Help me select my Pseudotropheus elongatus mpanga

tran_boraras · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

I'm would like to keep some of those, a seller can sell me some young
specimens 4-6cm long. I don't want to keep more than 4 of these. What
would be the right gender combination ? I intend to keep them with 5
L.caeruleus, 3 S.fryeri and 3 Aulonocaras and 3 protomelas taenoliatus
Namalenje.

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>cichlids

tran_boraras · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

On 22 mar, 12:48, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
wrote:
> So I advise against it. But if you go for it, remember it
> is mildly agressive mbuna, and best gender combination
> would be 1+3 or 2+5.
>
tank size: 350L, the big fishes will be transfered to another tank,for
the moment they are still young and small.

My tank is rocky but has enough openwater for them all.

About selecting fishes: how to select vigorous males, how to select
vigorous females ?

Wojciech Milc / The Power · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

tran_boraras wrote:
> I'm would like to keep some of those, a seller can sell me some young
> specimens 4-6cm long. I don't want to keep more than 4 of these. What
> would be the right gender combination ? I intend to keep them with 5
> L.caeruleus, 3 S.fryeri and 3 Aulonocaras and 3 protomelas taenoliatus
> Namalenje.

Since mpanga is mainly herbivorious, it won't fit to your
current fish because of dietary needs; it is also from rocky,
sediment-free habitat, which does not suit Aulonacaras.

So I advise against it. But if you go for it, remember it
is mildly agressive mbuna, and best gender combination
would be 1+3 or 2+5.

It also depends on the tank size you have.

My opinion, of course.

regards,
milc,
500L Malawi Mbuna Tank
500L Malawi Non-Mbuna Tank

tran_boraras · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

On 23 mar, 07:50, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
wrote:
> tran_boraras wrote:
> > On 22 mar, 12:48, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
> > wrote:
> >> So I advise against it. But if you go for it, remember it
> >> is mildly agressive mbuna, and best gender combination
> >> would be 1+3 or 2+5.
>
> > tank size: 350L, the big fishes will be transfered to another tank,for
> > the moment they are still young and small.
>
> Yeah, OK, but there still is a problem of diet.
>
> > About selecting fishes: how to select vigorous males, how to select
> > vigorous females?
>
> It is hard to say, since you need a long time for that, and
> maybe it can't be done in the shop, especially if shop tank is
> crowded. The best way is to buy more fish than you intend
> to keep, and make a selection later. But remember, that
> mpanga can be much harder to catch, especially in rocky
> tank, than cauerelus or non-mbuna fish. Be prepared to
> remove rocks or build a fish trap.
>
> milc

Sure that I'm not going to feed them with awfuchs but...They should be
used to eating vegetable flakes.

Thanks

Wojciech Milc / The Power · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

tran_boraras wrote:
> On 22 mar, 12:48, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
> wrote:
>> So I advise against it. But if you go for it, remember it
>> is mildly agressive mbuna, and best gender combination
>> would be 1+3 or 2+5.
>>
> tank size: 350L, the big fishes will be transfered to another tank,for
> the moment they are still young and small.

Yeah, OK, but there still is a problem of diet.

> About selecting fishes: how to select vigorous males, how to select
> vigorous females?

It is hard to say, since you need a long time for that, and
maybe it can't be done in the shop, especially if shop tank is
crowded. The best way is to buy more fish than you intend
to keep, and make a selection later. But remember, that
mpanga can be much harder to catch, especially in rocky
tank, than cauerelus or non-mbuna fish. Be prepared to
remove rocks or build a fish trap.

milc

DJ · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

On Mar 22, 6:55 am, "tran_boraras" wrote:
> I'm would like to keep some of those, a seller can sell me some young
> specimens 4-6cm long. I don't want to keep more than 4 of these. What
> would be the right gender combination ? I intend to keep them with 5
> L.caeruleus, 3 S.fryeri and 3 Aulonocaras and 3 protomelas taenoliatus
> Namalenje.

Most mbuna are too rambunctious to be kept with haps and peacocks. I
think you are getting away with the Labs because they are so mild
mannered. I wouldn't do it either.

swarvegorilla · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 235

"tran_boraras" wrote in message @p15g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> On 23 mar, 07:50, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
> wrote:
>> tran_boraras wrote:
>> > On 22 mar, 12:48, "Wojciech Milc / The Power Of Dreams"
>> > wrote:
>> >> So I advise against it. But if you go for it, remember it
>> >> is mildly agressive mbuna, and best gender combination
>> >> would be 1+3 or 2+5.
>>
>> > tank size: 350L, the big fishes will be transfered to another tank,for
>> > the moment they are still young and small.
>>
>> Yeah, OK, but there still is a problem of diet.
>>
>> > About selecting fishes: how to select vigorous males, how to select
>> > vigorous females?
>>
>> It is hard to say, since you need a long time for that, and
>> maybe it can't be done in the shop, especially if shop tank is
>> crowded. The best way is to buy more fish than you intend
>> to keep, and make a selection later. But remember, that
>> mpanga can be much harder to catch, especially in rocky
>> tank, than cauerelus or non-mbuna fish. Be prepared to
>> remove rocks or build a fish trap.
>>
>> milc
>
> Sure that I'm not going to feed them with awfuchs but...They should be
> used to eating vegetable flakes.
>
> Thanks
>

Razz

love that word,
bits of vege like cucumber and zuccini on a fork work well too.
Even a few shelled frozen peas
I think people are trying to warn ya that they could turn out to be bullys
and always attacking the rest from below.
But empress and blues should be able to give them a go and yellows might
just hide a bit more that said.....
I would pick the biggest best male with the birghtest high light on his
dorsal.
Then I would get three smaller ones with dull dorsals, they are all going to
be stressed but you may be able to see a difference
Hope the three smaller ones stay female..... but one at least will probably
turn male. kinda law of picking mbuna females for me....
If you can watch the tank, and spot the stripey male you want, you should be
able to spot him flirting with drabber fish, or fighting with other striped
males.
Will shake the tank up anyway and they are pretty fish.
personally I recon you should get trets instead,
Know there not even malawi but they are sweet