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Hello.<br>I have just set up a 40 gallon tank that has already been cycled by the previous owner and have decided to start my tank out with some cichlids. Unfortunately, through all the reading I have done, I did not anticipate having a problem with my african cichlids and south americans in the same tank. I now realize that although I could find a happy medium in water conditions, the africans are e to bloat even if fed flakes and pellets containing fish meal and shrimp...i.e. too much protein. I have reason to believe my baby orange blotch (thats what the shop owner called him) has bloat as he has looked fatter this past week. I am now beginning to think it's not due to over eating now that I have discovered the mystery of bloat online.<br>My question is, after treating my african cichlid, should I return him for an omnivore or a s.a. cichlid, or should I attempt to feed them veggies first/separately?<br>Thanks for your help in advance.

Well if you are keeping S.A cichlids than you cannot have African cichlids in the water they will kill eachother. So if you want to have S.A than take him back but if u want African keep him .

orange blotchs are hybrids, not that thats a bad thing so long as u know. also SA and Af cichlids dont mix, you will continualy battle water parameters and other problems (i.e.bloat). take back either the africans or south americans or just get a new tank if your keen on both. i doubt they will kill each other unlees you have particaly aggressive sa's even so the ob's hold their own.

Last edited by african_man at 07-Sep-2005 01:56

Hi and welcome to the site.

Can you list all the fish in the tank?

did not anticipate having a problem with my african cichlids and south americans in the same tank

Many people on this site and others agree that they shouldn't be mixed. Their body language and environment is different for the most part. Some people do have luck mixing them and most people will not have luck mixing them. I personally wouldn't.

now realize that although I could find a happy medium in water conditions

Most people that keep fish use their tapwater and do not adjust for Ph. If the ph is fluctuating constantly this will cause stress and led to chronic health problems. Most fish will live just fine with the ph parameters of the tapwater. However it is always important to research before buying because this is not true for some of the more delicate species. Many will also add decor such as limestone and tuffa that will leach minerals into the water for the african rift lake cichlids. Unless the fish are delicate or for breeding issues, using tapwater not adjusting the parameters is fine for the most part. Not all african cichlids come from areas with hard water with high ph, many of the streams and eastern african has softer water.

the africans are e to bloat even if fed flakes and pellets containing fish meal and shrimp...i.e. too much protein

Not all africans are vegetarians. Mbuna for the most part are and can be very e to bloat if feed to much proteins. But other species such as peacocks, malawi haps are carnivores and protein should be a bulk of their diet. Malawi bloat is not conclusively linked to just diet. But I WOULD NOT mix mbunas with peacocks or malawi haps due the diet fact and for other reasons as well. The herbivore cichlids and carnivore cichlids are impossible to feed seperately in the same tank. If you suspect bloat try some peeled peas. Bloat is sometimes related to bacteria infections as well.

orange blotchs are hybrids

Is it a orange blotch peacocks( often reffered as a O.B. peacock)
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1372

There is a link for a picture of the peacock

OR is it

Labeotropheus fuelleborni
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2305

They are not hybrids while the peacock are for the most part.

you just set up the tank that was cycled by the previous owner eh?

...well unless they gave it to you full of water and all the decor i think you might be getting some ammonia/nitrite spikes, as the cycle pertains to the water....i hope you are aware of this.

the cycle is the bacteria living on filter media and gravel. some on the side of the glass and decor but mostly the filter. the filter media needs to remain wet at all times and it has to be back with fish within 3 hrs.

right i was saying it had to be kept wet, but in a diff way lol. but if he bought it off someone and they sold him only the tank...well he may be in for a suprise.

Just a side note on the Hybrid issue,

O.B Peacocks are all hybrids....

There are several Mbuna which are O.B in females, Some in Males and some in both sex's.

The O.B Peacocks however are a man made fish and are not found in the Lake...

Oh, They'll also cross breed with either Peacock or Mbuna so not really be kept with any other species.

Not even on topic but I had to comment

I have a tank that contains many central and south American cichlids. i have had no problems with the two calvis (black&yellow) that also inhabit the tank. most of my fish are mature and although the calvis pretty much keep to them self's they are not bothered by my bigger meaner fish (e.g. 3 grammodes, 3 festae, 1 rather large orange pike). they have all grown up together from baby's but I don't have more then the occasional brawl when one of the c/s American try going in the calvis' caves. considering the company they are in.