Compatibility questions

**Nlwhite** · 05-16-2012, 02:03 PM

Just a couple questions if anyone has time. We currently have a mbana cichlid tank and were given a peacock and a hap (vestusus). I know that they cannot go in with the others. My question is, I have a tank that has been getting established for the past 6 weeks with black skirt tetras. Would either or perhaps both of the cichlids be able to go into the tank without making the Tetras a meal? The peacock is very small (1inch) but the Vestusus is larger (2 inches).
It wasn't our intention to have them in the new tank, but I am not going to just flush them. Any advice would be helpful!
Thanks!!!

**icefreeze57** · 05-16-2012, 05:48 PM

I thought Africans could go together, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

How big is that other tank???

The issue is, The tetras wont "become a meal" right now because of how small the fish are.... but on the other hand they may bully them to death, then you get to hiding places for the tetras.... I know many cichlids rip down plants but maybe when they are small they wont...

**pjaldave** · 05-16-2012, 06:05 PM

Yes, mbuna and peacocks/haps doesn't belong together because mbuna is very aggressive while peacocks are more peaceful than them.

I think you can put them in the tank with tetras, though, what size is the tank? Plus, I am unsure though because general community and cichlids have different water requirements.

Peacocks/haps are also carnivorous and will not eat your plants, or as i've read.

Advice is, take them back to your LFS if you don't have space for it.

**Nlwhite** · 05-16-2012, 06:12 PM

The tank is a 38 gallon and there are tons of hiding places. The living situation would be temporary. We decided that the Hap is going back to the aquatic store but we are going to keep the Peacock and do another Cichlid tank with Peacocks. If the water quality is fine for the cichlid, do you think that since the peacock is only about 1 inch that he could temporarily go in with the Tetras? We are looking at no more than a month, so he won't get too much bigger in that time. I just don't want to have any more fish get hurt and I also don't want to leave my peacock in the "hospital" tank.