Add more cichlids?

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Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


jweb1369
 
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 am

Add more cichlids?

by jweb1369

What I have right now is
3 yellow lab females, 1 male and
2 kenyi females, and 1 male.

I lost one kenyi female due to aggression because she was a bit smaller than the others.

I thought before that this number should be good, but I look at pictures of others tank and they have cichlids all over the tank. My tank looks pretty fishless when I take photos. They are always hiding in the rocks unless it is feeding time.

Do you think I should add more kenyi females or lab females? Or any other suggestions?


miami754
 
Posts: 373
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:18 am

by miami754

How big is your tank?


jweb1369
 
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 am

by jweb1369

Oh sorry, it is a 29 or 30 gallon. I forget exactly.


miami754
 
Posts: 373
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:18 am

by miami754

Then yeah 8-9 cichlids is about right. It may seem bare right now because they are young, but when they are 5" or so, it will fill out. Plus they'll breed like crazy soon and then you'll have more fish than you know what to do with. I would get an additional female of each species to bring the ratio back to 1 male per 3-4 females. At the 1:2 ratio you have now, the females don't stand a chance.


jweb1369
 
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 am

by jweb1369

Okay, sounds good. There is one female kenyi and she is the largest in the tank, boy is she mean. She beats up on everyone.


BurgerKing7704
 
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:03 pm

by BurgerKing7704

I think a 30g is too small for kenyi's. They will easily get 6"or larger. I'd say 4 labs would be good, or even some cynotilapia or a tang community.


BurgerKing7704
 
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:03 pm

by BurgerKing7704

also, a mature male kenyi will destroy your labs due to similar coloration. Kenyi's arent striped forever.


jweb1369
 
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 am

by jweb1369

BurgerKing,

I thought of this before because of the color similarity in the adults. However, I did not receive much feedback. Are you positive about that information?

I plan to get a larger tank eventually when the money looks right.


BurgerKing7704
 
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:03 pm

by BurgerKing7704

The kill your labs part?? If so, yes the kenyi can and will dos so, but a bigger tank will higly reduce the risk. My kenyi picked on everyone, it didnt really matter about their color.

The 6" part?? Yes, they get to be huge. A buddy I work with has one going on 7".

Add more cichlids?

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