Malawai Cichlid Purchases

[jsauls]

I am new to the aquarium life. My family really enjoys the colors of the Malawai Cichlids. I am like a kid in the candy store picking out differnt species of fish for there colors. I have kind of a dream list which is below. I have a 75 gallon aquarium set up with about 18 fish. I am interested in the fish below and would like to know if they are compatible in a community tank. I am only interested in the male colorful fish. If the male and female are like colored then that is okay, but we are not interested in breeding the fish. I am interested in a small size fish around 2" in size. I have checked with Armke and Blusgrass Cichlids for prices. Armke is about $12- $17 per fish, but has a great selection. Bluegrass is about $3 - $6 a fish and has a limited selection. Is there a website where I can find the species I am interested in and not at the high price? I appreciate all of your expert help.



Thanks,

Jeff


# of fish desired

1 Eel B Aethiomastacembelus Elipsifer

2 Aulonocara jacobfreibergi "Eureka Red"

2 Aulonocara jacobfreibergi "Hongi Island"

2 Aulonocara maylandi

2 Aulonocara stuartgranti "Ngara Flametail"

2 Copadichromis sp. "Mloto Midnight" Mara Point

2 Dimidiochromis compressiceps

2 Labidochromis sp. "Hongi Island"

2 Labidochromis sp. "Perlmutt"

4 Pseudotropheus Demasoni Pombo Rocks

2 Sciaenochromis fryeri "Electric Blue"

2 Aulonocara saulosi "Green Face"

2 Aulonocara stuartgranti "Mdoka"

2 Aulonocara sp "OB Peacock"

2 Protomelas taeniolatus "Red Empress"

2 Cynotilapia afra "White top afra"

2 Protomelas taeniolatus "Tiawan Reef"

2 Pseudotropheus sp "Blueberry Zebra"

[Pam Chin]

Hi Jeff,

If you are not interested in breeding and want great color, then the all male tank is for you. However, that means no females of any species. No females and there is nothing to fight over. The next thing to consider are the areas of your tank, you want them to all be filled, the rocks, the sand and the open water. You have a great mix that you have picked, but I would steer you away from the following, because of aggression. D. compressiceps although this is an awesome looking fish, he will intimidate everyone, which in turn will cause them to turn the color down.

The other cichlids I would discourage for your type of setup is Pseudotropheus, they get too big, or they are too mean!

Aulonocara "OB" is a hybrid, hybrids are frowned upon in the hobby and buying this kind of fish only encourages more hybrids. They are bad news, and you have some outstanding choices that don't deserve to be housed with this mutation!!! I admit I am a cichlid purist!!

Any of the rest would be fine, and make a great looking tank!