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While salt is not "required" for Malawi cichlids, it is highly beneficial and your fish will be healthier, prettier and live longer. Salt aids in gill function, helps prevent Malwai Bloat, eases stress and at higher concentrations is even used as a first line treatment for many diseases (like Ick and Columnaris). Small quantities of salt are found throughout Lake Malawi, so it also helps to simulate their natural environment.
Lake Malawi is enormous and the salt content varies naturally throughout the lake, as does the temperature (76F-82F) and Ph (7.4-8.6). To be clear, I am not referring to pure table salt, or iodized salt. Many people use Epsom Salt, Aquarium Salt, Rock Salt, Marine Salt or Cichlid Salt (although both Marine and Cichlid Salt can be very expensive) in the amount of 1 tablespoon per each 5 gallons. Those than need to raise their Ph also use Sodium Bicarbonate as a buffer.
I think the previous answer (below) might have confused nitrates and nitrites, because many people have nitrates in their tap water and you'll never get rid of all the nitrates in a cycled tank...many nitrate levels run 40 ppm or higher, even with weekly water changes, without being a problem. Nitrites on the other hand are like ammonia and should always be 0 in a healthy tank, but with all 3 less is always better.
In any case, it all sounds more complex than it actually is. Malawi cichlids are fairly hardy fish (provided the weren't hormoned up before sale) and can adjust to various less than ideal conditions. They will probably live longer, have brighter colors and be less susceptible to illnesses if you add salt...however, they probably aren't going to die overnight if you don't.
There are many cichlid forums with bulletin boards online that you might want to check for more information.
~NJ
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No. Salt is not required for Malawi cichlids. They need their water around pH8, a GH and KH of around 12 to 14 and a temperature of around 78F. Ammonia and Nitrite must be zero and a little Nitrate say up to 12ppm is OK (less is best) over 15ppm is not acceptable.
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How big is a mbuna cichlid?
Mbuna cichlids will grow as large as their tank allows them to, just like other captive fish. The Mbuna cichlid comes in several varieties.
Can Malawi peacock cichlids be kept in the same tank with Malawi mbnua cichlids?
I had peacocks with my yellow lab mbuna and white top hera mbuna cichlid. they will tussle with each other periodically, but it should be fine so long as you have than 4 or 5 to help spread aggression.
How big do mbuna cichlids get?
There are several cichlids that come under the general name of Mbuna. I believe they are all fairly large fish growing to around 7 or 8 inches . A large tank is required as is very alkaline, hard water.
When was Fredy Mbuna born?
Fredy Mbuna was born on 1979-03-06.
How big is a mbuna cichild?
5 - 10 cm long
Is a mbuna a fish?
Yes it is a type of fish in Africa, although not exactly a species. It is a family of certain species of cichlid.The name mbuna means "rock fish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malaw.
You gave a bit of cucumber to your Pleco but your small Malawi Cichlid ate it will the Cichlid be ok?
Yes, it is common to feed vegetable matter to Malawi cichlids (especially Mbuna). You can feed them cucumber, spinach, lettuce, peas (shelled), zucchini, etc. Feed a good quality flake/pellet food daily but veggies can be used to supplement the diet.
Can a Central American salvini cichlid egg layer crossbreed with South African peacock cichlids frontosas or mbunas mouthbrooders As I have a female egg laying salvini cichlid but no male?
In addition, as it would not allow me to type any further, eggs have been laid by the female salvini central America cichlid, but as stated no male exists in tank of that area, other tank mates include mouthbrooders such as frontosa, peacock cichlids, and mbuna's all from south Africa, so I am curious if there is any possiblity that these eggs are fertile, as I have many breeding pair, but the female that has laid these eggs is the only egg layer in the tank and has no mate of same genre, any ideas if eggs could be fertilized by a mouthbrooding cichlid such as the tankmates from south Africa?
How big do the firemouth cichlid get?
The group of fish called 'Mbuna' is quite large. Mbuna simply means "rockfish" or "fish that lives in the rocks" in the native language of the people of Malawi. When adult the different species of "rockfish" range in size from 4 inches long to over 10 inches.
Can a red zebra cichlid live with an electric yellow cichlid?
Yes they can... but I was with the most Mbuna, they cannot be kept in pairs.
What fish that begins with the letter e?
Earth Eater Eastern Mudminnow Echogonia Loach Edible Gourami Eduards Mbuna Eel Loach Egyptian Mouthbrooder Eigennmannn's Doradid Eight Barb Loach Electric blue hap
How many African mbuna cichlids can you keep in a 55 gallon tank?
Because a tank is never filled to the brim and usually has at least 1 inch of gravel and several rocks I would assume the tank actually holds around 50 gals of water when in use. If you follow the basic rules of sucessfull fishkeeping you won't go far wrong. The rules are. :- 1 inch of fish needs at least 1 gallon of water. :- Every tank must have a permanently running filter. :- Every tank must have at least 50% of its water replaced every week. Stick to the above rules and your fish stand a chance of survival. Fail to look after the fishes water as above and I can guarantee that your fish will be constantly getting sick and will live a much shorter life than it should.
