JulieHaycraft Messages: 4 Registered: May 2008 Location: Lincoln, UK
Junior Member
Here's my new tank setup. Can anyone help ID the fish and suggest what else I can put in. Incidentally these have produced two offspring which are now about 1 1\2"
Gass Messages: 404 Registered: April 2002 Location: Lake Canyonyika TX
Senior Member
How large a tank do you have them housed in? You might try another Melanochromis species or perhaps some Cynotilapia species. The bigger the tank, the more choices you will have.Gas http://www.africancichlids.net
Malawi Mother Messages: 1215 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
You may want to try fish that can hold their own and run about the same size. When you put new fish in with Auratus, they should be larger then the auratus or you will find your new fish most likely looking like a mouse a cat is playing with.
Some fish that are known for being almost as aggressive and can hold their own are the Metriaclima estherae, male melanochromis johanni, Pseudeoptropheus kenyi, (actually I think just about any of the Pseudeotrphoeus zebras will work for you. A beauty of a fish is the Seiaenochromis ahli. He can hold his own as well, and you would want the male. These fish will also add some color to your tank. If your melanochromis auratus are the only things in the tank right now, you may want to do a complete rearrange on the tank as you add new fish. And please please don't add just one fish at a time. Try adding 3-4 new fish into this very paticular tank of auratus or your one new fish may become fish bait. Mix the tank of very good of all decoration and don't do it the night before. Do it just as you are adding the new fish. This will give your auratus the feeling like they have moved onto a new spot that has other fish and less likely to be territorial over one specific spot that a new fish may swim near. With Auratus in the tank I suggest a good rearranging of the tank every 4-6 weeks.
You should know that it is not uncommon for people to realize that having a tank of auratus males and females usually results in a much more aggressive tank. Good luck
Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com
Malawi Mother Messages: 1215 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
P.S. You may want to stay away from other melanochromis species that have the black line going from head to tail and tan/brown coloring. This is usually in the female melanochromis johanni. This can sometimes become a problem in the auratus tank.
Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com
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