Africans, puffer and eel

[smokeeater]

I am not sure where to put this so I put it here. Please move it to where you think it needs to be. I recently got a 55 gallon for christmas, I was seriously considering piranhas but I think that I want something a little less skittish, (more action). I have a proposal--Is it possible to keep african cichlids, puffers and an eel together in a 55 gal. I am cycling it now, it has black sand substrate and an emperor 400 running now. I was thinking about assorted malawi's some figure 8 puffers and an eel. I think this would be possible considering that I give everyone a territory to claim. Also I was planning on making territories w/red lava rock. Has anyone else done this with black sand substrate. Thanks in advance.

[richardcheese]

I have a cichlid tank with africans and 2 oscars. I also have a small green dotted puffer from petco and they all live peacefully. I dont know about an eel though. a friend said he had one and it starved to death because it was scared to come out from the rocks and eat.

[merlyn2221]

In a true mbuna tank, the puffer will be lunch and the eel will disappear. I would not recommend it. Likewise, I would not recommend keeping Africans mixed with any South/Meso Americans in the tank together, either. Their water requirements and diet are so different, it can cause problems.

Richardcheese: you obviously have been lucky so far. Everyone else however may not be so lucky.

Just remember: What works for one person's tank, may not work with someone else's tank.

[smokeeater]

My tank is cycled and I added 5 fish for now. I am interested in anyones experience or info on either Aethiomastacembelus Plagiostoma or Aethiomastacembelus Elipsifer. they are Tang eels. I would like to know any personal experience or info you might have.
Thanks

[smokeeater]

anyone?????????\

[matt1066]

I will go with Merlyn all the way on this topic

[smokeeater]

I have ditched the puffer idea and am aiming for a lake biotope. I just want to know some info about these eels.
Thanks.