Mbuna overstocking

BigAction · 06-12-2005, 10:18 AM

Alright with africans from the Lake Malawi I know it is good to slightly overstock them so this way they can not establish their territories and can not focus all their fury on one fish. This is acutally how it is set up in the wild with only about 25% of them having territory. My trouble is how do you define slightly overstocked? I have 8 mbunas in my tank all getting around 5'' long. You can see in my sig what I have. Should I get more, I would rather have it slightly overstocked but I'm not sure if I have it already.

**Osiris** · 06-12-2005, 11:42 AM

yea i would have more in that tank, i would push for like 14-15

BigAction · 06-12-2005, 12:45 PM

Really that many. That just seems like an awful lot for cichlids. I take it you've had success like this, I am just questioning cause I know they change quite a bit when they become adult. It just seems like there would be a lot of death matches.

**Osiris** · 06-12-2005, 01:06 PM

they will take awhile to get that big years so i wouldn't worry about it anytime soon

Lexus · 06-13-2005, 09:33 AM

That would be fun to have 15 Cichlids in a 55g. What color!

BigAction · 06-13-2005, 09:40 AM

Most fish reach their adult length within a year and I had my one cichlids in a ten gallon by himself and he's reached his adult length in less then a year. They aren't doign it that in tanks your recommending b/c they are getting their growth stunted by all the fish secerting hormones. Which I feel is a way of saying I shouldn't have that many in there b/c your stunting their growth. I'm sure people will disagree with me but that's the way I feel.

Lexus · 06-13-2005, 10:31 AM

Its common for Mbuna to be overstocked, for aggression purposes. As far as I've heard, cichlids dont produce this hormone and stunt growth. I heard that certain male species will if there are other males.

06-12-2005, 10:18 AM	#1
BigAction Member Join Date: May 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 31	Mbuna overstocking Alright with africans from the Lake Malawi I know it is good to slightly overstock them so this way they can not establish their territories and can not focus all their fury on one fish. This is acutally how it is set up in the wild with only about 25% of them having territory. My trouble is how do you define slightly overstocked? I have 8 mbunas in my tank all getting around 5'' long. You can see in my sig what I have. Should I get more, I would rather have it slightly overstocked but I'm not sure if I have it already. __________________ 55 gallon 1 Pseudotropheus estherae 2 Labidochromis caeruleus 2 Pseudotropheus demasoni 1 Maylandia callainos 1 Melanochromis johannii 1 Melanochromis auratus 1 Pseudotropheus socofoli albino 1 Rubberlipped Pleco 10 gallon Bumblee Cichlid http://community.webshots.com/album/368134284JLZuRv

06-12-2005, 11:42 AM	#2
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 25 Posts: 3,838	yea i would have more in that tank, i would push for like 14-15 __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

06-12-2005, 12:45 PM	#3
BigAction Member Join Date: May 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 31	Really that many. That just seems like an awful lot for cichlids. I take it you've had success like this, I am just questioning cause I know they change quite a bit when they become adult. It just seems like there would be a lot of death matches. __________________ 55 gallon 1 Pseudotropheus estherae 2 Labidochromis caeruleus 2 Pseudotropheus demasoni 1 Maylandia callainos 1 Melanochromis johannii 1 Melanochromis auratus 1 Pseudotropheus socofoli albino 1 Rubberlipped Pleco 10 gallon Bumblee Cichlid http://community.webshots.com/album/368134284JLZuRv

06-12-2005, 01:06 PM	#4
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 25 Posts: 3,838	they will take awhile to get that big years so i wouldn't worry about it anytime soon __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

06-13-2005, 09:33 AM	#5
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,407	That would be fun to have 15 Cichlids in a 55g. What color! __________________ 55 Gallon 1 Fantail Goldfish 1 Albino Bristlenose 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 4 Angelfish 3 Zebra Danios 14? Assorted Corys 46 Gallon 8 Tiger Barbs 8 Pulcher/Brichardi Cichlids 29 Gallon 1 Snail 1 Betta 8 Pulcher/Brichardi Fry

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06-13-2005, 09:40 AM	#6
BigAction Member Join Date: May 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 31	Most fish reach their adult length within a year and I had my one cichlids in a ten gallon by himself and he's reached his adult length in less then a year. They aren't doign it that in tanks your recommending b/c they are getting their growth stunted by all the fish secerting hormones. Which I feel is a way of saying I shouldn't have that many in there b/c your stunting their growth. I'm sure people will disagree with me but that's the way I feel. __________________ 55 gallon 1 Pseudotropheus estherae 2 Labidochromis caeruleus 2 Pseudotropheus demasoni 1 Maylandia callainos 1 Melanochromis johannii 1 Melanochromis auratus 1 Pseudotropheus socofoli albino 1 Rubberlipped Pleco 10 gallon Bumblee Cichlid http://community.webshots.com/album/368134284JLZuRv

06-13-2005, 10:31 AM	#7
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,407	Its common for Mbuna to be overstocked, for aggression purposes. As far as I've heard, cichlids dont produce this hormone and stunt growth. I heard that certain male species will if there are other males. __________________ 55 Gallon 1 Fantail Goldfish 1 Albino Bristlenose 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 4 Angelfish 3 Zebra Danios 14? Assorted Corys 46 Gallon 8 Tiger Barbs 8 Pulcher/Brichardi Cichlids 29 Gallon 1 Snail 1 Betta 8 Pulcher/Brichardi Fry

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