Home Adverts Recent Added Auction Scam Alerts Forum List Your Ad ShopAds Videos Directory
Tropical Fish Aquariums & Equip Marine Fish & Marine Inverts Malawi Tanganyikan Cichlids
Cichlids Discus Goldfish, Koi & Ponds Retailers & Services ALL ADS By County

Home      Reply		Viewed: 1201 -- Replies: 84 -- Page: 1, 2  Next
PM | All Topics | General | Cichlids | Marine | Coldwater | Tanks/Equipment | Diseases | Members

Posted	Here I go again
20-09-2006 15:33 by TARTINJOCK	Can you keep angel fish in with Malawi, I know I am getting a bit repedative, but if you don't know....Ask, My LFS would have sold me the Knife Fish if I wanted it, but thanks to the experience and knowledge on I here I didn't waste my pennies. Cheers Everybody
20-09-2006 15:40 by KOBISKYE	i would say no pal i found that when i kept malawis, that was all you could really keep, u can keep syno catfish with them though
20-09-2006 16:09 by -Rob C-	no, the water conditions are completely different and malawis are ALOT more aggressive than angels.
20-09-2006 16:59 by wymcot	Tartinjock - try spending 30 seconds of your time doing a bit of species research before asking such questions. Then I would suggest researching the different water parameters required by different fish This will give you an answer to your query very quickly
20-09-2006 17:52 by paul stevens	I cant see the point of webbie having a fish forum if you cant ask fish questions in it.
20-09-2006 20:36 by wymcot	Given the level of repies to the original question which was posted at 15:30, I see little advise except from Rob C. My point is purely that basic knowledge can be readily and speedily aquired by researching the web. It's then, if your still not sure, that this forum can come into its own
20-09-2006 21:02 by TARTINJOCK	I am abit put out to be honest, just asking a question that someone can easily say "Yes or No" to, have had lots of valuable info from here in the past but why bother when people tell you to look the info up, what's the point of this Foum then??? Thought that's what it was all about??? Strange that......Just not bother eh. Cheers
20-09-2006 21:09 by wymcot	James - the benefits of web research, you can find something to describe almost anything http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plonker
21-09-2006 08:24 by JOHANSWAN	no
21-09-2006 08:28 by PaddyD	Hi TartinJock. While you can mix some some fish with malawi cichlids it is far easier and you are more likely to have success if you only keep malawi's with malawis. They are very unusual in their requirement and quite unique. Even within the different types of malawi cichlids, you must be careful as some species do not get on.
21-09-2006 08:45 by TARTINJOCK	Cheers to all who have given FISH ADVICE, I was just curious, to find out what is and is not suitable. As for doing research......Well, if your car breaks down, do you do all the research required to identify the fault? then tell the garage what's wrong???? Thought not. Cheers all..Prob wont be on again for a while, don't come on here to be told how to do things that I don't ask for. Simple advive is all.
21-09-2006 09:00 by Malawimad	Tartinjock...Dont take it all to heart mate, alot of peeps on here will jump on you quicker than u can blink if u ask a question which THEY feel you should know, but the forum is here for advice, you've done the right thing in the first place by asking before buying, which is the best thing you could have done, at least u haven't bought the fish then asked! but certain peeps dont give u recignition for asking first, but... what i would do now is research malawi cichlids, i keep malawis and have done for a couple of years, Kobi is right the majority is malawi's only, keep them in large number to reduce aggression! i do have 2 britlenose plecs and a hoplo catfish in with mine, thats it mate! Wouldn't consider put anything else in there either, certain peeps may say that plecs and cats shouldn't be in there, but i've never had an issue with it! Dont avoid the forum because of peeps thats slated u mate, everyone has to take critism at some point, just brush it off, forget it
21-09-2006 10:29 by telboy	funny how its always the same folk doing the slating?
21-09-2006 10:31 by Malawimad	I thought that Tel, Friendly advice is great... I just think Tartin was jumped on a little to quick! What u think!
21-09-2006 10:34 by telboy	agree 100% MM
21-09-2006 10:41 by Malawimad	Thing is though, we all start somewhere tel, I can remember my first trop set up, put two male fighters in there not knowing a thing, soon learnt my lesson, Tartinjock has done what he should have an asked first, Hats off to the fella, and he handled the remarks well i thought!
21-09-2006 10:46 by telboy	ive met TJ i got a couple of oscars from him 100% quality fish,nice fella + he serves his country in the army so for that alone in my books "hes a top geezer"[even if he is a jock! ]
21-09-2006 11:27 by Danny Boy	wymcot is right though. if you want to own an angelfish go on to google and search for angelfish. then take 60 seconds to read about the fish. then your in a position to own the fish or not.
21-09-2006 12:07 by telboy	he is right by suggesting that TJ researches the fish/parameters etc danny,but wasnt that what TJ was doing by coming on the forum + asking question before he got the fish? after all go onto a mix of so called fish care sites + they're either all the same artical or they all offer differing advice!perhaps its just the way wymcot comes across as a know it all, my way is the only way type thing???
21-09-2006 12:41 by wymcot	Oh dear, I seem to have started a bit of a storm unintentionally. Firstly I apologise to Tartinjock if my thread sounded abrupt but I do stand by my comment that anyone serious about keeping fish should first do some basic research on the subject. How many times have we seen questions asked on here only to get a triade of bad or advised based on personal exeoerience, which in a lot of cases does not reflect the basic facts. If it wasnt for the more exeperienced folk on here, who are willing step in to correct such advise, the person asking the question could end up believing everything he's told, especially for the begginer. By having some previous background knowledge the person can at least make an informed choice on what advise he actually takes, and not just shoot off and do the first thing someone advises, and we've had experience of this in the past. I'll finish by being totally frank again, Tartin's question was daft, similary with the Malawi/Knifefish one, in-so-much as a few minutes research would have shown him quite clearly that the fish he mentions cannot be kept together. If the research still still didnt answer his question, then by all means raise it. As for Tartin's background and personality, I have no comment and would not dream of getting into any personal attack, especially given his army service, which we all should be grateful for these-days
21-09-2006 14:18 by paul stevens	But how many websites do you have to look at to get the right info. So is it not best to come on here and ask us forum louts for that info first as we will prob know more about it from our past experienced or not..
21-09-2006 15:09 by wymcot	Or be in a position to advise on the better websites for info
22-09-2006 09:03 by kitkat	I have an angel in with my Malawi's,I also have other fish in there that " shouldn't be kept with Malawi" All live happily together no bother,
22-09-2006 09:09 by Alan	Kitkat which fishes well being is most compromised by incorrect water parameters? To be frank I am amazed the angel fish has fins being in with a Malawi let alone is alive.
22-09-2006 09:13 by kitkat	pic
22-09-2006 09:19 by Malawimad	Here we go, That angel looks in top condition tho KK.....
22-09-2006 09:19 by kitkat	I know you all don't believe it but I look after all my fish with passion & all are extremely well looked after & well cared for. As for water parameters I obviously have found a compromise. The Malawi NEVER bother the other fish only ever bicker with their own kind.
22-09-2006 09:20 by Malawimad	Fancy donating that malawi to the top of that pic? Got a nice 5" red zebra if you wanna trade?
22-09-2006 09:24 by Malawimad	I must admit i know KK, and she always puts the fish's first, even when they spawn she looks after them and donates them to peeps who can look after them, she's totally devoted to fish keeping... Dont jump on her!
22-09-2006 09:28 by kitkat	Oh I'm tempted,but you know my lambardoi has a fancy for zebra's,you know what I mean
22-09-2006 09:29 by kitkat	thank you malawi.x
22-09-2006 09:45 by Malawimad	Your welcome, Well you let me know of anything u might want to trade, my zebra's a little big for my tank now! x
22-09-2006 09:52 by sonia	good on you kitkat the angel looks in fantastic condition to me. But you have been a bad girl doing it so go to the back of the class and stand in the corner
22-09-2006 09:55 by sonia	to be frank Kitkat thats one beautiful looking Angel you got there
22-09-2006 11:58 by commissar	what u all have forgotten about is that most tank raised fish these days live in water conditions nowhere near what there wild counterparts live in and as such just basing compatability on water conditions should not be done you have to take into account aggressiveness /size/wether they live in pairs or groups /diet /breeding patterns and such like therefore it is posible thesedays to mix fish that would not have been a recomended mix 10 years ago due to the above also as tank bred stock can have agressiveness bred out of it as well it make it even more so and to be honest if people dont ask they dont learn so ask away but do remember you can always find out more by researching things yourself as most people will only give short answers to a question whereas if u look it up yourself you will get far more detailed info on the subject
22-09-2006 12:09 by Malawimad	Commisar, your brave, but correct!! You've just said what the majority of us think!
22-09-2006 12:32 by Ray	I am so glad I have read this discussion,I now realise what a fool I have been,creating hardwater conditions for my Malawis and mixing RO water for my discus,as they are all tank bred and totally peacefull I am going to put them all together,what a lovely display that will make!
22-09-2006 12:49 by sonia	dont get it Ray? What are you saying?
22-09-2006 12:54 by sonia	one of the things i aim to do when i get my next tank, hopefully a 4x2x2 is have a malawi and tanginyikan set up together and mayeb a few other mixes of fish, it will definitly not be "text book" i will do a bit of trial of error to get it right. I suppose people are going to "quote" me know and start finger-wagging, but i have other tanks and friends who keep fish, if something doesnt work out i may have to relocate the odd fish. I personally think we keep fish FOR OUR BENEFIT not the FISH's BENEFIT (maybe the odd exception but 99% of you know its true)
22-09-2006 12:57 by wymcot	kitkat, there's no disputing you care for your fish but I very much doubt you understand their basic requirements. Putting aside the water quality matters, in order to avoid starting another argument over some of the comments already posted on the subject. Malawi Mbuna (which you have) are strictly vegetarian and thier dijestive sytems cannot cope with high levels of protien in thier diet. The Angel on the otherhand requires high levels of protien, so how you manage to meet the correct dietry needs of these fish is somewhat vauge. Yes they may get on, but as someone mentions earlier, one or the other will not be entirely happy and given the apparent lack of rocks in your tank I would suggest the Mbuna, which means rock dwelling fish, may well feel out of place.
22-09-2006 13:23 by Malawimad	I agree with Sonia and Commisar! However i would never consider putting malawi's in my discus set up or vise versa, there is argument on both sides here!
22-09-2006 13:28 by kitkat	wymI think I know what the fish eat. I don't just put one type in for all to eat. I put a mixture of several things in each to cater for the different types & needs.. I also have bottom feeders do you think I put the floating pellets in & expect them to try & eat them.
22-09-2006 13:30 by kitkat	Also there are loads of rock in my tank.the tank is 5' long the picture only shows a few inch.
22-09-2006 14:43 by von	I think wymcot was saying you can't stop the mbuna from eating the angels food and vice versa, hence not ideal conditions for either fish. And yes fish are commercially bred and can stand a wide range of water conditions, however they will eventually suffer from some sort of health problem and a premature death. I'm not having a go and if your happy with your set up and it works with the aggression side of things then good for you but please take peoples advice as just that, advice, no one is having a go. The problem is a lot of the time people ask questions and then if they don't like the answer they will ignore the advice, defeats the object of asking in the first place if you are still going to do what you want. I know you didn't ask the question orginally but please consider what's been said on this thread, i'm not disputing you care for your fish but they are not living in ideal conditions.
22-09-2006 14:47 by Ray	well said Von
22-09-2006 15:09 by RyanR	Von is bang on with that one, suttle and to the point!
22-09-2006 15:21 by wymcot	Kitkat, I'll not try to explain the basic principles which I base my fishkeeping on, but it has been based on many years experience, mostly bad in the beginning but a lot better now due to the learning process and the mass of info on the net that has helped me with that. The one thing I am confident with, is keeping malawi chiclids in the best possible conditions, your are not kept in a similar manner However, if your set-up works for you for you then OK. I only hope that anyone with less knowledge does not view your set-up as being generally OK, because its not. As for Sonia's "trial & error" approach, how many fish will be lost as a result, or is that an acceptable thing in order to "get it right", you'll never convince me thats the right approach. Some of comments being made on this site recently are less to do with fish best interest, but more to do with personal asthetics and opinion. As for tank bred fish being used to whatever water conditions, there is as element of substance to that, but it doesnt make it right. A lot of people will be buying wild caught fish from thier local LFS, tetra's being an example. They then spend thier time asking questions on here why thier fish are dying How many times is the question asked, "what are your water parameters" (perhaps you can tell us yours given that you have fish that require water parameters at the totally different end of the scale) and how many times do people not have a clue what your talking about. A lot of people on here have given thier best possible advise, but just recently it seems this is being ridiculed as being offensive. I take the simple position, "if I dont know about the subject, I pass no comment". So on the opposite side, if you are only guessing, why not keep quiet
22-09-2006 15:26 by wymcot	von - you summed up my view very well, thanks
22-09-2006 15:29 by von	Welcome
22-09-2006 15:33 by sonia	well said everybody pats on back all round. good thread
22-09-2006 15:38 by wymcot	sonia -which side of the debate are you supporting then . I do however agree that this has developed into a thread that this site is all about and is far less personal than it started out
22-09-2006 15:44 by TARTINJOCK	So, back to my original QUESTION...........Can I?
22-09-2006 15:49 by sonia	wymcot i take your points on view and it was an interesting thread that we all contributed to without it getting silly that was what i was simply saying. There is no real "supporting" either way. As fishkeepers we need to be flexible and seek advice from others. However i dont think just because you get advice on here you HAVE to follow it, its good to get a collection of advice. Wymcot what do you think about my statement that 99% of people who keep fish keep them for their own benefit and not the fish? thats not to say the fish are not looked after but lets not forget why 99% of people keep fish... its their hobby and it adds to the home environment and it looks pretty. Obviously there is more to it, but i feel thats the reality of it.
22-09-2006 15:51 by wymcot	Absolutely NO but your question does support my view that seeing it done in reality, doesnt always make it the right and acceptable way to go
22-09-2006 15:54 by sonia	actually i guess (like myself) when i buy a fish from a LFS i am thinking and aiming that 1. i give it a better home than it has in that **** shop and 2. i give it a better home than the average buyer would so i guess thats for the benefit of the fish, but utimilately a lot of fish keeping (maybe 80-90%) is strictly done for very selfish reasons, and i stand by that, even though i keep fish myself
22-09-2006 16:04 by wymcot	Previous comment in reply to Tartins reply Sonia As I said earlier, what works for you has to be OK, but only for you. It doesnt then mean that it is acceptable I get so frustrated when I read about folks who lose fish because of lack of exeperience. I among many others try our best to avoid someone having to go thru that. Yes, this is a hobby, but there is a duty of care on the fishkeeper to ensure we keep our creatures in what is basically a very confined space, to the best of our ability. Anyone embarking on this needs to make sure they know what they are doing and what responsibility rests with them, and it is thier responsibilty to ensure they do some background work in ensuring they gain that understanding, that does not just mean asking questions on here. I see the basic principles as being very easy to understand, so why make it such an effort and debate when basic information is available to us all outside of assets such as this, surely forums such as this are for fine tuning and expanding upon what we have already learnt. Its as simple as that
22-09-2006 16:09 by Ray	by mixing totally different groups of fish how can you possibly think that you are giving them a good enviroment,better to quote yourself than a shop or another fishkeeper?
22-09-2006 16:33 by wymcot	What Ray has said is dead right, quote from your own experiences rather than what you may have been told, especially by LFS's. But be prepared to accept critism or alternative vewpoints without "getting out of your pram" The vast majority of active site subscribers are OK with this, putting aside the self gratifying sorts who like to keep posting pics of themselves without adding anything constructive, is not what this site is all about OH dear. I suppose that will start another row, but it needed to be said in my own view, albeit a minority one given recent comments
22-09-2006 17:00 by sonia	i will be mixing tangy and malawi cichlids soon, looking forward to it. am quite to happy to post about it and acknowledge any problems i have. I enjoy fish keeping its fun, and yes i take responsibility for them! i will do my research on speicific malawi and tang cichlids and also ask on here. if there is a problem then that becomes my problem and i will have to deal with. I dont want to lose fish but it happens. I think tang and malawi is reasonable to try. i like both types. wymcot - by the way i DO admire your sense of duty toward all our fish but boy it must take it's toll on you lad, how many asprin have you had to take recently from reading this forum? i trust you can take a joke wymmy......
22-09-2006 18:17 by wymcot	sonia - you have just summed yourself up with your own words "I think tang and malawi is reasonable to try. i like both types." If they were meant to be kept together they would all live in the same lake "if there is a problem then that becomes my problem and i will have to deal with. I dont want to lose fish but it happens" precisley my point, the welbeing of the fish comes second to your own ideas. "yes i take responsibility for them! i will do my research on speicific malawi and tang cichlids and also ask on here" I hope you do the research, then it might just sink in that these species are not ideally suited for the same aquarium As for my interest in the hobby taking its toll. Yeh, but only when trying to discuss with those who really dont have much of a clue I can take a joke but dont find your comments or views that funny
22-09-2006 18:26 by sonia	quote this then so far there is one member who keeps them both and i am sure there are more, i dont care if they are not from the same lake wymcot lol so wymcot are you saying that if fish dont live in the same lake they shouldnt be kept together?
22-09-2006 18:28 by wymcot	Sorry this doesnt read very well "Yeh, but only when trying to discuss with those who really dont have much of a clue" It was no reflection on my willingness to help anyone, if I can
22-09-2006 18:39 by sonia	you seem to makea few comments that dont "read very well" wymcot (i.e. tartinjock issues) but wymcot, are you saying if fish are not from the same lake they shouldnt be mixed? what about SA cichlids thats a massive area of space or it is just purely lakes you are referring to? would you have a problem with fish from different continents if the water parameters were almost the same, diet also the same and agression also the same i really dont agree that you have to match things perfect i think the conditions are "reasonable similar" then it can be tried, so i dont include things like carnivores with vegetarians obviously
22-09-2006 18:46 by wymcot	sonia, we will have to agree to disagree, we are getting nowhere here and more than likely boring the pants off loads of other folk by now
22-09-2006 18:50 by sonia	ok wymcot fair enough but i did just ask you some fish questions that i think are quite interesting. i respect your knowledge just think you come across a bit upperty (cant think of a better) way but believe it or not i take your points on board and its made me think BUT i am still going to ask around and read up on possibility of mixing malawi and tang and i dont think people can say i am not taking the advice because thats what i am doing taking advice doesnt mean i have to take the first bit of advice i get am hoping member yanton can add to this
22-09-2006 19:04 by wymcot	OK sonia, lets talk fish compatability. When you do your research on Malawi/Tangy's you will quickly see that water parameters, diet, behaviour etc do differ and these differences can be quite marked at times. I'm not saying its an absolute no-no and it is often done, but if you want to keep you fish in an environment that is suitable for each species, then you will maybe not consider mixing them. All Rift Chiclids require specialised care when compared to a lot of other chiclids
22-09-2006 19:53 by sonia	ok thanks wymcot but i do feel reference to "specialist care" makes fish sound like an endangered species almost. I think a lot of what you say Wymcot is for an "ideal world" type scenario which is to be respected as i am sure you are factually correct BUT at the end of the day how far do you want to take it? if we followed everything perfect we would have to import our own river from Africa! i dont mean to be so sarcastic wymcot its just that i think "replicating" some factors of a fish's natural environment is the best we can do and i know thats what your saying too just to a more extreme..... i just think that if we never tried anything or experimented we would not learn anything new. We all know fish are capable of adapting to new or different environments, now i am not saying to keep wild caught discus from SA in Essex tap water BUT at the end of the day most Malawi are hardy, tough fish that are bred and raised by 1000s of people in the UK they are not particularly "specialised" fish in my humble opinion. Often people just keep a "malawi set up" as kind of a fashion statement because they can squeeze lots of different coloured fish into one tank. I want to make it a bit more interesting and carefully choose my species form a mixture of malawi and tang as personally i dont find 100% malawi tanks that appealing, my opinion and i am entitled to it.
22-09-2006 21:22 by Linda Chenapa	sonia - well said! Some people on this forum think THEY are the only ones WHO KNOW IT ALL. I am sorry to disappoint them, but not everyone knows every thing. In my tank with malawis I have sevrums, silver dollars, fontosa, tiltpia maries + several plecs.As for certain breeds of fish not being able to eat protien etc, we as humans are not meant to eat meat, but does that stop us?People come on gere for ADVICE not to have other peoples opinions shoved down their throats. Should we not let Africans live in this country because our weather is not the same as the weather in Africa?
22-09-2006 21:28 by rob r	spot on girls
22-09-2006 21:31 by Linda Chenapa	Why thank you!

-- Page: 1, 2  Next

Previous | Fish Biz | Sitemap | Links | Clubs | Webmaster | Our Sponsors | ShopAds | Directory Visits