How many Yellow Lab for 36 gallon aquarium?
- Thread starter OmriUria
- Start date
Yellow Labrador, Choclate Lab, Black Lab, etc, etc.
As for the cichlid, Im going to say you cant keep many fish that get 6" long in a 35g, not a cichlid tank at all.
Maybe shelldwellers, rams, apistos, keyholes, etc, etc dawrf cichlids, but not africans.
As for the cichlid, Im going to say you cant keep many fish that get 6" long in a 35g, not a cichlid tank at all.
Maybe shelldwellers, rams, apistos, keyholes, etc, etc dawrf cichlids, but not africans.
Labs dont get 6" held in captivity. You are looking at 4" average (5" max), IME.
The amount depends on the water quality and parameters. Remember, they like hard water and high ph. If you have excellent filtration and do 30%-40% weekly water changes, you can have quite a few (6-8), and they dont have to be cichlid only, however it is preferable. Labs are very docile for african cichlids - I have kept them with other fish that were rescued with no cause for concern.
Now if you are new to fishkeeping, dont do weekly water changes and your parameters are good enough (high KH/GH and high PH), that number will come down.
Labs are very durable and I have had up to 8 in a 29G lab breeding tank for years (about 4 years) with absolutly no problems (dual filters, 40% weekly water change, GH=24, KH=25,ph=8.1). They breed like crazy and then I ended up giving them to a good home (16 labs all together). All were very healthy, no disease, no stress and they were good parents, once they got the hang of things.
Also a note about aggression and cichlids. Many people like to overstock the aggressive africans to spread out the picking on. I do this in my 55G and have not had any problems for 5 years (Kenyii, Zebras, RTS [not a cichlid] and YTV Cichlids). Yellow labs "really" dont apply to this rule though.
Soooo....I would start with a few (ie 4) and move from there depending on your setup, water and your skill.
Good Luck
Aries
The amount depends on the water quality and parameters. Remember, they like hard water and high ph. If you have excellent filtration and do 30%-40% weekly water changes, you can have quite a few (6-8), and they dont have to be cichlid only, however it is preferable. Labs are very docile for african cichlids - I have kept them with other fish that were rescued with no cause for concern.
Now if you are new to fishkeeping, dont do weekly water changes and your parameters are good enough (high KH/GH and high PH), that number will come down.
Labs are very durable and I have had up to 8 in a 29G lab breeding tank for years (about 4 years) with absolutly no problems (dual filters, 40% weekly water change, GH=24, KH=25,ph=8.1). They breed like crazy and then I ended up giving them to a good home (16 labs all together). All were very healthy, no disease, no stress and they were good parents, once they got the hang of things.
Also a note about aggression and cichlids. Many people like to overstock the aggressive africans to spread out the picking on. I do this in my 55G and have not had any problems for 5 years (Kenyii, Zebras, RTS [not a cichlid] and YTV Cichlids). Yellow labs "really" dont apply to this rule though.
Soooo....I would start with a few (ie 4) and move from there depending on your setup, water and your skill.
Good Luck
Aries
Coler also hit on something I forgot - make sure you get a good ratio of M to F. Usually 1 Male to 3 Females will do great. But beware, you will have MANY fry to work with soon 
erv:
Further, make sure there are lots of good rockwork, tunnels, good gravel so they can dig with out harm, and other hiding places, especially if you get fry. But that is a whole other story.
Aries
erv: Further, make sure there are lots of good rockwork, tunnels, good gravel so they can dig with out harm, and other hiding places, especially if you get fry. But that is a whole other story.
Aries
^ I agree...I think with good maintenance you could alternatively have 1 male lab, say 3 female, and maybe one malewhite fin acei, 2 or 3 (white finned acei would contrast very nicely with the labs). Both fish are relatively non-aggressive for mbuna.
but...as with all cichlid stocking...there is a bit of luck involved...and you will want to decide what to do with fry.
but...as with all cichlid stocking...there is a bit of luck involved...and you will want to decide what to do with fry.
Coler and Aries said it all...1 male to 3-4 females....and don't forget about the algae eater you will need and a scavenger...there are cories and plecos that are small that will fit in a 36 with no problem from the cichlids....good luck...