[l2ob]

well im in the process of setitng up my new tank ...133 gallon

Im really looking forward to stock it with some cichlids...but the thing is i dont know alot about the diffrent types...

So i need ur help

I jst want some colorful fish that dont get to big so i could keep them in there for a while

i was thinking of some africans?

Any help is greatly appreciated..

thanks
ROb

 

[piranha45]

I'd suggest one of the following setups

A) 10-20 malawi mbuna

OR

B) 5-10 small-to-mid-sized haplochromine and/or tanganyikan species and/or jewel species. Don't get more than 1 frontosa, though, if you have the urge to get a frontosa. And also stay away from any fish who's scientific name contains Tropheus (tropheus require special plant-oriented diets and are much more aggressive and capable fish, like mbuna)

whatever your LFS carries should work; just find out whether they're mbuna or not, first. Mbuna don't mix well with other africans, simply because they are too aggressive.

here is a great profile listing of the more commonly-available african species, that can aid you in identification
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/species_profiles.php

Mbuna are pretty easy to differentiate from all other african cichlids-- if you will look over the profiles, you will notice all mbuna have a distinctive body shape and short, pug-like mouths.

 

[acestro]

Excellent suggestions. The mbuna all have color, it's a little trickier to pull that off with the haplochromines (and their brown females).

 

[elTwitcho]

Not a huge african fan except for a few species (namely the ones with the long pointy triangular faces, can't explain why, they're just badass) but a 133 gallon african tank would be amazing.