What kind of cichlids with brichardi?

stingray4540

stingray4540

Hello, Hello, Helloooo!
Oct 18, 2005
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San Jose, CA
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I might be getting a 55 real soon and I want to have a few brichardis definately. I was wondering what other cichlids to put in with them, and also how many brichardis should I get. I want some color would be nice. Do the other fish have to be tang. or can they be others. feel free to make me possible stocking lists including one or more catfish to clean up and a couple of ottos for algea.
Thanks.
 
I'll probably be shunned forever for this, but I have had good luck mixing Tang. Africans with Malawi. Check my user page for what I have now. I've run the whole spectrum--mixed species Malawi only, mixed Tang. only, species only Mbuna, etc etc. I used to keep 5 tanks 50 gallons and up so my possibilities were endless. Well, I fell in love with certain species over the years and time and money and children brought me to my single 55 gallon. So I chose to mix Tang. and Malawi cichlids. I do try to keep all omnivores so that none of them suffer from the other's dietary needs.

So my answer is go for it--I have never had any problems. Just provide what they all need in the lines of food and shelter. The water chemistry lines all cross (ph, temp, etc) so choose the best middle ground. Pick fish with the same diets (a herbivore will suffer and eventually die from high protein diets of omnivores) and have fun.
 
Good advice :)

I also suggest only getting 1 pair of bricardi (or get a few and remove the others after one pair has formed). Other Tangs of similar size will work well. Lelupi for color, regani, etc. Some shelldwellers would be neat... N/L. ocellatus or brevis are to name a couple. There are lots of options.

I suggest staying away from mixing Lakes if your just begining with these cichlids... as it is good to know the fish well to be able to tell if there is a territorial or dominance issue in your tank, because all of them can be aggressive at times. We had a mixed Tang/Malawi/Victoria in a 90 that worked well but it was overcrowded and we had to pay close attention to the diet issues.

:)
-Diana
 
thanks guys! rbell, where did you get the black sand, and is that a good substrate for these kind of fish, and do you have problems with it getting in your filter motors? nice tank btw. Would a pictus cat and a few ottos go well with these types of fish?
Thanks again.
 
Make sure to avoid any other fish in the Neolamp. genus
 
stingray4540 said:
thanks guys! rbell, where did you get the black sand, and is that a good substrate for these kind of fish, and do you have problems with it getting in your filter motors? nice tank btw. Would a pictus cat and a few ottos go well with these types of fish?
Thanks again.
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THANKS---I got the sand at my LFS. It's just black mariine sand. I prefer the finer grade white sand--not live sand by the way--just marine sand. I tried the black for a new look, but it shows ALL the fish waste and it's not as fine as the white. My inlet for the filter is about 4 inches above the substrate and the fish don't kick up that much--so it hasn't got in there yet. I loose a little when I do cleanings--i try to vacuum as much of the poo up as I can and a bit of the sand gets sucked up---but less than a tablespoon.

I switched to sand to eliminate undergravel filters and therefore gravel vacuuming--I hate vacumming gravel. I love it--i like the look and the ease of care.

By the way--if you go with the shell dwellers they live in the sandy banks of Lake Tang.

I had a pictus cat once that did fine--I stick to Synodontis now--some species are found in the same lakes---i've always used common plecos so I can't attest to the Ottos
 
~*LuvMyKribs*~ said:
Good advice :)

Other Tangs of similar size will work well. Lelupi for color, regani, etc. Some shelldwellers would be neat... N/L. ocellatus or brevis are to name a couple. There are lots of options.
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Hey Diana. I really would not advise mixing N. brichardi with just about any kind of shellie. Brichardi's are usually advised against when it comes to shellie setups, especially if they're going to breed. N. brichardis form colonies and defend them as a family. There's no way one of those shellie species (L. ocellatus maxes out at approx. 2", N. brevis at 1.5") will match the aggression of a group of the much larger N. brichardi (which max out at 4" to 5").

It would be possible to have a single N. brichardi with a tank centred around a shellie such as L. ocellatus. You could also fill out the upper levels with 12 or so non jumbo Cyprichromis leptosoma species, like blue flash or Utinta.

HtH
Ryan
 
Well I'm assuming it would be okay in a 55 gallon tank, nothing smaller. Although i do know how aggressive brichardi can be, especially if they pair off and breed.

Ocellatus are mean little buggers though, and can hold thier own against larger fish... and my hand. We had a pair of brevis in a 90 gallon tank with about 10 brichardi plus a bunch of other aggressive tangs and malawis, and they held thier own just fine. ;)

-Diana
 
I don't see why it wouldn't work---I would set the tank up to give the Brichardi their territory on one side and the shellies the other---the shellies will defend themselves hard core. Once the fish established their regions, they would most likely keep to themselves for the most part. Neither one goes looking for a fight--they stick to their turf and defend when necessary. Actually--I think I am inspired---gotta run look for a 75 gallon---catch you guys later.
 
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