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Has anyone mixed Rainbowfish and Africans (esp. Malawai)? I've got a 125g with about 10 Africans, a lot of rocks around the bottom and sides, some big bushy plants on the sides, and NOTHING in the middle. Relatively boring, since the Africans spend all their time in the rocks.

Thanks!

I personally haven't but my good friend has two rainbow fish in his Malawians at the moment with no problems.

Bruce

Milkyboy

As long as your Ph is in the low-mid 7 range, I don't see a problem with this. Rainbowfish are tolerant of a wide range of water conditions, and many people keep malawi cichlids at lower Ph ranges than their native rift lakes. A group of dwarf neon rainbows would look fantastic as dither fish, and might coerce the cichlids to come out from the rocks more often.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

I would be in fear of loosing my rainbows. Malawi cichlids are tenacious, fast, and strong. They are unsafe for most fish. If you were going to do it I would pick a large rainbow species. But I would not recommend it.

A lot of people really get worked up about having a PH that matches the native waters of the fish. True be told if you are looking to breed the fish then it might be worth it but in most cases your fish will do just fine in your local PH. Chances are your LFS isn't changing the PH for each and every fish so as long as you don't shock then they will be fine.

I know a guy that has yellow labs in with his rainbows. All is going fine. Rainbows are lighting fast so there normally isn't problems with the cichlids getting them. I would say go for it.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Labs are a pretty laid back species of malawis. Most mbunas are WAY WAY nmore agressive.

I think it depends somewhat on the cichlids. Labs are one thing but some cichlids will spend all their time trying to catch those rainbows. Eventually the rainbows will get too stressed. Especially if you go with a smaller species of rainbow.

I'm quite certain the water chemistry won't be an issue, as I've already bred both rainbows and these same cichlids in the same tank of water. I've only got one aggressive fish in the tank, the rest get along just fine, living in the same holes and whatnot. And that one fish is ofcourse only aggressive if someone gets near his hole.

I suppose my best option is just to try adding a couple and see how they do.

Thanks!

My personal feeling is that the rainbows might not appreciate the aggressive environment, and if one gets its morning courship interrupted by a territorial cichlid it might turn into a straight up fight. Jaws versus a 35 mph body ram. Or twelve. It could get nasty. A 5 to 6 inch rainbow adult doesnt always react as peacefully as a 2-3 inch half grown one. Their own species fights are mostly ritual, but against predation or nips in a confined space they do eventually respond by taking the aggressive animal out, even working as a shoal to do it. Ive had 2 adult aus rainbows take out a half shoal of nippy barbs in an afternoon, it lead to two deaths, and a lot of segregated fish. They dont often back down, and that can lead to a death one way or another. They dont start fights , but are often better able to finish them than a lot of people imagine. If the rainbow doesnt back down a cichlid probably wont either, their reputation for aggression is well known. It could get bloody.

Im sure the water quality could be made to work, but you might get feeding issues. Rainbows often outcompete smaller fish, and they can bloat out rather badly on pellets formulated for cichlids. Ive found out the hard way that cichlid pellets and rainbowfish digestion isnt a great combo. It tends to lead to constipation.

Try some by all means, but only if you have tankspace to house them seperately if trouble breaks out. I think there are risks with this idea. It might work, but then might isnt a yes.