks and such. Of course larger bioload means larger water changes. Now you know.
y2kenny 6 months ago
Better than TV.
modelleg 6 months ago
do i have to put the same kind of cichilds like afican only doesent if i mix they will seem to fight
Damarris100 6 months ago
@Damarris100 African cichlids are best kept with other african cichlids, particularly with african cichlids of the same lake and same group. The cichlids in this video are various species of Lake Malawi mbuna's. However, due to varying aggressive natures and dietary requirements and other variables, not all african cichlids are compatible, even those from the same lake. I would recommend keeping them with cichlids from other regions in the world.
y2kenny 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hi Love your tank just love the design, but i have a question. During feeding with my fish i put cichlid pellets in the the tank but the fish don't notice them at all. I have 4 juvenile Yellow Labs. They been in the tank for 2 days now and this was the first feeding so i am worried about them. Please respond thx.
Dinoalptug 7 months ago
I love your setup
WunderwaffeDG2 11 months ago
@WunderwaffeDG2 Thanks!
y2kenny 11 months ago
hi looks great how many fish do u have in there?
gee3770 1 year ago
@gee3770 This video is from 4 years ago. I estimate at that time I had about 32-36 fish in the tank. There are currently more fish (and rocks) in the tank now (I guess it's time for an updated video).
y2kenny 1 year ago
Awesome tank! I just got a 35 gallon tank, and was wondering if I could maybe get a few of the smaller African cichlids. the tank is 35 inches long, 20 inches deep and 18 inches from front to back.
MrBendorandoran 1 year ago
Wat is the name of the 1 with the blue body and yellow tail
raj5033 1 year ago
@raj5033 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli) also known as the Yellow Tail Acei. They have perhaps one of the most peaceful temperments of the mbuna's. They're actually more of a purple though the intensity of the purple can vary upon their mood. They max out at about 6" or 15cm.
y2kenny 1 year ago
what is the blue and black stiped fish called???
robdawg300 1 year ago
@robdawg300 I've got two that meet that description. The one that comes into center frame at about 0:07 is a Metriaclima sp. zebra 'Chilumba' (Luwino Reef), also known as a Black-barred Zebra. The one that comes into center frame at about 0:14 is a Pseudotropheus demasoni (Pombo Rocks). The black-barred zebra maxes out at 7"-8", the demasoni's are smaller and max out at 3"-4",
y2kenny 1 year ago
@y2kenny thanks
robdawg300 1 year ago
Really upset today. Bought a 1" green puffer and put him in with my cichlids. I have a 5" beautiful Jack Dempsey that tried to eat him, then spit him out. 2 minutes later, the Jack is dead! Was it because of the Pufffer??
professorxox 1 year ago
@professorxox Many types of puffers are poisonous though I'm not sure if green spotted puffers are a toxic species or not. But it definately seems like some sort of toxic self-defense mechanism was in action due to the circumstances and rapid demise of the jack dempsey. Sorry about the loss. The green spotted puffer will eventually require brackish water for long term success (not really compatible with cichlids). They get aggressive as they mature and will max at close to 6".
y2kenny 1 year ago
@y2kenny :updated: Lost another fish. Male Convict trying to protect its fry. Died minutes after chasing off the puffer a few times. Had to take it back to the store. Not a good day for the original members of my tank. ;-(
professorxox 1 year ago
wow fantastic
borbottante 1 year ago
how long did it take them to get that size mine are about an inch how long till their full grown u think
octapus200 1 year ago
@octapus200 Depending on variables (species, water quality, diet, etc) it takes about 2 to 3 years for them to attain adult size. After that growth slows but continues, particularly with the males. For example I have mbuna's which are about 6yrs old which still a bit larger than their offspring which are over 4 years old.
y2kenny 1 year ago
how many more should i put in my 70gal i have 4 electric yellows 5 colbalt blues and 2 acei with plenty of rocks?
J22R22 1 year ago
@J22R22 You could probably add 4-6 more (or more if you wanted to overstock). When adding new mbuna's it's best to add them in groups of 4+ because they may initially be treated as intruders by the established occupants. In some cases tank rearrangement is necessary.
y2kenny 1 year ago
is that a demosani? and how many do you have in their and hows their agression?
J22R22 2 years ago
There's one demasoni in this tank. I have a demasoni colony in a separate tank. They're mostly aggressive toward their own kind.
y2kenny 2 years ago
@J22R22 if you want to keep the aggression of african cichlids you can lower the temperature and you can add more cichlids. when I first started out my 125 gallon, i only had my demosani, electric blue and yellow. My demosoni would always bully the blue and yellow. However, as I started to add more fishes he would become less aggressive to them and the same with the other aggressive cichlids. Therefore, crowding up a african cichlid tank is a good thing. Well in my opinion anyhow.
chinolal 1 year ago
Finally uploaded my tank, please take a look.
provancha70 2 years ago
yu have every one of the fish I have ever had/have AMAZING!
gxmon3y 2 years ago
Love you fish, also you artificial rock cave, i use those myself. One thing only that i would do different, i wouldnt use those rounded stones in the front, i would try and dig up some more square stone that could resemble the artificial cave :)
Other than that really nice tank :)
ncmohr1 2 years ago
Since making this video I've removed most if not all of the smooth rocks (placing them in a different mbuna tank). Initially I had placed the smooth river rocks in there to provide crevices for fry. I should post an update to this video since I made it about 3yrs ago.
y2kenny 2 years ago
nice fish, check mine out. i cant wait till they get that big
dadecountyalan 2 years ago
can yellow labs be mixed with jewels, firemouths or kenyi? if not, what fish can get along with the fish i mentioned??
other than that, awsome tank, cool looking fish!!!! lol
yomexicosfinest93 2 years ago
Yellow labs would best be kept with other mbuna's (so that would exclude them from being kept with jewels and firemouths). While a kenyi is a mbuna they're very aggressive and may pose some problems, particularly since male kenyi's may unleash aggression on other yellow-colored fish. The two species, however, could be kept if decent aggression management techniques are in place.
y2kenny 2 years ago
cool thanxz for the advice, gonna go buy new mbuna and sell my kenyi. o0o and by the way, is there a specific temperature they must live in? i think its between 78-86 correct me if im wrong
yomexicosfinest93 2 years ago
The temperature is between 75 - 85 degrees
Its good to keep the water temp withing 75 to 76 degrees
khanooo 2 years ago
Kenyi, Jewels and Yellow labs will all get well together, because they are all from lake malawi, Kenyis are very aggressive and some say even more aggressive than the Demasoni.
fishdude401 2 years ago
Jewels aren't from Lake Malawi, they're West African (rather than being from any of the East African Rift Lakes)
y2kenny 2 years ago
well in my tank, the most aggressive fish are my 2 jewels, which always attack each other. They are the most dominant, and almost all the other fish are the same size. jewels arent from malawi tho.
yomexicosfinest93 2 years ago
What sort of Synodontis come from Lake Malawi?
I have lots of Mbuna (no haps or peacocks though) and want a good tankmate I thought synodontis might be a good idea?
jay942942 2 years ago
beautiful!
xnefc 2 years ago
The mbuna chases after feed time but not that bad.2 peacocks,1 mbuna,1 yello lab and 2 others I dont remember tha name of :)
tobias322 2 years ago
Comment removed
tobias322 2 years ago
lots in this tank, looks good :), just setup my first one, keeping 6 various, couple peacock,mbuna, electric yellow etc.
tobias322 2 years ago
Thanks.
Be aware that the aggression level of many mbuna's are greater than those of most peacocks. The mbuna's may intimidate the peacocks and prevent them from attaining full coloration. Low aggression mbuna's such as yellow labs, however, should be fine with peacocks. Do you have six fish total or six different species?
y2kenny 2 years ago
im setting up either a 55g or a much larger tank, it depends on where i move.
any way, i would like to keep some yellow labs, bumble bees, red zebras and a common pleco, could you mention some good fish for those, i would like to fill up both tanks to full capazity, the larger tank will probably be 150g. it will be lightly planted and heavily filtered with a varied diet.
thanks and awesome tank!!!
cichliddude3423 2 years ago
A common pleco probably isn't required. If you go with one, make sure it's in the tank first. Mbuna's sometimes treat new comers with aggression and might take an eye or two from the pleco if added while they're already established. Mbuna's are typically compatible with all other mbuna species. Just make sure you have adequate gender ratio's and be aware that sometimes multiple males of hyperdominant species aren't well tolerated by their own kind. Mbuna's may munch on your plants.
y2kenny 2 years ago
how many fish do u have?
8888Tiger8888 2 years ago
In this 125-gal tank, perhaps 30-40. The 'roster' has changed somewhat since this 2006 video, but the quantity remains about the same
y2kenny 2 years ago
I like your setup. I use the same substrate.
MistaCheekz729 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
check out my videos. . . and nice variety
tcfuturevet 3 years ago
Great setup!!!
And thanks for lettling me put 2 of my video responses up :)
bolly12345 3 years ago
nicee, but to many yellows
321000432 3 years ago
The small yellow labs are the offspring of the larger ones.
y2kenny 3 years ago
are these fish hard to maintain and breed?
Ftbllplayer158 3 years ago
Very easy to breed and highly prolific. Each female is capable of producing 20-40 fry every other month. Very hardy fish, though their aggression has to be managed (with appropriate group size and gender ratio's).
y2kenny 3 years ago
Im getting a 60 gallon tank. about how much should i put in there (med - large)..also do they breed electric yellow to yellow or do they breed with everything creating hybrids?
Ftbllplayer158 3 years ago
60gal, about 12-15 mbuna's, give or take. Yellow labs (labidochromis caeruleus) aren't hybrids, but mbuna's in general are capable to breeding outside of their species (so, for example, yellow lab X red zebra hybrids are possible). To greatly minimize the potential of hybridization, install an adequate gender ratio (1 male per several females per species).
y2kenny 3 years ago
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check out my videos!
tcfuturevet 3 years ago
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Information on Cichlids is available at TheExoticFish . com
ForumBoosters 3 years ago
les falta refugios, no sean malos
josperalta 3 years ago
i like the demansoni at 25 seconds!
sadm1234 3 years ago
gorgeous demansoni
Zerstiren 3 years ago
what temperature is your tank m8t? mine is 77.5f do u think thats ok i keep african cichlid
00grisenth 3 years ago
77.5F should be ok. My tank is about 82F but it tends to drop down to the mid-70s or even low 70s in the winter months.
y2kenny 3 years ago
Hey I have a cichlid tank with some unknown cichlids im pretty sure theyre from Lake Malawi can you help name them please? Check my channel for the videos.
Zerstiren 3 years ago
Awesome tank, I unfortunately had to sell my 175 gallon last year. Can't wait to get the money to build another one.
realwhiteboy 3 years ago
is that substrate sand or gravel in ur tank.I just switched from gravel to substrate sand and my tank has a dull look to it now.think it will go away? its been 3 days now
13417069 3 years ago
That's sand in the tank, and when I initially added it the tank water was cloudy for perhaps a day or two. It should clear up soon, especially if the sand was thoroughly rinsed prior to adding it to your tank. I'm assuming by 'dull look' you meant cloudy?
y2kenny 3 years ago
great setup. can anyone help me. ive got 12 chiclids in a 32 gallon tank with plenty of ocean rock. how many more can i put in there. the ones i have r around 3inchs? also how can i keep my rocks looking immaculate?
rchana86 3 years ago
omg 32 gallons
Bangelo95 3 years ago
Rchana86, What type of cichlids do you have? Have they maxed out at 3" or still have some growing to do? (Remember, even a 12" cichlid was 3" once). So, it all depends on the species. None of the cichlids in my video would do well in a 32gal.
y2kenny 3 years ago
how big is this tank
getnachoy 3 years ago
125gal.
y2kenny 3 years ago
what lake these guys are from i want to start a cichild tank
makaveli8655 3 years ago
Lake Malawi. There are several types of cichlids from Lake Malawi, these are mbuna's.
y2kenny 3 years ago
what is the name of the black mbuna that appears at 0:10
diplomat15 3 years ago
It's a juvenile metriaclima sp. zebra chilumba. They develop a striped pattern when matured. The adult version of this fish appears at 0:07 and also 0:50-0:52. The juveniles are more of a solid dark purple/brown and become striped as the mature, particularly the males.
y2kenny 3 years ago
These are so awesome. One question thoug? Ive heard that these are a friendly type of chiclid. Can I put them in my 65 gallon tank with zebra danios, glofisg, tetras, tiger bars, beon tetras. I will provide hiding spots for them, and nice sand they can "roll in"?? I will get 2 or 3 so they can keep company.???please tell me??
medallo41 3 years ago
Maybe a non-african cichlid such as a bolivan or german ram might work with what you've got; I'm not really sure (I only keep african cichlids). Mbuna's (which are the category of fish in this video) aren't suited for community tropical set ups; even the most peaceful mbuna's might be too aggressive for you tank.
y2kenny 3 years ago
if anyone has any ?s about cichlids ask them on my channel comments i no nothing about pikes or sevrums and no ?s about sick fish
steeloscarman 3 years ago
nope, sorry, they are too aggressive. unless its small. if its more than 1 inch, they can not be together. less than 1 inch is ok my guess. but its a big NO. sorry
4freexbox360 3 years ago
cichlids wiil eat them and there water specs r different... maybe not tiger barbs but the tetras will be lunch eventually
tommieny1 3 years ago
Nice aquarium dude
allthismovie 3 years ago
great tank. where'd you get the round flat stones? Are they grey? What are they called?
cholile 3 years ago
I got them from a landscaping place, river stones I believe are what they're called.
y2kenny 3 years ago
fucking beautiful tank m8. nice variety you have in there too. cichlids rule and i like your setup i see alot of my own fish in your tank you just have the labidochromis everything else i have.
badbadjp 3 years ago
I have 16 African cichlids in my 55 gallon. I'm going to get a 30 gallon to spit up some of the smaller ones that I have. I'm waiting for the day when I get a huge 200 plus gallon tank and have a large mass of them. I don't have too many of the same type in the tank as you do, but I will once I have more room. They don't seem to be too agressive at the moment but once they get bigger they surely will.
SeanF1979 3 years ago
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yoo visit this website and go to videos section they mine and gert this community going wit me u need to bring the w's and c o m together and the dot, youtube dosnt alllow us posting website names.
w w w freewebs c o m/cichlidsisland
newjersey02 3 years ago
dont you think thats too much for ur aquarium? I mean the amount of fish in it...
Methodman5 3 years ago
Not at all.
These are mbuna's, which are aggressive african cichlids. Keeping them in well-sized groups minimizes aggression and provides protection by spreading out aggression and prevents singling out.
Aggression INCREASES the smaller the group is. If I had only 8 in this tank, the aggression would be one-sided and constant.
However, my tank isn't even overstocked by mbuna standards.I do regular large water changes, though, to keep nitrate levels down (50% weekly).
y2kenny 3 years ago
that what happened to me
jjbro1 3 years ago
Even if you're new and your fish are hardy, cycling still matters.
esc319 3 years ago
Wicked Show Tank!
The Pond Digger
ThePondDigger 3 years ago
nice chilids they look like pretty good jumps when i first got mines they were getting caught and when they got in the bag they started jumping out lmfao
finalfantasy987 3 years ago
nice cichlids im getting some in a couple days.
sadm1234 3 years ago
What type of cichlids?
y2kenny 3 years ago
wut song r u using
clanimmune 3 years ago
I can't recall the name but I got it from youtube in their replace soundtrack section.
y2kenny 3 years ago
you can also add a canister or wetdry filter of an existing filter tospeed up the process thats what idid itook the filter from my other tank and connect it to start the new tank with adding afew fish saves time
pete11208 3 years ago
No, running a tank for three weeks is cycling the tank. The beneficial bacteria is already present and able to mulitply in an unstocked aquaria. I get what you are coming from, but i think that this can be much more confusing to a new fishkeeper. The method that I stated is tried and true. you have made good points and i am positive that your method works, but i am suggesting this way to reduce confusion and problems with the tank. You are very knowledgable and experienced, and i respect that.
Branbits 3 years ago
Question then: What is the beneficial bacteria colony in an empty tank (without an ammonia and nitrite source) living off of during those 3 weeks?
y2kenny 3 years ago
If your a new fish keeper, your probably starting your hobby off with some beginner fish, which are almost always hardy, so it doesn't matter about cycling your tank.
Sursion7 3 years ago
I agree with branbits yes there is a much larger difference when you cycle your tank for 3 weeks if you are doing a fishless cycling. It gives tank time to produce the helpfull bacteria needed for the start of fishkeeping. Also adding cichlids in groups is a very unwise thing as they may not be compatable. It would be best too wait for about 3 weeks then add 1 or 2 cichlids for about a week. remember to do your reasearch.
seshthat 3 years ago
For the beneficial cycle to start the tank REQUIRES an ammonia source. Running a tank empty without adding ammonia does NOTHING to get the cycle started. The cycle can only start if an ammonia (and subsequent nitrite) source is present in the system.
y2kenny 3 years ago
Typing error there, replace 'beneficial cycle' with 'beneficial bacteria cycle'.
y2kenny 3 years ago
In regards to doing research, I suggest you research fishless cycling. Cycling without fish involves using houeshold ammonia instead of fish to get the cycle going. In this way you can build up a very large beneficial bacteria colony by dosing the tank with ammonia. If you cycle the tank (which will take 1-3 months) in this method utilizing an amount of ammonia equal to two dozen fish, you can then add two dozen fish all at once.
y2kenny 3 years ago
This process ALLOWS you to add a greater number of fish since the tank has been processing and converting large quantities of ammonia and nitrite for weeks. The BENEFIT is that mbuna's due to their aggression, are better off starting in larger numbers than being built up to larger numbers. For me, to add 24 right from the start (INTO A FULLY CYCLED tank) is better (in terms of aggression) than adding additional mbuna's in smaller increments.
y2kenny 3 years ago
In response to the comment that "adding cichlids in groups is a very unwise thing as they may not be compatible" doesn't apply with mbuna's. They do BEST when added into groups as it spreads out aggression to minimal levels. Were I to add a single labidochromis mbamba's to this tank it would be singled out and harassed on sight. Were I to add GROUP of 6 additional mbambas the level of aggression they'd receive would be significantly diminished and intergration into the tank would be easier.
y2kenny 3 years ago
I have a 38n gallon tank.i was wondering how many days does it take until i can put cichlids in them after i set it up and stuff.
Fshlver 3 years ago
You want to make sure that your water can handle the bioload, so wait about three weeks(then you will be sure ) and put one or two small fish in and wait another week or two. most cichlids are hardy, put you want to get small ones so you can put other things in without them being too aggressive. Have fun!
Branbits 3 years ago
Running a tank empty for 3 weeks prior to adding any fish is practically the same as running the tank for 3 minutes and adding the fish. The tank will still be uncycled. If cycling with fish, there's no reason to wait so long (though I prefer 'fishless cycling' and seeding tanks than using fish to get the cycle going.
y2kenny 3 years ago
ok so you just said that cycling the tanksfor three weeks is equal to three minutes but then you just said that there is no reason to wait so long...i dont really get that logic. And cycling the taks for three weeks does cycle the tank, so i dont know where you are getting that idea from. lets see...try putting a dozen cichlids into your tank and we will see what happens. It has never worked, and will never work. Cycling with fish is much better, and the point you made of the groups is true(cont
Branbits 3 years ago
flip those around..
Branbits 3 years ago
The premise of my statement is: adding fish to a tank running empty for 3 weeks IS adding fish to an UNCYCLED tank. Adding fish to a tank that has been running empty for 3 minutes IS adding fish to an UNCYCLED tank. The logic being BOTH methods are bad and not recommended.
y2kenny 3 years ago
By "no reason to wait so long" I meant that if a person is going to cycle a tank WITH fish (which I don't recommend), then there is no reason to add fish 3 weeks later since NOTHING is happening (cycle-wise in the tank)during that 3 weeks running empty. For clarification, running a tank empty for 3 weeks is not equal to running a tank empty WHILE dosing ammonia for 3 weeks.
y2kenny 3 years ago
Research how to cycle a tank using the fishless method. It will take several weeks. The fishless method allows you to add a greater number of fish at a time (if done right you could add a dozen, after a certain number of weeks, of course). A 38gal tank, by the way, is slightly undersized for the type of cichlids in this video, except for perhaps the yellow labs.
y2kenny 3 years ago
Adding mbuna's in groups is better than adding them one or two at a time (since the established fish may regard the new cichlids as intruders to their territory and deal with them in that manner). Mbuna's do better when added in groups at a time, and fishless cycling allows that.
y2kenny 3 years ago
and is valid. but for a beginner to add a group of fish is VERY unwise, because he might buy fish that are not compatible and end up in more mess than he was in before. Get a feel for the fish and do your research, then make concrete decisions on what to buy next.
Branbits 3 years ago
well you should their sweet fish id take em if i had the room...lol
fishtankfreak 3 years ago
So far i have a fire mouth with my community tank. What other types of cichlids could i get? my community fish are mollies, tetras, ballas,some algae eating fish and a BGK. i dont mind if the tetras or mollies are killed.
ShayneMcLellan 3 years ago
will the bgk do ok with bigger cichlids?
tonytone604 3 years ago
Well if you dont care abot your old fish, you coud go for other South America or Central American cichlids. oscars and jack dempseys are really agressive and should be avoided unless you have a large tank with good fltration. green terrors or severums are ok and there are alot more SA or CA fish that are good looking and decent on the agressiveness scale.
Branbits 3 years ago
what do you think are the prettiest types of cichlids?
tropicalfishwiz 3 years ago
I'm particular to african cichlids.
y2kenny 3 years ago
Saltwater fish? What do you mean?
y2kenny 3 years ago
Can you tell me what kind of fish i have.its purple or blue like that color with the outline of white and black.appreciate it if you would tell. (-_-)
Fshlver 3 years ago
What size do african cichlids need to be to mate and how do i determine their sex? And also what size do firemouth need to be to ready to mate?
Fshlver 3 years ago
Depends on the type of african cichlid. But mbuna species (such as the one in this video) are capable of breeding at 1yrs old or about 2inches in length. In each instance I've had that happen, though, I had matured males in the tank (which I suspect sired the fry).
y2kenny 3 years ago
ok thank you
FALCOx187x 3 years ago
heyy how come my cichlids dont swim like that when people are in the same room but when they r alone the swim fine
FALCOx187x 3 years ago
because they fear other people, my mbuna have grown accustomed to having my hand in the tank and no longer fear it, they see me and know its safe and that food might be coming but if my brother were to come and look at it they know the difference and fear such a large creature.
Cripsruleabovebloods 3 years ago
feed them every time you come around the tank ...SMALL PORTIONS, like 4-5 pellets, otherwise you will overfeed them.
This way they will associate you with food and come out all the time.
boulengerochromis 3 years ago
Nice tank, nice fish, nice layout. I have a question, I got 5 Malawi Cichlids, 3 Electric Yellows and Two purple dudes. They're all not fully grown, Malawi Cichlid's have to be kept in a tank no smalelr than 120 litres, so i'm gonna have to get a bigger tank later (Juwel Rio 180) but at the moment they're in a 35 litre tank. Is this alright for them until they get bigger?
gibsonguitarist2006 3 years ago
I'd recommend moving them from the 35liter(9.2gal) tank by the time they attain 4cm-5cm (1.5to 2 inches) OR when serious aggression starts to manifest, which ever occurs first. I'd also go as far to say that 209 liters (55gal) would be the recommended minimum.
y2kenny 3 years ago
I understand, thanks for the advice bro, I only have a small bedroom though, so the max I can get is a 180 litres tank, anything else is to big.
gibsonguitarist2006 3 years ago
Good looking fish.
thefishguy101 3 years ago
Good looking fish.
thefishguy101 3 years ago
very nice
emanemil 4 years ago
hey, i hav 6 small cichlids in 20g. is tht ok?
zaracki92 4 years ago
Depends on what type of cichlids they are and how mature they are. If they're mbuna's like the one's in this video, a 20gal would only work for the purposes of growing out fry and small juvies. As they mature they'd become too aggressive for such a small tank and would end up killing each other. Other types of cichlids (shell dwellers, rams, etc) might work though.
y2kenny 4 years ago
i got the ones like urs....but they r small and i'm planning to buy a 180g tank in summer
zaracki92 4 years ago
Some cichlids I keep wouldn't even be ok just by themselves in a 40 gallon.
shadoweyes666 4 years ago
what about a 35gallon i have 9
FALCOx187x 4 years ago
Possibly with yellow labs or rusty cichlids. The more aggressive types require larger tanks to manage aggression. A tank length of 48" is recommended. A 30gal will work for a while when they're young, though.
y2kenny 4 years ago
can someone tell me how many mbuna I can keep in a 30 gallon tank>
tcfuturevet 4 years ago
55gal is considered the minimum due to their often aggressive and territorial nature. However a small group (5-6) of yellow labs or rusty cichlids 'might' work. Problems may manifest when their fully matured though.
y2kenny 4 years ago
awesome yellow labs. check out my vid
khaki91 4 years ago
Nice tank! Some nice looking fish you have in there. I like the Blue Striped ones. Sorry Im not good with names. Check out my tank. Eventually it will be all African Cichlids.
Swiftt5389 4 years ago
very nice tank, did i see some jalo reef in there ? :)
roachonius 4 years ago
Thanks. I don't have any cynotilapia afra's, but you're probably looking at the Metriaclima sp. zebra 'chilumba' (Luwino Reef).
y2kenny 4 years ago
lol yeah, glad theres only one blue striped cichlid in the world lMAO :)
roachonius 4 years ago
Can you please tell me what those pink ones are called. I really like them. Great tank!
Dailybread5 4 years ago
Male Red Zebra's (metriaclima estherae). The females remain a carrot orange color.
y2kenny 4 years ago
So that explains it lol, thanks
Dailybread5 4 years ago
Wow that tank looks amazing, nice fish. I set up a 35 gallon tank, and was wondering how many cichlids would I be able to put in it. Also would they get along with a jack dempsey?
kame25 4 years ago
Thanks!. How many cichlids you could keep in your 35 would depend on the type and species of cichlid. In many cases a 35gal would probably be too small (even for a jack dempsey). With the type of african cichlids in this video, a 55gal is generally considered the minimum (at which 10-15 could be kept).
y2kenny 4 years ago
how big do they get? nice clean tank?
creatine6star2 4 years ago
Depends on species and gender. 4"-6" for most of the ones I have, though the zebra chilumba (seen in the last couple of seconds of the video) get upwards of 7" or 8".
y2kenny 4 years ago
good quality yellow labs there
esox66 4 years ago
whats the blue fish with the yellow fins at 33 secs
majmun692 4 years ago
Pseudotropheus sp. acei also known as the yellow tail acei. They're more purple than blue and are among the most peaceful Lake Malawi cichlids to have.
y2kenny 4 years ago
What colour is your background, black or dark blue?
anitamcgahern 4 years ago
I have a bunch in there ranging from about 2.5" to 4.5". The smallest ones are the offspring of the larger ones in the tank (I grew them out in a separate tank and returned them to the tank when they were large enough not to be eaten by the others. So I've had the 2.5" yellow labs since they were born (length 1cm or less).
y2kenny 4 years ago
Also this video is over a year old, so they've all gotten bigger since then...I'll have to post an updated video of the tank one of these days.
y2kenny 4 years ago
simple fish but the yellow electric is my favourate. great set up
tutor4011 4 years ago
what kind of filter are you using in your tank?
willownss 4 years ago
Two Aquaclear 110 hang-on-back filters and a Rena XP3 Filstar canister.
y2kenny 4 years ago
Nice tank ;)
castrole 4 years ago
nice tank,i always thought the lab's,cobalt zebras,and red zebras looked good together
DoOrDie83 4 years ago
very very nice. iam stting up a mbuna tank. 110 gallons
redoscar21 4 years ago
Love your tank and your fish! What sort of substrate are you using, its awesome! Being looking for that kind everywhere.
wilddolphin1 4 years ago