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

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

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 RU-vid 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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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!!!

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

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!

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

My favorite tank that you have. Beautiful.

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

So enjoyed this. Thanks !

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

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 👍👍

tank is rocking champ growing and growing in numbers pretty awesome

Always Enjoy Your Vids!!🥳

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

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

Love this tank! 😍

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

Mbuna...good personality

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

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

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

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

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

Another great video 👍🏼

Your tank is really something else 👌❤

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

Very informative! You’re appreciated 😃

Great video love me some mbunas!!!

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

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

Beautiful tank

Never seen yellowlab fighting before

Beautiful tanks and some great fish!!!!

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.

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

Love my mbuna cichlids!

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

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

You already answered my question

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

That exasperatus is nice!

Good video I totally agree!

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

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

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?

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

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

Cool

When can we add back the babies to the adult tank

Mbunas are gangsters...😆

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

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

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

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.

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?

What is it in 0:23?

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

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.

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

Can i put together red zebra with yellow lab?

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 ?

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

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 😂😂😂

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

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

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

🔥🔥🔥👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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

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

Dope vid

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

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

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

How do you avoid breeding?

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

Yoo

so good 💋👌

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.😜

i dont like african cichlids in general except for shell dwellers

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

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

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

You the only dude on the planet to call them new world cichlids and not american cichlids. Kinda creepy.

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