Malawi vs. Tanganyika vs. Victoria

[DiscusnAfricans]

For those of us that keep africans, which lake do you prefer? I know some of us have fish from all 3 lakes, but most of us have a preference for 1 over the rest. Why do you prefer your favorite? Are there particular types of fish you prefer, or is it the whole system you enjoy? What challenges prevent you from keeping certain fish? I have a few from Lake Tang and Victoria, but 80% of my africans are Malawian (new word?). I'm particularly fond of the peacocks and haps, which are much more readily available than they used to be. Tangs and Vics are still slowly infiltrating LFS, but I think they are greatly under represented which is why only a few people keep them. What are your opinions?

 

[UNCLERUCKUS]

THE ONE AND ONLY...THE MIGHTY MALAWI LAKE RULES!!


:fighting0097::happy0065:arty0003:

 

[Sonny Disposition]

I haven't kept Victorians, so I can't say. But I like both Malawians and Tanganyikans, but for different reasons. There are exceptions, of course, but Malawians tend to be more colorful, and not quite so aggressive. Tanganyikans, while not quite so colorful, tend to have more interesting behaviors than Malawians. Since Malawians tend to be maternal mouthbrooders and don't have any elaborate nest tending/fry tending behaviors, I think they're a little easer to breed.

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

I'd also be very interested in hearing from people who made a switch. I've heard a few people say they're breaking down their Malawi tank and converting to a Tang tank. All I can think is we're losing another one to the dark side. What made you switch or lose interest in one versus another.

 

[iamzrad]

This thread is going to start a war. lol

I have fish from both lakes, including Victoria as well. Both lakes have outstanding and incredible species, but I feel more comfortbale with my Malawi's. That is probably because I have not taken the full swing of going to the "dark" side (lol).

I am fond of peacocks and haps and my Victorians.

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

This thread is going to start a war. lol

The controversial threads are the best because people have an opinion and are more likely to express it. Might get that post count up for the day. Lets get ready to rumble.

 

[F8LBITE]

I like Malawi for the colors but you cant beat Tanganyika for behavior. I keep both kinds in separate tanks so its a draw for me.

 

[cmcpart0422]

I have them both also and I enjoy them the same. I really do love the way my tropheus school though.

 

[maddog10]

I was able to breed the fish from Lake Malawi fairly easily. I switched to pikes for the challenge and quickly learned I was in over my head (wrong kind of water) to breed them. I have now switched to fish from Lake Tanganyika (right kind of water). I find them more challenging, and rewarding, to breed.

 

[RIFT_LAKES_RULE]

All 3 have awesome fish. I started with Mbuna and am still very fond of them even tho I'm not keeping any at the moment. I've never kept Victorians, but they are beautiful. My current interest is Tanganyika (known as THE Jewel of the Rift). I always found these fish intrigueing, but the lack of color kept me from trying them... all I can say is what they lack in color they more than make up in other ways. I wish I would have tried them years ago. I jokingly consider myself a darkside member, and I suppose I am, but I also realise that Richard refers to us as the darkside jokingly. It's all in good fun. I respect all of the African Cichlids because I personally feel they are all something really special. As much as I enjoyed all the color and action of the Mbuna's, I'm really loving the unique behaviors and personality's of the Tang's... really great fish to keep and observe. In another 10 yrs I might be a discus freak... who the heck knows, that's the great thing about this hobby, there's always something new to try.

 

[crazyclowntang]

Well for the moment I will say Malawis RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made the switch from CA cichlids to Malawis,only because I don't have big huge tanks for the nice CA cichlids like argenteas, pearsi,jags etc. CA are my favorites. I do find myself liking the malawi cichlids more and more. They are colorful and their colors are comparable to saltwater fish IMO. They are super active and I like that in the tank. I will say there are some tangs that I like like the calvus, lelupei and the trophues. What can I say, iam your normal fish keeper, if it looks nice I WANT IT!

 

[SubMariner]

I'd also be very interested in hearing from people who made a switch. I've heard a few people say they're breaking down their Malawi tank and converting to a Tang tank. All I can think is we're losing another one to the dark side. What made you switch or lose interest in one versus another.

They're in love with Empress Sarah for crying out loud!:wacko::wub::wub::jumpy:

 

[Lively]

They're in love with Empress Sarah for crying out loud!:wacko::wub::wub::jumpy:

ROFL! You said it before I could.

Although, I must admit that interesting fish that McFluffy has has me swaying over to take a peak at the fishies of the darkside...

 

[dogofwar]

If I had to choose one lake...it would be Lake Nicaragua!!!!

Actually, it would be Lake Malawi... too much color and too many varieties...

I actually have some shell dwellers from Lake Malawi - hopefully the female that I had holding is still doing so when I return.

 

[SubMariner]

I truly believe all Cichlids are amazing fish period. Nevertheless, there will always be cichlidholics that go from African Cichlids to South American Cichlids or Lake Tang(kaka) to Lake Malawi( Royalty, just ask Ad Konings.)

It's all good... We have to appreciate that. I mean look at Maddog, he once was a master in Saltwater and then he fell in love with Africans and ran a business of exotic fish from lake Malawi. Now look at him, he got rid of all his Africans and is now into Pikes. Who would of guessed that one.

Check out Dogofwar, he was into Africans too, but now he loves New World Cichlids. Then there is George(GJR2) the Great Obi Wan Kenobi, he's done everthing that swims, now he loves South Americans. No pun intended Georgy.:wacko:

Our President Pat when I met him was crazy about the Aulonocara species, now he's into fancy plecos with numbers on them and Vics and Tangs. Who knew?

As for my obsession right now, the Malawi Lake Africans Complete me...:blush:

But who knows, maybe I'll be into the New World stuff someday too. I mean the Vic fishies are really cool looking and so are Discus. We shall see...:angel2:


The choice is yours.


RM

 

[Lively]

I definately see myself branching out to the Apistos, Rams and maybe the Lake Vic fish. But, the amazing Dempsey will always be near and dear to my heart. Yeah, I adore my blues - but the day I lose either one of my breeding pair (Jack and Jill) I will be shattered - it will be like losing a dog (or cat).

 

[Charlutz]

Malawis were my beginner fish. But I lost interest in them. They don't have any special needs IMO. Get it, IMO. To me, you just over crowd them and get a lot of females to too few males and it doesn't matter what else you do, they'll breed. They do look pretty. Tangs you have to manage their environment and their potential mates. Some will pair bond for life. Others will harem breed. Much more interesting IMO. Again, IMO.

 

[longstocking]

I started witn mbuna for the most part...

What I usually dont' tell people is I really kept quite a few different kinds of cichlids in the start... West african, centrals, malwai... etc If I liked it.. and thought it was pretty I kept it.

This was VERY short lived though.... I started to get more tanks and realiazed it was hard to keep the water the way I wanted it in all the tanks... so I decided to pick one lake....

Lake malawi actually... I kept mostly mbuna. Some of the real SOB's.... Tropheops were my favs.

Then I saw a leleupi :lol:

The rest is down hill from there. I got bored with seeing the same behavior from malawi... so eventually all my tanks switched to tangs.

Now I play with cats on the side as well. Vics and Westies... do intrigue me from time to time. Sometimes I will set up a tank of them when I have a spare tank !!!

 

[rich_one]

loooonnnngggg ago I had a malawi tank. as has been alluded to here, it was very pretty... but also very easy. I don't know... I like color as much as the next person, but eventually I got bored, and left africans... in fact, left cichlids... altogether!

fast forward to now, and I am back in cichlid mania, after a journey that included planted tanks and shrimp and rainbows... what happened? well, one... I found out I am just not a planted tank guy. at first, the challenge was I could not get anything to grow. then, once I solved that problem, everything grew like crazy! TOO MUCH!!! LOL... (dave will admonish me for not showing up to GWAPA meetings to learn how to trim and such). but that's just it. I got in this hobby for the fish... not the plants. and while I tried to understand... I did not want to do a lot of plant clipping. now, I have learned a lot from GWAPA, so I now know where I stand in the plant world... anubias! LOL...

anyway... a funny thing happened to me a few months ago... I saw a picture of a yellow calvus, and I fell in love. the rest is history. I now have a tang tank in my family room. but hey... me... I'm all over the place. because a discus tank is in the making in my bedroom... so go figure!

-Rich

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

To all the Tang people, what are the behaviors that you find so fascinating about particular fish? My experience with them is limited, but theres a lot to be learned about them that you won't find in a book. Just curious since the Tang people seem to think the Malawi behavior is repetitive.