Willow2000 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 We have a tank (200 litre) that has a combination of Clown loaches, Peacock Cichlids, Dolphins, Nimbochromis Venustus (Giraffes) and Melanochromis Auratus.The problem is, the Loaches are dropping like flies, due to being attacked! We can't seem to catch anyone in the act, but are guessing its one of the last two mentioned above! I realise this probably isn't an ideal setup, mixing Haps with Mbunas, but we had no choice as we had a problem with one of our other tanks and ran out of room to house the fish appropriately! My question is who is most likely to be the most aggressive, the Nimbochromis Venustus, or the Melanochromis Auratus?They are all pretty much the same size.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow2000 Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Ok, update! All 8 of our Loaches are now dead! We managed to rescue One! They all had injuries, so I guess we won't ever be putting Clown Loaches in with Cichlids again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharmlou Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Auratus by far. Not sure how big the fish are, but if the Malawi's are close to mature adults, the loaches didn't stand a chance. Personally I've never had any luck keeping loaches with Malawi's even in a 400 liter tank and I started with juvenile mbuna and larger loaches! Frontosa and loaches get along better though. Also, remember the water parameters are totally wrong for loaches if the tank is set up for Malawi's. Shame, loaches are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow2000 Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Thanks for your reply Pharmlou it is such a shame, the Loaches are great to watch. After doing more research lastnight, I discovered, like you said, that the water conditions for Loaches and Malawi Cichlids are totally opposite!But I am pretty positive that you are right, it was the Auratus! There are only two juveniles in the tank, Do you think our other fish will be in danger also?Maybe the Auratus would be better kept on their own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenstrat Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I know many people say not to keep loaches and Malawi cichlids together, but I have had success, I just adjust them to the water conditions very slowly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow2000 Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Which Cichlids do you have Loaches with Frankenstrat? We have a tank that's just Peacocks, would that work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phenomena Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Forget the loaches altogether. They're too good to be mixed with Malawis.As mentioned, your most likely culprit is the auratus. Or they could have been attacked at all fronts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenstrat Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Which Cichlids do you have Loaches with Frankenstrat? We have a tank that's just Peacocks, would that work?i think they would do fine with peacocks, mine are in with rhoadesii and they are 5 times as big as the loaches and no problems.i used to find that i lost most of my loaches within the first couple of days of going into the higher ph water....so i adjust them up to the required ph over a week or two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharmlou Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Agree, you could get away with loaches and Peacocks. The water parameters become less important with larger loaches and long aclimatising procedures. But then you'd miss out on all he drama associated with Mbuna! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranced Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 i have also kept clown loaches ~7+cm with mbuna in large tanks with no worries. I avoid certain fish i.e. auratus like the plague though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharmlou Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Just an aside. you have two Auratus now, if they are both male, soon you will only have one.I watched, astonished. at the way the slightly larger of the two Auratus I had charged the other and smashed him into a rock, killing him instantly.If he was noy a magnificent looking fish, I would have given him to the LFS long ago.Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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