Should You Keep Mbuna and Peacock Cichlids Together?

Should You Keep Mbuna and Peacock Cichlids Together? I walkthrough some pros and cons of keeping these Lake Malawi African cichlids together.
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A complete playlist on African cichlids: • All About African Cich...
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Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next week!

[@CichlidBros]

Great food option for mbuna here 👉🏼 Spirulina Flakes (Vegetable Based) - geni.us/ByXSoL

[@traviscowley4780]

Do you guys have any experience with Red Devils or Midas cichlids? Haven't seen you guys talk about them in any of your videos

[@Gud2B_Blessed]

Yesss! Just the video Ive been waiting for. I have a Mbuna tank. Fully stocked. I have 1 Peacock in mine. And hes been there over 2 yrs and holds his own. I tried putting another with him but he wasnt having it. Lol So I removed him. Other than that its Peaceful living. Love you Ciclid brothers. Wonderful video Happy Friday 🐟💕🐟💕🐟💕🐟💕🐟

[@rickvegastar1833]

Great video / content - I have been considering adding some Peacocks in with my Mbunas - but think I will just do a separate tank now. Appreciate your videos

[@jeremycover]

I’m surprised you didn’t recommend keeping discus with African cichlids… J.K.. good video and great advice

[@markfranklin8831]

That was a pretty good break down thanks for sharing 💯

[@99Canecas]

Completely agree Troy. Nice job this video is going to help a ton of people.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, I hope so!

[@jasono4735]

When I first got back into the hobby my LFS set me up with a mixed mbuna and peacock tank, assuring me it was ok. It was a disaster. The peacocks got picked off one by one. It stressed me out so much I switched to a South American tank and am much happier.

[@user-ew1hx1ye2u]

Yeah i had just peacocks then they all died so it kinda took me out of keeping africans for awhile now i keep just mbuna

[@NotSure876]

Which species of mbuna and how many fish and what size tank?

[@Saiprakash0156]

All we need to add the buffer alons with some aroganite sand. Similar marine setup. I got the peacocks and haps with a normal sand setup they fight to dead one after one. Later after sometime I researched find that we need to add buffer which is seachem cichlid trace and salt. If you want the diy one epsom salt and marine salt with baking soda. Mix them with the water of 2 table of epsom salt l, marine salt for minerals baking soda 1 tea spoonfor 1 gallon of water.

[@simonwalker7075]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@WONDERFULREPTILES]

AMAZING VIDEO WITH VERY BEAUTIFUL SUGGESTIONS OF AQUARIUS CHICHLIDES

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianp6180]

Good points. I do a few Mbuna in my peacock tank. I feed them Northfin food. I mix the cichlid pellets with the veggie blend. Works well.

[@Cichlids_GoDz]

Which mbuna do you have with your Peacocks.? Im curious because I have a yellow lab and a kenyi cichlid

[@aquaworldgr]

great video well done

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@varminttank]

Mbuna are Awesome. They might not get very long but…. They get thick and beautiful. Great fish

[@CichlidBros]

Agreed!

[@xiaoli5566]

Thanks, very good info.

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RockyxxRocco]

I’m really glad I came across your channel & this video especially bc I have both species & have noticed bloat in one Mbuna (not bad) however the aggression level is good. 55G 17 total cichlids 6 peacocks only but now I’m really debating what to do? What is the best way to feed both properly?

[@andreashessler838]

Great video! Not a mix that I would consider. If you want to mix rift lake cichlids, stick to Tanganyikans.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

great video

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@kylemendoza8860]

I definitely want to mix all around. I want conflict cichlids and red jewel. I was thinking of doing a rock formation in the back. Maybe Texas holy Rock. Set up where the peacocks have free swimming space at the top and front of take. And the imbuna have their rocks in the back.

[@hectorvargas4771]

I have a 75g with mainly mbunas but have like 5 ob peacocks one Venustus and 3 other types of peacocks I can’t remember their names exactly. But all of them have been thriving for over a year. No deaths no stress all get along fine.

[@robertheaton2687]

I've had afro-cichlids for 20 years on/off and have cross breed peacocksxmbuna with varying success. Never realized how difficult it can be 1.o.b &hybrid peacocks male are more likely breed /co-habitat w mbuna 2.peacocks/mbuna have different diet needs 3.terrain peacocks need more open water. Mbuna need caves and crevices. Enjoy fish keeping and good luck 👍 😊

[@juanriverajr5183]

You can but only a few mbuna bc they can be rowdy . Ppl say they only get 6-7 inches and it’s true but they get real stocky and aggressive

[@maddynottell4771]

Thank you I’ve had a mbuna terrorizing my peacock and hap tank for months now I bought from somewhere that said it be fine

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kantibhaipatel9606]

I have a colbalt blue and a yellow lab with my peacock cichlids in a 75 gallon for a year bow with no problem

[@awilderireland]

I did it in my youth. It was fine. But I wouldn't do it today. I had Tanganyikan cichlids in there too. We were less specialised in those days! And Rift Valley cichlids were much rarer. In Ireland at any rate.

[@rs8034a]

I've been reasonably successful keeping Mbunas and a few OB Peacocks (which are 1/2 Mbuna) together - I have a 65 gallon which is tall so it gives the OB's more swimming room and allows me to do a decent rockscape for the Mbunas - I mix the foods and (by God's grace) I have never had a case of bloat

[@chillwill7s60]

Great video thanks for the content, i have 1 white zebra mbuna with my peacocks, he is smaller and inteligente than the rest, no one picks on him, he likes to decorate the tank set up, awsome personality when you come up to the glass.

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@GC_Aquariums]

I’ve kept peacocks and Haps for about three years now and absolutely love them. However I have a group of three clown loaches in with them at the moment that I may be able to transfer to another tank later this year. If I am able to I plan to move them into a 65G alongside a pair of angelfish and a group of 4 Geophagus red head Tapajaos. I understand that clown loaches aren’t from South America like the geos and the Angels but I figured they would do better in an environment that is closer to their water parameter needs than being stuck in an African cichlid tank? Also would this combination work in the tank size provided? Thanks.

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

Can't wait for a jaguar cichlid

[@chillwill7s60]

Did you get your jag cichlid?

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

@Chillwill 7s in a previous video cichlid bro said the want to get a jag

[@darylrothrock]

Good luck I had one from 1 inch fry to a 16 inch killer... I had to give it away .. pet stores wouldn't buy him...

[@DjPosey3]

I currently have 135g mixed with all 3 with about 40, I believe it's possible but I do have some aggression issues And 95% of its coming from the Mbuna.. Soon I'll be setting up a 75g separating the Mbuna from the peas and haps, And I'll have less of a headache.. I do somewhat believe that overstocking helps with the aggression but from what I've experienced that even if you add 100 more fish to a tank, the bullies will still have its favorite fish or 2 that it'll target and bully it often enough to still shred it or stress it out.

[@alfredodeeric]

I have a 36 gallon mbuna set up that I'm upgrading to a 75 soon. Can you give me any tips and how much is "the overstock" method like how many should I keep to mitigate aggression

[@DontDreamItDriveIt]

I keep 15ish Mbuna, 15ish peacocks, and 10-12 Haps all successfully for over a year coming up on two years in a 150 gallon overstock. Really don’t run into issues or lose fish due to aggression, only lost 1 hap over the span of last year, a female venustus. I eventually would like to get the mbuna out and in their own tank, simply for the reason like you said. it’s hard to please ones surrounding without hindering the others.

[@devanterrell2201]

Are haps lake victorian fish?

[@nikoritter2588]

Which Mbuna species? Yellow Labs, for example, seem not to be that aggressive in comparison to other Mbunas

[@clangston3]

What kind of peacock is that at 2:59? I have one of those in my mbuna tank.

[@charlesroll8502]

I keep Mbunas and Peacocks and Tiger barbs and convicts and polar blue parrots and bristol nose plecos together and it works out pretty well. Also the tank is planted 👍

[@seanaustin8516]

Thanks for the info. I definitely agree on what you’re saying.🫶🫶🤟🤟🔥🔥💥💥💪💪⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@frankiefingerz8047]

It can b done i had a mixed mbuna pea hap 90 gal running for 6 yrs now im on my second pea setup 110 gal cuz i like them better

[@CichlidBros]

Yeah as a mentioned a few times it “can be done” but not always best

[@migueleespinosa2632]

You forgot to mention one of the most challenging things. We love to have male Peacocks but not females. However it's almost impossible to avoid Mbuna spawning. If the tank has enough hiding places the Mbunas will overrun any balance you might want to keep. Regarding Tropheous, they are superior in battle. Same diet as Mbuna but they cover more territory. The battles among Tropheous are incredible and there is almost no "posing" stage. Personally, a 120g is a min size to keep them.

[@ARod-br2ui]

I have one line tropheus left from a colony that was originally numbered 6. He’s been in a 150 gallon mbuna tank going on 3 years and he holds is own in there.

[@th3mllkm4n66]

I’m thinking of setting up an African cichlid tank in the future. The only Mbuna I’m really interested in is a pair of Auratus due to the colors for both sexes. I figured I’d just have a decent rock formation on one side of the tank for them so the peacocks get free rein over the rest of the open space.

[@joseCalderon1976]

Be careful. Auratus are super aggressive. Most people will tell you that is not going to work. What size tank?

[@cheasong1]

I mix mbuna and tropheus they are all doing great

[@CichlidBros]

Didn’t mention tropheus as that’s a separate discussion. They do mix better with mbuna sometimes due to similar diets

[@bfizzle81]

Man I wish i wouldve researched a little more before jumping to a all cichlid tank, I have 2 Johannis and 2 Orange Peacocks all juveniles (that keeper swore to me would get along fine) and my peacocks are getting chased endlessly. I wanted to overstock to ease aggresion and buy a few more fish, but now after being able to identify, I dont know if thats possible now that they are already mixed. Tanks perfect, wavemaker/over filtered etc so I could overstock but Im at a loss of what to do..... The Johannis literally keep one of my peacocks in the very top corner of my tank hiding behind the heater hardly gets to eat :(

[@joseCalderon1976]

I had some big peacocks, and I decided to add some small Mbunas. Well once the Mbunas grew, they just eliminated the peacocks. I wouldn't do it again. I only keep Mbunas now and I'm planning to add at least 3 Haps that don't grow too big since I have a 75g tank.

[@Ashley-vs1xh]

Are there some peacock's that are less aggressive than others or is it down to the fish?

[@NotSure876]

I keep haps,peacocks and mbuna together. I think the trick is picking the right species and making sure the haps and peacocks are larger. I have a yellow lab n Jalo Afra with my haps n peacocks

[@jsctone97]

What is the blue Mbuna in this video?

[@davidteiman]

I have a mixed tank like 20 and 20 in 110 high tank. They started in a 40 bowfront for 2 years and then a 75 for 2 years and now the 110. Because the tank is so high now I've added a wave maker. The wave maker makes the Peacocks illusion that they are swimming in a bigger tank. And I have the rocks for the Mbuna less than half way up because the tank is so high. I never had a food problem. I feed them the same food that has all the stuff each species needs. These fish are now 6 years old with no problems. It is funny how my Peacocks don't fight the Mbuna and the Mbuna don't fight the Peacocks. And I have 2 tank boss's one from each species.

[@Taylor-yw8jf]

Hello; what wave maker did you purchase? Thank you :)

[@north50]

This seems like a good way to keep both and probably how they exist in the wild. Like two tanks in one with the height.

[@user-kk2eb5xf7s]

I was told it was possible to keep a blood parrot with mbunas and peacocks if they were about the same size juveniles and raised together. Thoughts?

[@steph3192]

My husband established our tank before I met him and was told the same thing. We are just now learning that the blood parrot is a hybrid with some problematic deformities. He was also told that the parrot would be a “peacekeeper” for the mbunas, but it’s definitely the biggest bully of the bunch and occasionally bites us when we’re rearranging 😂

[@Shaan1102LoveFamilyAndFishes]

Can i keep jewel with them ??

[@MiamiObi]

Hey! How many Peacock and Hap cichlids can I have in a 75 gallon with an FX6 filter? Thanks!

[@kantibhaipatel9606]

You could have 12-15

[@johnjohnnie7319]

Can you talk about Parrot cichlids? Are they compatible with peacock cichlids?

[@pratapkg]

Yes not a problem

[@nikdi5743]

My yellow lab is the tank boss and is not going for another like him in the tank 😆I tried it and he almost demolished that poor fish

[@Auston1033]

7:50 what kind of Peacock is that?

[@johnbender554]

I'm not sure which fish I have in my tank. Assumption the local fish store has sold me multiple tires of cichlids. Is there a example showing which fish I have

[@CichlidBros]

Feel free to send us a DM or email with pictures and we can help!

[@mohdizwan5212]

I put them together, so far no problem

[@calebzajac6253]

same

[@jaderainhans9095]

I just go to petsmart and buy them cheap assorted mbuna and pick species I know and have since lfs is expensive

[@samm9017]

Bros handsome.

[@beachaddict7653]

Different food and different scape. You can make it work but to me it's not worth the hassle.

[@CichlidBros]

Yep

[@abuanwp]

Mbuna + Peacock = no issue as long as the Mbuna are the smaller ones. Mbuna + Mbuna = ticking time bomb. lol! No matter the size Mbunas are aggressive! Even to fellow Mbuna 3x their size! Once an Mbuna start to get bullied it will not eat and stay afloat and will be very agitated when any fish comes close.

[@NotSure876]

I feed Rons pellets and that seems to be good for both

[@CichlidBros]

I would just be careful as mbuna will gradually get bloat if it’s too high in protein

[@ARod-br2ui]

I’m doing the same with kens pellets and so far, added size and color to the mbunas and no detrimental effects on the the one tropheus in there. I do give them vegetable based food in the mornings.

[@NotSure876]

@@CichlidBros I believe Ron’s is balanced for both, but to be safe I run Ken’s flakes with Metronidazole for 10 days every other month. That seems to work well

[@NotSure876]

@@ARod-br2ui Nice, I’ve had zero issues mixing mbuna with haps with my method. I also pick smaller and more peaceful mbuna

[@mfhsgs]

What about demasoni cichlid 😅

[@proyachtdivers1420]

LIKE

[@kylemendoza8860]

Bottom line. If you going to mix. Get a big tank. So you got rocks and free open space.

[@joshasmus2672]

Can you keep females and males together

[@CichlidBros]

I would recommend just in breeding groups, with a higher percent of females to males

[@paulneuman6021]

Took my jerk peacock from peacock 75 and put him in my mbuna 75 he behaves now.

[@kennethmarrow3131]

I'm partial to Oscars. They look at you, sulking and tear up plants, substrate, heaters, and go after any fish smaller than them?;

[@onemillionfish]

just say that if people need to google this, they shouldnt be the ones keeping them together.

[@johnlinde7541]

Too much aggression After 50 years in this Hobby I just keep Frontosas

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

Its mind boggling that people will set up the tank like their natural habitat in the wild when every one of their cichlids were farm raised in a empty tank...your cichlids natural habitat is a basic non decorated tank! Then they end up killing them because they try to mimic the same water parameters as their native waters when in fact they were born and raised in a farm tank with completely different water parameters, death being the end result.

[@CichlidBros]

I agree to not chase parameters, but mimicking mbuna habitat would still be a lot of rock work. Peacocks and haps are open water

[@darylrothrock]

Never had an issue

[@hectorvargas4771]

I have a 75g with mainly mbunas but have like 5 ob peacocks one Venustus and 3 other types of peacocks I can’t remember their names exactly. But all of them have been thriving for over a year. No deaths no stress all get along fine.

[@CichlidBros]

Good to hear they’re doing fine. I would still say that’s usually the exception than the rule but I wouldn’t change it if it’s working