Mellow african cichlids

[ferdelance]

I am interested in a list of the most 'mellow' African cichlids. I realize that this may be an oxymoron, but I know there
are considerable differences in temperament between different species. I think this is a good topic as people could avoid some of the mayhem that is prevalent in the african cichlid hobby. Possibly a tank of the more relatively well behaved species might be easier on the nerves! I have heard cyprichromis leptosoma is a good candidate. Any others?

[jonah]

Electric yellows and rusties are the first ones I think of for mellow.

[angelhf13]

Electric yellows definately.

[aharris]

I've never noticed my altocomps molesting anybody except maybe each other. The don't dash around either.

[fOx]

A lot of the victorians are mellow too... look into the Christmas Fulu's if you like colour.

[fishmommy]

Peacocks are mellow, unless they are being chased by a Champsochromis.

[merlyn2221]

Red Empresses qualify too. But they get really large. Frontosas are also very mellow, but large as well.

[Mbuniac]

Merl,
Mellow is a relative term. I talked my son out of his 9" Red Empress that was the dominant fish in his tank, but not particularly aggressive. After quarantine I put him in my 125 and he almost killed my 8"+ Dimi. comp before I could get him out. Part of the reason is I don't have enough fish in that tank once I get two adult Copadichromis and one T. intermedius established I'll try again. My Placidichromis phenochilus is pretty mellow.
As far as "mbuna" go, I agree that Electric yellow and Rustys are pretty mellow. Each fish of a given species may have an aggressive personality so you have to deal in generalities. In closing (aren't you glad?) "If you're having a Kenyii problem get a Melanochromis auratus. If you're having an auratus problem get a Kenyii". How's that?
Sam

[ferdelance]

let's see mellow fish

we have I am looking for the scientific and common names of these please help out if you know them- also add fish if you know of any

Cyprichromus leprosoma
labidochromus ? electric yellow
iodotropheus ? rusty cichlid
Altocomp?
Peacocks?
Christmas Fulus
Copidachromus trevasae?- does anyone think it has a mild disposition

[aharris]

Altolamprologus compressiceps = Altocomps
Altolamprologus calvus = Altocomps

Sorry, it's easier to say Altocomps with a variant name than it is to type that whole tongue-twister out. I have Altolamprologus compressiceps Mwela. There are lots of different colors and variants of both though. Armke's site has lots of pics.

Aulonocara = Peacocks

There are lots of different Aulonocara too. I have Aulonocara stuartgranti Mdoka, but there are lots more than that. Some get larger and are more boisterous while some stay smaller like the A. stuartgranti and A. hueseri. If you want a truly mellow one, you'll have to do some research IMO.

Anyhow, if you already knew what I just put down, chalk it up to me being confused as to what exactly the "?" meant. I'd also have to say that the Cyathopharynx foai and furcifer are pretty mellow. It doesn't take much to put them off of breeding dress. Another gentle giant would be the Benthochromis tricoti also from Lake Tang. I'd love to have some of those beauties eventually. Of course, both of them need really large tanks of no less than 125g.

[ferdelance]

Are jewel cichlids considered mild mannered?

[JustaTT]

I have a 106 gallon tank with all kinds of aggressive Africans...I recently purchased a "Lemon Jake" cichlid...he is absolutely beautiful, and is very mild mannered...so mild that I had to set up a new tank and remove him from the large tank, as he was getting picked on...very mild though with beautiful colours!

[WineTechie]

I was in search of the 'mellow' species also, and had the above mbuna suggested (yellow lab, rusties) and also Pseudotropheus acei, which are a beautiful blue with yellow fins. They all get along well, although I had a yellow lab that I had to trade in after he killed 2 others. Just added a labidochromis pearlmutt pair, as another suggested species from LFS (he got juvies from a breeding pair he sold last year).

[Seedy]

Originally posted by ferdelance
Are jewel cichlids considered mild mannered?
Yes but they are South American or Central American...

[highplainsdrifter]

Jewels ( any Hemichromis ) are actually west african. And no, they are not usually "hyper aggressive" but, there is a killer instinct inherent in all Hemichromis that can surface unexpectedly. Jewels tend to finish fights started by others.

[Seedy]

Originally posted by highplainsdrifter
Jewels ( any Hemichromis ) are actually west african.

Really? I (obviosly) didn't know that...Thanks for setting me straight...

[Seedy]

Found a good article on jewels...http://www.sydneycichlid.com/hemichromis.html

[highplainsdrifter]

No problem. Good article. A breeding male H. elongatus is probably the most impressive looking cichlid that I have seen.

[ferdelance]

I just set a 75 gal tank with:
8cyprichromis leptosoma
8 neolamprologus caudopunctatus
8 neolamprologous pulcher'daffodil'
3 labidochromis 'Hongi Island'
all small juveniles

I am hoping that the tanganikans will behave themselves, and the malawi labidochromis will not be too interested in them. I also have a altolamprologus and a julidochromis which are mature. So far so good hope tank works out better than my marriage:wink: