PlanetCatfish.com

I currently have a 110 Gallon(bottom area 60"X 18") stocked with around 25 Mbunas with plenty of rockwork.

I was wondering if I were to add S. Multipuncatus and/or S. Petricola, how many can I stock given there are no other catfish in the tank? Also, can I safely stock both species at the same time? The water parameter is that of the typical African tank.

Thanks!

I would choose one species for the simple reason that S.multipunctatus grows much larger than S.petricola. Both have a more or less similar pattern, but some of them are large and the others are (remain) small. In my opinion this doesn't look nice.
It's like keeping Petrochromis with Labeotropheus, if you see what I mean.

Thanks!

How many of them could I put in the tank of that size, given that I am only going to purchase one or the other.

Depends on which species you choose.
I would take a group of 7 S. multip.
If you want the S. petri. you could take a few more.
Neither group should be less than 5 in my opinion.

Thank you for the info!

Honestly, I would go with petricola and do a group of 15. If you have alot of rockwork, this number of them will be awesome in their. They school, and are always out.

ecoli wrote:Thank you for the info!

You're welcome. Of course you'll let us know which choice you have made (in due course)?
BTW: what Mbunas have you got?

I will post pictures when everything is setup.

As for Mbunas, I just have flocks of M. Estherae, M. Lombardoi, OB L. fuellebroni, and L caeruleus.

Nothing too exciting...The stars of the tank are going to be the catfish. With a baby coming, I will be pretty hard pressed already to justify to my wife about the 7 multis I am going to get

One more question. I will be getting lunar lights as well. Which color is better, blue or red in terms of minimal disturbance to the catfish. The blue looks better but which color does the catfish prefer?

ecoli wrote: As for Mbunas, I just have flocks of M. Estherae, M. Lombardoi, OB L. fuellebroni, and L caeruleus.

I was asking this, because in my tank C******ds were "Foster parents" for young S. multipunctatus. As you know this species drops its eggs between those of spawning C*****ds (mouth breeders!!), thus letting them take care of the young Synos (if you didn't know, check the CateLog).
I think this may work with the lombardois and fuellerbornis.
BTW: you can see the difference between male and female Synos: male have a papilla before their anal fin.
BTW2: multis are very active during the day; they will bring you a lot of fun.

ecoli wrote: With a baby coming, I will be pretty hard pressed already to justify to my wife about the 7 multis I am going to get

Tell your wife there are plenty more babies on their way; that is: Syno babies

ecoli wrote: One more question. I will be getting lunar lights as well. Which color is better, blue or red in terms of minimal disturbance to the catfish. The blue looks better but which color does the catfish prefer?

Sorry, I can't tell you that. But what about no disturbance at all?? Lights out. Will do some good to your fish AND to your wallet!

PS: all references in this post concern S. multipunctatus.

Thank you again for all the info

Hello. You cant go wrong with 7 Multis. Thats my number till I added 2 babies.You might have luck with the Fulleborni. But they are hard to tell if they are holding or not, and I wouldn,t give cat fry a much of a chance in that tank. As for lights I have never tried the blue(moonlight) lights but are looking into them.I have used red light bulbs in clipon lights shining through the tank with great success. I imagine the blue would not bother them much also. You AND your wife will love them cats.