Mixing Malawi and Victorians?

[morpheus]

I have always kept Lake Malawi species, and my 75gal has those variants now. I had a few fish die recently (my large red zebra yesterday). All params are fine, had just done a WC night before, everyone else is fine.

I always loved the look of pundamilia nyererei, but was unsure if they would mix due to temperament and diet. also was unsure if i looked for a male and few females if they would crossbreed with current tankmates.

I wont be adding any fish until June at this point, but was thinking of ideas for what i want to add down the road.

Thanks.

[amcgee2842]

In my tank I have a mix of tang, malawi (peacocks, haps, mbuna), and vics which includes a male pundamilia nyererei. They all seem to do fine.

[ptran]

I'm sure you can make it work provided enough tank space and variety of diet to accommodate everybody. It comes down to personal taste and preference really. I have a 100G tank with some odd balls from lake Tang and Malawi, and they do fine together. (Just temporary though until I can figure out what to do with them )

By the way, Nyererei is a beautiful fish. I don't believe it will cross breed with Malawi cichlids.

[morpheus]

cool just was seeing who had experience with all of them. my african mainly eat pellets, then get rosy reds as a treat. sometimes throw in some plankton or beefheat too.

i didnt think there would be issues, but i would like to get a breeding colony going. if the species was more timid and getting harassed a lot, then it would not work.

[Austy16414]

What Malawi species are you keeping? Is it predominantly Mbuna or peacocks/haps? I don't think it's a good idea if you plan to breed the Pundamilia. If you have an all male tank, you would have a better chance of this working by adding a single Punda male. My main concern is tank size, it will be difficult to give them all the territory they need in a 75, in my opinion. Unless you're really set on it, I wouldn't do it man, just because I don't think the fish will thrive in that environment. Anywho, give it a shot. I've seen crazier things work, and I've personally mixed the two, just didn't have the best results

[amcgee2842]

Mine is all male wouldn't recommend for breeding

[morpheus]

yeah i may just wait them on pundamilia until i can dedicate a tank just to them, or just get a male

tank is mainly mbuna, just one peacock. just looking more bare since the two largest fish are gone. Here is whats left:

2 pure yellow labs (M ~4-5 in / F ~3-4 inch)
1 hybrid yellow lab male (dominant ~5 inch)
2 bumblebee cichlids (M ~5 inch / F ~4-5 inch)
1 blue lab (~4-5 inch)
1 strawberry peacock (~5 inch)
2 plecos (~6 inch each)

Following I am unsure of classification, sold as assorted mbuna, but its my guess
1 elongatus variant (~3 inch)
1 OB blueberry (~4-5 inch)
1 OB red zebra (~3 inch)

[Austy16414]

I think you will be happier with the choice if you can dedicate a tank to them. You can maybe make it work since the tank is predominantly Mbuna, they should be able to hold their own. Could get ugly though!

[morpheus]

yeah not looking for any battle royals breaking out. i know any new fish will cause some type of short term ripple, but may just go for 3 new mid-size mbuna of different colors than i have

[Austy16414]

That's probably a good call

[ptran]

If you want breeding, it's best to do a specie tank only IME.