Mixing Tropheus or Mumba's

[fishyj]

I was wondering if I could mix Tropheus together or even mix with mumba's? I do not plan on breeding or raising any fry from the tank. It would end up being a show tank.  I would try to go with males only for the tank. Ideally I really want separate tanks but space is limited. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[ben]

All male Tropheus tank would be a train wreck but on a plus point the importers would love you and sell you as many males as you want if only to increase there female ratio's lol. Joking aside the Troph Mbuna mix can and has been done but the whole male only idea isn't a good one IMO.

[...]

I agree with Ben on the train-wreck comment. But because troph's are monomorphic (males and females color pattern is very similar) you don't have to worry about having drab females in your tank. The likelihood of a troph crossing with a malawi mbuna, or viceversa, is almost non-existent. Jumpman from the UK (member here) has successfully kept troph's with yellow tail acei.
I have 3 blue dolphins and 2 mdoka white lips in with my mpulungu group. They're not mbuna, but malawi's non the less. They coexist very happily.
What do you fancy housing together?

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

No Offense to anyone else's opinion as I personally think that if there for sure aren't any females in the tank, the males would be fine overall just like a full colony. I've seen it done a couple of times. Tropheus and Mbuna have very similar digestive tracts and could be fed the Tropheus diet without issues long term.

Just like any Troph colony, you would want to make sure that you have enough to disperse the aggression amongst the group.

[jumpman]

Jan 17, 2016 8:19:49 GMT -5 ... said:

I agree with Ben on the train-wreck comment. But because troph's are monomorphic (males and females color pattern is very similar) you don't have to worry about having drab females in your tank. The likelihood of a troph crossing with a malawi mbuna, or viceversa, is almost non-existent. Jumpman from the UK (member here) has successfully kept troph's with yellow tail acei.
I have 3 blue dolphins and 2 mdoka white lips in with my mpulungu group. They're not mbuna, but malawi's non the less. They coexist very happily.
What do you fancy housing together?

Thanks Danny, yep I currently have a colony of Bemba in with a group of 11 Pseudotropheus Acei, and in the past have also kept them with Salousi, different Labs, catfish and some Ps. Afra types. I've seen them kept with blue dolphins and many other mbuna too.

It can be done, as long as the tropheus group is large enough and the mbuna as well to mix up the aggression. Never really seen much aggro between Trophs and Mbuna or vice versa. Whether you go all males or not is up to you of course, personally I prefer the breeding behaviour of both. If you have mbuna in the tank young of either would get eaten anyway.

[fishyj]

Thanks for the replies. I am still deciding on what I want to try. I might just try a colony of tropheus and see what happens.

[...]

Where do you live mate?

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Jan 18, 2016 22:26:35 GMT -5 fishyj said:

Thanks for the replies. I am still deciding on what I want to try. I might just try a colony of tropheus and see what happens.

As long as you follow some simple guidelines I think that you will not regret getting Tropheus! They are great to watch grow and learn the dynamics of each colony.