just started my first african cichlid tank

[JonK]

I've had close on 25...and at some times, 30 mbuna in a 55g. Water changes almost every other day though, gravel siphoning, the works. I don't have any issues with overstocking mbuna's.
Your idea of 18 should be perfectly acceptable as long as you keep the water good

As I say in pretty much every post about africans, they all have their own personalities, and sometimes the "peaceful" ones turn out to be terrors, and the ones they say are "aggressive" turn out to be big softies.

However, they do say that demasoni should be kept in bigger groups. I've seen them terrorize the hell out of the other tank residents when their numbers were low. Solved it by removing one or two other fish, and increasing the numbers in the demasoni group. Just be aware that this might happen, and be prepared to make changes if it does. I'll go ahead and hope that it doesnt

Also bear in mind whether or not you are hoping for them to breed. You might get to a stage where I was when I first started, where I wanted them to breed, but the ratio's were all off. I had to remove fish and increase numbers in the species I was hoping would breed. Careful stock planning at the start will make you happier in the long run.

Another thing to note, by giraffe, do you mean N.Venustus ? or N.Livingstonii? While I suspect they would get along to a degree with your other tank residents, you should know now that both of those species will outgrow your 55g very quickly, not to mention, N.Livingstonii eat mbuna in the wild.

Glad to see you're so enthusiastic about africans, they truly are awesome little critters !

[Divinehammer]

yup so far so good, and yes I mean N.Venustus, turns out it's a big wuss LOL! I had to pull the decor for a few days because of some fighting, and put one of my Bumblebees in the time out box for a night, but everything seems to have calmed down, and the fighting has stopped, so this weekend will start to put some of the rocks back in, had to take my spotted Highfin Pleco out of there though was getting picked on by someone, so moved him to my 90 with my other 2 big Common Plecos he's doing much better. the breeders box was a good idea anyone starts anything I tap it on the glass and they all settle down right fast, got them trained real fast who's the big dog is LOL!

[CichlidPadawan]

lol great idea devine with the time out box!

[Divinehammer]

I learned it from someone else on here, can't remember who it was though LOL! seems to work good.

[memfish]

hey everybody thanks for the advice and discussion. i think i've got my stocking down for now and hopefully everybody will grow up happy together with no problems. as of now i have
1 demansi
2 yellow labs
3 peacocks
2 red zebras
2 johanni
1 i believe rusty cichlid, or he's a rusty hybrid
1 blue ahli
1 bumblebee
1 giraffe (venutus)
1 jewel
2 acei
1 aurutus
1 albino socoli
1 upside down cat
1 senegal birchir
1 apple snail
5 nerite snails
and some mts

so far the aggression with the cichlids has been great the ahli is still the boss but nobody has nipped fins and there is very little chasing. JonK thank you very much for the work you put in on the boards you have been very insightful. i am keeping an eye on the giraffe but for right now everybody is around 2 inches so he's not big enough to eat anyone yet and if he does get big enough i'll rehome him. as for non fish i have 3 anubias that are thriving so far in the tank and 7 smaller java fern plants along with a marimo ball. for filtration at the moment i have 4 15 gallon hob filters along with a water bottle filter. also i am doing 50% water changes weekly. these guys will all be moving into a 75 gallon in a couple of months and when that move happens i will be adding one of my cannister filters along with making my first sump! sorry i don't have any pictures yet hopefully in a few weeks i'll get a camera.

[memfish]

also JonK, with the demansi, it's been a couple of weeks and so far he is doing great with everybody, but if he gets to aggressive i'll move him on out. I'm also not planning on breeding, however if a few do breed and any fry survive i guess my tiretrack eel and my brothers jack dempsey will have some extra food as i don't want to propogate any hybrids or focus on trying to get purebreds.

[JonK]

Cool, looking forward to the pictures!