FishProfiles.com Message Forums

hi i was just wondering if any ones has any info on Red Zebras, i will be getting some like tuesday the 22nd of february if my Ph gets up.what should if feed them, and can any one tell me if i have enough plants and rocks in my tank for then to hide in?i have 1 rock cave,6 plants and 4 peices of tufa rock in USg 30 gallon tank, will that b enough of a hiding place?i heard if u put the plants in a line in the middle of your tank,which divides it in half it will help w/territory but i dont really like the look of that.im think ill get 3?
Any info would be wonderful.

also i was jw but could i leave my candy striper pl*costomus in the tank w/them or will the pick on him since he is like 4 inches?

I say you need more rock work, lots

NO, to the pleco maybe in a 4' tank but not in a 30g.

Also those Red zebra should not be in a 30g, WAY TO AGGRESSIVE.

They'll be o.k til their about 1 1/2", then you'll get 1 dominant male and he will not rest until the tank is his, leaving no other fish. Either he'll kill them or you'll take them out for their own well being.

You'll need a 55g, min.

Being a 4' tank it allows for the much needed space for other fish to escape. still tons of rock work will be needed.

Good Luck

i have 1 in with 6 other mbuna in a 45gal tank and he does fine. they eat the same as other mbuna's, mine love spirilina (SP?) flakes.

i just got 2 today! i wanted 3 but didnt have enough money.
Mr. Cichlid i think they will be fine b/c my tank is pretty well planted(fake tho) i have all4 peices of rock in and 1mango colored rock cave in a corner W/plants around it for a make shift hiding place, in the other far corner i have a peice of rock w/plants behind it in the back littlew corner behind the rock for good hiding.
they swimm together alot and i will get more rocks when i get more allowance money at the end of this week.

hi today (later on) i decided to change a little of the water in my 20 gallon tank so i took a gallon and added to my tank w/ my red zebras, i have heard taken water from a cycled tank will help w/cycling will it?this is the paremeters for my 20 i think it has completed the cycle, not sure why there is ammonia tho
-.25 ammonia ppm
-.00 nitrite ppm
-. .30 nitrate ppm
my 30 w/my zebras is
-about 1.0-1.5 ammonia ppm
nitrite is .5 ppm
nitrate is .1ppm
pH is 7.5
will the added water from my cycled(?)tank help?
and is my smaller tank really cycled if it has ammonia?it has been set up for aboput 1 yr so it should be well done cycling.Also in my bigger tank i put some Ammo-Lock in so the ammonia would be toxic to the fish well it was cycling,and should i add so "cycle"(which starts the bacteria colony) to get more nitrites going or just let it do its thing?

Your 30G is going to be too small for this species, Cichlid Kid. Mr. Cichlid is absolutely correct - they are going to be way too aggressive once they start to get bigger. Hiding places and plants aside, a tank that small does not offer the amount of physical space to accomodate their behavior.

I recommend you consider this tank temporary housing, and either move them to a 55G or larger when they get larger, or get rid of them.

well i think there is a problem anyway @ the pet store they had them labeled as maximum length5.5" but on this website i beleive but cannot remember,i think it said8.6"i hope they stay around 5 and a half inches.and i have a tone of plants 8 large plastic plants to b exact.i am also going to add a few more peices of tufa rock.and also what do you feed yours mine arent eating to good. the first day they ate alot but now they ar enot, i am feeding cichlid sea veggies w/spirulina but know there not even nibbling @ it.

i had a full grown red zebra and they only reach about 5.5 inches. the 29 is way too small for a full grown one. they are just too aggressive and the cramped quarters is only going to amplify it. give them a try in there, but dont expect it to work out for very long. 29g are too small for any malawi's in my personal opinion. there is no scientific data behind that statement, only my own experiences. they act stressed out, no matter what you do. their colors may not be great either. a lot of people keep malawi cichlids in 29's and will dissagree wih me. yellow labs are your best bet in that tank, but not guaranteed.