Top 5 Reasons Why Mbuna Cichlids Are Some Of The Best Fish To Keep...

I know most of you guys enjoy my New World Cichlids. I also know that some of you question why I would waste 125 gallons on African Mbuna Cichlids. Today I share the why I'm attracted to lake Malawi's miniature monsters. Caution: Video Contains Persuasive Material 😎
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[@nathanswager6751]

After being out of the hobby for decades, I got a tank of a group of yellow labs, acei, and snow whites. In love with these guys. The south American cichlids are gorgeous, but that personality and social behavior of African cichlids have made them my favorite fish I've ever kept

[@dwsdarius]

Awesome!

[@jeffharris4558]

A great introduction to Mbuna, now when your become obsessed like myself you’ll end up with 20 tanks full of them and venture into pure bred and wild caught fish, I started out with the usual shop bought line bred fish like albino Socolofi (snow whites) callainos (cobalt blues) Red zebra (Estherae not even a zebra) Etc etc, but I’ve progressed into pure bred fish and breeding pure bred quality Mbuna is way more satisfying than line bred shop bought fish. There’s so many made up name, line bred cross bred Mbuna because they are all closely related having evolved from just a couple of original species millions of years ago, trust me the colour, body shape and just about everything good is intensified when you get good quality stock. Avoid closely related species to reduce hybrids and where possible strip eggs from cross bred females, hybrids can ruin a pure bred stock and as you pointed out are usually way more aggressive and will try to breed with anything! So if it were me I’d be removing the eggs from that Lombardoi (Kenyi) pronto. I’m in the UK and fortunate enough to have a network of friends and importer to obtain quality fish from, I always wish I could share pics on KZbin as I have some stunning Mbuna in my collection and a couple of very rare (in the hobby) fish. Gotta be honest, I found your video accidentally and thought it would be a typical car crash mixed African cichlid tank but nope, I was pretty impressed and agree with your reasoning as to why Mbuna are so amazing to keep.

[@pelhamsaquatics]

I started with new world cichlids and continued to present. 40 yrs. I got into Africans about 2 yrs ago and now I breed them. African cichlids kind of took over, however they are new to me. My central’s and South American are still a strong force. My zed zebra mbunas breed like crazy. I agree with you the colors are beautiful from birth. Your fish tanks are extremely awesome🙂 thank you so much!

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@AfricanCichlids]

Good to see your still into your mbuna Darius, think you nailed just about everything on this.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, yes mbuna should always get some attention, their awesome fish

[@jeremyglascosr.8338]

I totally agree with you on Mbuna. I have an Mbuna tank myself, and no matter what else happens, it'll stay an Mbuna tank! I noticed the exact same thing in my experience, even the Kenyi thing, lol.. keep up the awesome content. Your videos are very well thought out, and very easy to watch! Can't wait for the next one! Stay up, Homie!

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@bruce_lero1]

You nailed the description/experience of an Mbuna keeper. Love the natural feel/scape of the 125 😀👍🙌

[@pjbLIVE]

I enjoyed this video very much. Thanks for spotlighting such a great, and sometimes underrated Cichlid. I'm big Mabuna fan! They're full of character, and strong personalities. I believe they display the most interesting social behavior in the hobby. In my experience, certain genres of Mabuna are pound for pound the most scrappy and skilled fighters in the hobby!

[@insurance1968]

You are so informative! I am new at African Cichlids and they are doing great, 2 months into this! Still so much to learn

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you! African cichlids are awesome! They can be rough towards each other but when you keep them long enough you'll love every bit of it

[@howardhewitt1797]

So enjoyed this. Thanks !

[@darthblunt3833]

Nice tank my brother!!! Love your channel and content, glad you showed us those mbunas

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@bobowen6243]

Great Video. I had a Cichlid tank years ago and am in the process of setting up an 85 gallon tank now. Definitely getting Mbunas!

[@SlimTim_dirty_aquatics]

I’ve been enjoying my experience with mbunuas. Originally setup my 55 gallon, had 12-15 and fell in love with colors of poor man saltwater fish. Now upgraded to 90 gallon and wanting increase their numbers. Maybe 30, we’ll see, Fired Up!!!

[@dwsdarius]

Awesome!

[@Mikinct]

Cool, just pre plan a few ways to not cycle tank, that's easy part but to keep nitrates low in a healthy levels because it's easy for nitrates to sky rocket when not checked with test strips.

[@ANGKOI1]

My favorite tank that you have. Beautiful.

[@DjPosey3]

I really love the Mbuna setup! background, colors and all

[@lawdawg_7983]

Another great video 👍🏼

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@CivicGang24]

Very informative! You’re appreciated 😃

[@DJ_G_Smooth]

Always Enjoy Your Vids!!🥳

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@christals5340]

Thank you so much for this, I believe I have narrowed down which cichlids I want to get

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

hey buddy ive just ben looking through your channel and loved the waterfall you made im currently re designing my pond and garden and im going to add a waterfall to the natural pond that im going to start building on monday your waterfall looks so natural its how im going to try and make mine look thanks for sharing,all the best martyn 👍👍

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, I wish I would have showed the process...it just a matter of taking a few steps backs every now and then to keep your vision in sight

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

@@dwsdarius yeah anyway I'm enjoying the content cheers Martyn 👍

[@Aaron-mv6xp]

Great video love me some mbunas!!!

[@montellanojavelosa6249]

good stuff as always sir. one of the absolute best on KZbin. awesome rockscape, are those real rocks?

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes they are real

[@Sugaree43]

Love this tank! 😍

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@cichlidcenter4686]

Beautiful tanks and some great fish!!!!

[@patpatterson6073]

Good video I totally agree!

[@ronderfulaquariums2978]

tank is rocking champ growing and growing in numbers pretty awesome

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@justanopinionsincerelynoof3860]

Liked and subscribed! I hope to have cichlid tank one day - with atleast two peacock cichlids!

[@petery4801]

Your tank is really something else 👌❤

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You!

[@bishopruger]

Love you're video and channel, I'm new to the hobby and just watching tons of videos soaking in as much info as I can. My goal was to get a all male Peacock tank but your video has me considering Mbunas. For now I'm going to invest in a small more traditional community tank and get that down before investing into a large cichlid tank. Anyway glad I found your channel 👍🏽. Definitely subscribing

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you!

[@bishopruger]

@@dwsdarius on a side note your voice is awfully familiar, do you have a separate channel?? Cali Green...

[@jimgreen83]

Beautiful tank

[@ant6295]

Cool

[@noahmoores2812]

Dope vid

[@joseCalderon1976]

Mbunas are very easy to keep. Some of them have very beautiful colors. I'm trying to pick up the most colorful Mbunas. Luckily I live in the same city as a fish seller and he has a lot of Mbunas that no one else has online. Thanks for the video

[@a.b.1856]

Love watching your old content man, the aquarium community misses ya! Us american cichlid keepers like african cichlids and all, but we prefer to stay up all night to make sure our breeding pairs don't kill eachother lmaoooooo

[@t1dirty]

Love the videos... I have 9 baby fry in my mbuna tank that I can see

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, it awesome how they survive

[@susanbabb5235]

Love my mbuna cichlids!

[@mujahidthamagnificent4935]

I enjoy your tanks everytime I look at them_ can't wait to sit up my 75 gallon mbuna tank_ wanna do 1 common hap and a peacock, but majority mbuna

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes, I'm itching to add a hap to my tank as well

[@mujahidthamagnificent4935]

With Saulosi, Acei, and yellow labs what's going to be my best option for a common hap?

[@dwsdarius]

@@mujahidthamagnificent4935 Electric Blue Ahli, livingstoni, Deep Water, Dolphin...you want to stay in the 6-7" range. Bigger haps might go for your main mbuna

[@NotSure876]

That exasperatus is nice!

[@winduncan9818]

Interesting to hear you talk about personality with the keeper. I prefer to use an auto feeder so they ignore me and I can see them acting naturally.

[@lisamcgill664]

Mbuna...good personality

[@mujahidthamagnificent4935]

You already answered my question

[@apss5736]

mbunas are awesome i am considering them for a 33 gallon aquarium btw those bala sharks are huge

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, yes my biggest is about 9"

[@apss5736]

Yay I set it up about a week ago. Love the look

[@TheFrogballz]

I have that exact same fish that you have on your cover looks exactly like him.. he's in a 125

[@bullyarena3923]

Mbunas need duckweed, small snails and scuds/shrimp if you wanna combat aggression imo. You should try it out. Livebearers work for purpose too.

[@msimrow]

I have a 75 gallon tank of juvenile Mbuna, I added the fish over the weekend. Would i be able to add a juvenile convict? convicts are almost as aggressive as the Mbunas. thoughts?

[@josephdonnelly3169]

Funny that at exact time you say fights are not that serious, a fish swims by with no tail fins … I have mbunas so I do know the drill. Nice content

[@diningroomfish5470]

I have a yellow one, she is a terror, she is funny and fast

[@tomh9894]

We had a kenyi solo in a tank. Agree they can bond with their owners...

[@tmartin2347]

I’m planning on starting an MBuna tank, what are the rocks you are using?

[@user-rm7cq4ky8b]

🔥🔥🔥👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@briancooke2435]

Darius you have some beautiful cichlids I’m not even gonna lie I would love to do a tank of them most likely I will be I got the room I got a 38 gallon bowfront 40 gallon breeder and a 75 and a 20 gallon acrylic cylinder tank and I always have more filtration then the tank should have it’s just a Habit from having predatory fish also have 125 gallon and A 300 gallon pond I would love to do a plywood pond with a viewing glass in the house with some monster fish like the OFR

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, if you have the space they definitely are a nice group of fish to have in your collection

[@mikeporter2317]

I found this video very intriguing. I have come to the same conclusion. This is why I have chosen the Mbuna species to keep

[@mujahidthamagnificent4935]

Darius, I'm satting up a 75 gallon mbuna tank_ what number & what types do you keep in this aquarium? Thanks in advance

[@omzdubz]

Can you PLEASE give me a list of the names of the fish you have in this tank??? I am going to make the exact same tank in a 65 gallon

[@nsane992002]

You gotta have both Africans and South American. I have such a soft spot in my heart for both in different ways!

[@dwsdarius]

Definitely, the perfect collection must include African cichlids, New world cichlids and a peaceful tank for when you get sick of the aggression

[@Adehernawan91]

Woww , that's my favorite fish "AFRICAN CICHLID" 🔥🔥👊

[@jeremiahbradley6914]

How large is that tank an how many fish I've been studying an soon to build a similar set up Thank you in advance

[@chiroxxxrt]

Can I keep some AC in a 20 or 30 gallon tank I would love to get some but not sure if they grow big ?

[@im.smooth8058]

What type of cichlid is the blue and orange one you used for the video thumbnail? Have one of these at a local pet store but they don’t know and I truly don’t either

[@dwsdarius]

Labidochromis joanjohnsonae

[@maltesfish2672]

7:21 hybrids incoming...I would always keep at least a pair of each species to reduce the risk of hybridisation. Nevertheless it's very a nice tank with beautiful and healthy fish. The camera work is great too.

[@aarongonzalez4458]

I'm the opposite I love hybrids. The only species I breed pure is yellow labs. And cobalt zebra except it breed with one red zebra I had. They had fry and they look light orange with blue fins. I got ice blue zebra breed with socolofi and ice blue with albino zebra. I got those fry rn

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, yes the hybrids often come out very aggressive too. I just don't want a male kenyi because they are too aggressive for me

[@a2thek914]

As long as the hybrid aren't sold.

[@jeffharris4558]

@@a2thek914exactly! it ruins the hobby, I get that people are excited and want to see what they might look like but they’re trouble, often they get sold or passed on as something they’re not what can then ruin someone’s pure bred fish. Labidochromis Careruleus (yellow Labs) are the worst, they’re promiscuous anyway but often the hybrid fry look like yellow labs which they aren’t.

[@roelissuPer-321]

The red one needs to get more space. But it can that they fight a bit

[@PULAG]

I have 2 SA Cichlids in with 7 tiger barb and 1 baby jack Dempsey for over a year so far. Will this last, or will jack get big enough to start eating my tigerbarbs? So far only very little chasing.

[@dwsdarius]

If its a female jack dempsey your safe because females rarely grow past 6 inches, a male however could potentially eat them.

[@ronnguyen8287]

Whats the mbuna at 0:23 called? Its also on the thumb nail. I must have that fish! Thanks in advance!

[@dwsdarius]

Labidochromis joanjohnsonae, female

[@user-wd4qf6jw5c]

Never seen yellowlab fighting before

[@anandkajave8643]

I have 40 breeder tank and I d want to keep Mbuna.. can I have peacock with them? How many do you suggest, thanks

[@brettottomaneivans7oooppoo227]

Nice tank , where can I find those rocks in your tank

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, the pieces of holy rock where bought from a local fish shop, the rest is mountain rocks that were collected locally

[@brettottomaneivans7oooppoo227]

Oh ok...thanks bro

[@joshpatterson3539]

so good 💋👌

[@Kay13Jay]

The difference I find in the way they fight is African cichlids it is a test of cardio...they chase and swim in circles until the other gives up. When they circle each other they build up a current until one falls out and loses. I have seen them continue to chase after one has given up and corner it but I have not ever seen them bite each other. American cichlids fight to injure the other. This may just be my experience. Do mbunas ever lip lock or bite fins?

[@apss5736]

Mine do the same but I do often get slightly nipped fins with the less dominant fish but nothing major

[@suneetsingh7745]

When can we add back the babies to the adult tank

[@carrieklette781]

Is that real rock background? If yes would it make it to heavy?

[@dwsdarius]

No its made from rubber by Universal rocks

[@Tropicaltip]

What is the name of the fish in the thumbnail? I have one but don’t know it’s name

[@marieclark7019]

I've just set up after years of saying goodbye to my Oscars I now have these fish and my yellow lab had babies and she's now nursing again,I didn't plan on 2 girls and 2 boys in my 250 gallon tank,but it is what it is,can these little fish survive,they are living under the rocks and I am putting brine shrimp into the tank and they do come out and feed but the males are slightly aggressive so they stay close to the rock there under,can I keep them in the tank or should I be buying a baby tank thank you there about an inch big

[@TotoTortoiseNFriends]

This fish swim damn fast, almost no chance to catch them

[@Mikinct]

What do you do or use to keep your nitrates below 60ppm? 1) 50% water changer ever other week? 2) add plants to sump, in hang on back filter 3) add special biological media ti designed to reduce nitrates 4) bcb baskets kitty litter/iron Absorb nitrates

[@dwsdarius]

On this tank I stuck with 50% weekly watch changes but now I'm starting to incorporate plants into all of my aquariums to reduce the amount of water I have to change

[@Mikinct]

@@dwsdarius has adding plants helped with nitrates & reduce amount of water changes needed? What type of plants

[@bernardgriffin6048]

Hi I'm just getting started I have a 60 gallon tank how many fish can I put into this tank.

[@dwsdarius]

You can keep 15-20 mbuna species in that sized tank

[@largelizardsoftheworld7301]

Sigh watching this video remind me of the time when I had my mbuna tank watch all the display of colors and watching them fuss over territory and hierarchy position 😂😂😂

[@dwsdarius]

Yes these guys are certainly some of the most entertaining fish out there

[@caylibesaquatics9485]

I have a question what is the cichlid that is on the thumbnail..?

[@dwsdarius]

female Labidochromis joanjohnsonae

[@tulioalopez]

Can i put together red zebra with yellow lab?

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

yes

[@southeastasianaquatics230]

Mbunas are gangsters...😆

[@ajisaka3108]

What is it in 0:23?

[@pnr2736]

Yoo

[@roelissuPer-321]

I should be taking a 160 cm x 80 cm x 70 cm high. So they have lot’s of room and i should not take to much. Because they get new borns. They will go in my 120 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm. So they have space and grow till i sell them.😜

[@andyc903]

What kinda of Mbuna/cichlid is on thumbnail?.. I have one. Thanks

[@dwsdarius]

Hey, it's a Exasperatus Cichlid

[@andyc903]

@@dwsdarius thank you!

[@b1ade307]

How do you avoid breeding?

[@dwsdarius]

Unless you remove females theirs now way to prevent it

[@TheFrogballz]

I think some of your fights are serious. I'm seeing one guy swimming around with no back tail. Lol

[@joedafrog]

SA and CA > African* *except for the starlight, it is the best of all the cichlids

[@aquariumaddictions7672]

i dont like african cichlids in general except for shell dwellers

[@apss5736]

shellies are awesome

[@twasbrillig33]

every time i try to keep mbuna they get bloat. Every damn time!

[@datcrazywhiteboy6205]

They need a lower protein food

[@rk-cb4ds]

that's not a good thing they eat my arowana half of his fish fin to much aggression for a tank

[@emilschlunssen9356]

Why are you saying African Ciclids? There are so many rivers and lakes in Africa. Just say Malawi ciclids…