Spotted Climbing Perches + Malawi Cichlids

Hi
I have a new 1m tank which I'm preparing for Malawi cichlids. I have 2 spotted climbing perches in a small tank which I'm considering moving to the bigger tank. Can anyone advise whether they will live ok with the malawis? I'll probably also add a pleco and an upside down catfish.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi @TracyB1 - Welcome to the wet nut house we call TASA...lol

Hope by Spotted climbing perch you mean the African kind(Ctenopoma maculata) and not the Asiain variety(they are BL-Black listed fish and we are not allowed to discuss their husbandry on this Forum - but usualy not spotted either,so lets asume you got the Ctenopomas...) - If these are the guys(might get shot out the water for this one),I would say yes - they are fish t5hat can handle themselves around more agressive tankmates..

First want to ask what the literage of your 1m tank is? Is it a standard 3footer aka 'bout 95liters? Or a bigger custom tank
A standard 3 foot is unfortunately too small for long term Malawi keeping - these guys get hyperagressive as they grow up and the standard 3 foot just dont allow enouhg space for the less dominant fish to escape the big kahuna in the tank...

Upside down cat would be o.k,but rather look for the Featherfin Synodontis catfish - grows bigger than a true upside down and can handle the Malawis agro side better...Pleco's - no... they are fish who prefer a lower pH and the constant hassling by the Malawis generally leads to an early demise...

Hope I didnt shoot to many of your ducks down with this one...but Malawis bring a coupla chalenges with keeping them and if one doesnt follow the generally accepted way of keeping them,it usualy just ends up in tears...

 

Mr Koi you missed out on the fact that most Synodontis and the Ctenopoma both come from acid water and the malawis wants a high PH.....

 

I would say that keeping any Algae eater/supposedly algae eater types with Malawis is not to be done.
Aside from the pH difference and aggression,most Malawis are algae eaters/grazers with the exception of the Dimidiochromis compressiceps and the Mbuna Group.
The Peacocks are omnivorous.
I might be wrong and there might be more carnivorous Malawis.

 

@Henk Hugo ... aware that both species have a specified pH range of between 6.5 - 7.5...ish

Highly doubt that TracyB1's Ctenopoma's as well as her future Synodontis will be wild caught fish... you know well that fish who have been kept and bred for a few generations under artificial conditions,aquire the ability to be tollerant of a wider range of pH conditions than what they would encounter in their natural conditions...

I have personally kept a mixed African(no Malawi or Tanganyikan) large fish community for about 4 years up here in Gauteng with it's high pH and hard water... Neither my Ctenopomas(3 species) and various Synodontis suffered any ill effects...

Just my experience with this matter...

PS: I will NEVER give a noob advice if I have no personal experience on the matter...

 

Thanks guys for all the advise, very helpful. The spotted perches are the African kind (Ctenopoma) and the tank is a Boyu HX-1000 which I believe is around 280LT. I have made sure there are plenty of hiding places and lots of plants. I think I'll give it a go and see what happens. I'll keep you posted.
The 1 Ctenopoma is smaller than the other as he is bullied a bit. But I make sure that he gets food at feeding time.
I'll try post a pic soon if I can figure out how to

 

Yip,thats big enough for malawi's,but try to avoid some of the bigger mbuna types...Nice pile of sandstone/limestone with lotsa caves and yu should be o.k...

G'luck!!!