Saulosi Vs Elongatus?

Question

I am currently keeping Saulosi Cichlids & am wanting to change to one of the many strands of Elongatus Cichlids. I have tried looking for compatibility charts to see if these fish would get along with one another, however I'm having a little difficulty finding information!

Is it possible to keep both breeds together!?

My tank is 5ft in length, by 1.5ft wide & 2ft in height.

I do like my Saulosi but am wanting to keep one of the Elongatus strands. If I were to temporarily remove the salousies, change the decor/rock layout of the tank; & then add both breeds in at the same time will that work? Or can you just not keep them together!?

Any help on this matter would be appreciated.

Answer 1

"I have tried looking for compatibility charts to see if these fish would get along with one another, however I'm having a little difficulty finding information!"  

My advise on this, is don't follow ANY chart.  Charts are what if's really and don't take into account tank size really.  The larger the tank the better the odds you can keep multiple species.  From looking at your dimensions, I'm thinking you have about a 100 - 125 gallon tank.  That should be more then plenty to keep both.

"If I were to temporarily remove the salousies, change the decor/rock layout of the tank; & then add both breeds in at the same time will that work? Or can you just not keep them together!?"

That actually is a very good way to try to work them in.  I usually don't, but in truth, your way listed here would be considered a proper way of adding them in.  It might be time consuming, but it should help prevent the existing Saulosi from going after any new arrivals.  Clearly to me, you understand the re-arrangement will re-establish boundries, and by re-adding at the same time, it gives all an equal chance.

With your tank size, and doing the tank set up over, adding them in, I'd say that's about 90-95% effective and should work just fine.  You may want to add in more rocks as these are both Mbuna types.  I actually keep an even wider range of these types, in with Haps, and a Tropheus in my 180, and the fry I generate grow up in my 100, and I keep my prize offsprings in my 75.  I've kept even more diverse species so I see no reason at all why this would not work, especially with your tank size.