Dwarf Mbuna

[M_sfan87]

I am starting to look into the Dwarf Mbuna (Blue colorations) I have a 30 Gallon show tank and from what I have heard they fit well in smaller tanks. Can you give me any advice on these, or a web site with good information. Thanks.

[fitch]

http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cichlidrecipe/

Cheers
Jay

[M_sfan87]

:lol: I already looked at that, thats some of the only good info I have found.

[jonah]

I was going to say demasoni, but vatoelvis says 30g is too small. How about Cynotilapia afra?

Here's a few links to African cichlid sites:
www.malawicichlids.com
www.africancichlids.net
www.vatoelvis.com

I'd probably do a breeding pair of Neolamprologus brichardi. They're small and will fill the tank with fry. The only problem is they aren't mbuna, they're from Tanganyika.

[M_sfan87]

I was looking into the Cynotilapia afra and I have visited Vatoelvis.com But I will check the other two sites out. I also have a 20 gallon for fry, and a 10 gallon for holding females.

[Cichlid Jeans]

First and foremost, tank size is critical. Cichlids are, by nature, exceedingly territorial creatures and, as such, need plenty of room. The absolute minimum size of tank for a community of Africans would be 35 gallons, but I really hesitate to suggest it, as I would give about a 50/50 chance of things working out (after a year or so when your fish have matured and are about 10 times as aggressive as when you purchased them as little 1 1/2 inch fry). A far better starter size would be about 50 to 60 gallons, although one could start juvenile fish off in a smaller tank, provided they were prepared to move "up" within six to nine months. You cannot keep just a few fish in a smaller aquarium (i.e. three or four in a 20 gallon); sooner or later you will end up with one adult fish that has hounded the others to death. Scientists have proven that instincts are passed on in genetic code, so a tank-raised cichlid still wants to behave as if it was competing for food and space in the wild, regardless of the amount of space available to it.
What you want to do is what we all wish was possible. It isn't, at least not for Malawi's. :(

I agree that a 30 gal will work with tang dwarfs. The colour spectrum is less flashy, but you can put together a Tang tank that stops people in their tracks.

[M_sfan87]

My past 3-4 years with Cichlids has worked fine for me. I think a male and 4 females (dwarfs) will work fine. And a 20 gallon for raising the fry for sell would work. A 10 gallon for holding females, I know will work. They are only in there for a couple weeks, and then another to recover from holding those fry. You have your opinion and I have mine. Currently my mother has 3 Cichlids (5-6 inches) in a 20, they have been in there for almost 3 years, they haven't killed each other.

[fitch]

YES, BUT YOU ASKED FOR OURS... NOT VICE-VERSA.
:twisted:

[jonah]

The Big Al's quote doesn't seem to have that much relevance here. It refers to a 20g with Africans which is what I would consider vague, as if all African cichlids are the same species and there is a difference between 20g and 30g. I think you might be able to keep a small community of dwarfs, but only the less aggro species. When I say small, I mean 4 tops.

Who's Big Al? Is it the Canadian chain? Or is it the name of some cichlid guru I haven't heard of yet(like vato elvis)? :?

If it's a quote from some unknown person at Big Al's it needs to be noted.

[nefenbaker]

In blue dwarf mbuna, we have:
Pseudotropheus Demasoni
P. sp. 'red top' ndumbi (aka P. Perspicax)
P. Saulosi
Labidochromis sp. Mbamba bay.
L. Caeruleus (but the trade is monopolized by the yellow varient).

I have kept P. Demasoni (nasty little characters) and L. mbamba bay (easy going, swim above the rocks as Demason's chase them). they are both great fish that will not disappoint. Demasons have the best blue: rich like fresh ink.
Demasons and ndumbi are the two smallest dwarfs but don't think that means the smallest tank needs: they are very aggresive about territory. The labidochromides will be easier to keep in small quarters without killing each other. A tank with a 36 inch by 18 inch bottom can keep one or more of these species reasonably well. Of course, bigger is ALWAYS better with mbuna.

[M_sfan87]

Thanks :D

[Cichlid Jeans]

A tank with a 36 inch by 18 inch bottom can keep one or more of these species reasonably well. Of course, bigger is ALWAYS better with mbuna.
I agree with both statements. A 36 X 18 tank is typically 45 US gals. :lol: