Malawi or mixed?

[EnvironmentalBro]

Hi Guys,

I am currently building a 6ft tank which will be dedicated to African Cichlids, Haps and Peacocks, not Mbuna.

At the moment I have 5 species: (1m 3f)= 20 individuals

Nimbochromis venustus
Protomelas taeniolatus
Crytocara moorii
Copadichromis borleyi
Placidochromis milomo

In a 600l tank with a 300l sump (total 900l/240g) I reckon I can keep at least 2 more species.

The 1st question is do I stick with Malawis or should I add some other African Cichlids?

The 2nd question is, what other species?

[Mbuna]

The fun with African cichlids is if your filtration is up to it ( best to over filtrate than under filtrate ). You can over stock slightly with African cichlidfs.
The art is to pick cichlids where the females don't look the same as in if you get one type and the females are brown don't get another type where the females are brown also. Don't choose from the same family / type either or they will inter breed. Seems like you have plenty of room still to stock a few more.

[DeadSulphurhead]

Yes stay with Malawis, don't start picking and choosing different lakes.
If you're looking for other tank mates, I've successfully kept upside down synos, large yoyo loaches, clown loaches, plecos (not highfin), Large bleheri and turqoise rainbows, spotted climbing perch...
a few that I tried didn't work mind you..

I'm not saying all these will work for you, every fish is different.

Definitely get the venestus! lol

What about a yellow belly prince alberts hap
aulonocara baenschi
rusty (forget the name) peaceful though


The only females I left in are tough enough to defend themselves, and have few similarities between each other. The 3 females in there are a monogamy pair, so theyre always with the male.

[EnvironmentalBro]

Yes stay with Malawis, don't start picking and choosing different lakes.
If you're looking for other tank mates, I've successfully kept upside down synos, large yoyo loaches, clown loaches, plecos (not highfin), Large bleheri and turqoise rainbows, spotted climbing perch...
a few that I tried didn't work mind you..

I'm not saying all these will work for you, every fish is different.

Definitely get the venestus! lol

What about a yellow belly prince alberts hap
aulonocara baenschi
rusty (forget the name) peaceful though


The only females I left in are tough enough to defend themselves, and have few similarities between each other. The 3 females in there are a monogamy pair, so theyre always with the male.

I already have the 5 species I listed :) . Im thinking of adding the azureus too and also dimidiochromis compressiceps (mostly stays at top of tank)...also considering Copadichromis trewavasae and Otopharynx lithobates

[Lab_Rat]

Those are all nice options. I'm partial to Placidochromis phenochilus "tanzania."

[CrunchyLeaf]

None of the fish listed in this thread are easy to type into google. Thank you ctrl-c ctrl-v.

[EnvironmentalBro]

None of the fish listed in this thread are easy to type into google. Thank you ctrl-c ctrl-v.

Haha, yes I do a lot of that too. The fact that Lake Malawi has around 1000 Cichlid species makes learning all their names nearly impossible!

[EnvironmentalBro]

Those are all nice options. I'm partial to Placidochromis phenochilus "tanzania."

Another beautiful species I will definitely consider