Malawi vs. Tanganyika

[Afreakin]

I feel like most people who keep Africans keep Peacocks, Mbuna and Haps. I want to know how many out there keep Tanganyikans as well and what the draw is to Malawi over Tanganyika.

The color, the size, the aggression, the cost, the availability.......what?

I don't want anybody who doesn't know me to think I'm knocking Malawi, I only keep Tanganyikans, I'm just interested.

Gimme a vote as to which you keep

I would like to add a poll to this thread but I don't know how. A little HELP!

[Afreakin]

I guess the poll was successful :colrface:

I just want to say that the reason I've come to this conclusion is because that most of the fish related threads are about Malawi Cichlids. IMO

[fischfan13]

OK, I keep both...plus I have kept and bred Vics.

I love Mbuna, and my reason is this...
There is nothing more that I appreciate in this hobby than someone keeping Yellow Labs or Demasoni and breeding them AND coming out with absolutely great looking fish.
I think that it is absolutely great that someone like Mack74 has taken a fish like Maylandia Hajomaylandi and given many of us great specimens to enjoy.
I think that it is wonderful to go to someones house like Misterted and see Rusties that look awesome, and Flavus that are just a$$-kickers...two fish that no one ever sees in the hobby like it is suppose to look like.
I think that it is great to be able to go over someones house like Haplee and listen and learn to someone who can fill us with history of a group of fish...and has a Mbuna AND Hap set up to die for.

Rob, there is a huge challenge to be able to keep and breed some Tangs...I think that people like Aqualung with his Trophs and Wayne with his overall Tang setups have accomplished what many in the hobby can only wish for.
But, to me, there is no greater accomplishment in the African hobby than to take a Mbuna, keep it, breed it and show people what it really should look like.

Just my 2 cents.

[Afreakin]

Bravo:clapclap::clapclap: Great answer Bill.

[fischfan13]

Rob, thanks for trying a poll.
On the Home Page it keeps a constant tally of our votes.
Really neat!:a-okhand:

[joe_jaskot]

I keep both, but I would take a Tanganyikan over a Malawian cichlid any day of the week.

[eggzackary]

I'm 99% Malawi, I have a trio of Alto comps so I had to check both. There's just something about Malawi :love::love::love:

[why_spyder]

I'm voting Malawi Only even though I have some Syno. lucipinnis in the tank...

[DJRansome]

Both. Malawi are great for color and as Bill said, success with fry. Also, instant gratification (in that the mbuna are colored at birth, can reproduce in six months, etc.). That's really important when someone is new to the hobby, to get them securely hooked. Gives them the confidence to try things that are more challenging. Tangs...well Calvus kick a$$ and Tangs are great with plants. I'm waiting for the inhabitants of my 125G to grow up so I'll let you know next year, LOL.

[nick a]

I can't really explain the reason for the fact that I have or have had many types of cichlids (and 'community fish') from all over the world but have never developed a taste for Tangs.

[CJC]

I have kept both Tang's and Malawi's but only keep Tang's now. The reason being, I think that Tang's have a better / unique personallity, once you get a mating pair, they're not as likely to kill each other. I also can't get nearly the money as with the Tang's. Many Malawi's, the females are very drab which also has the issue of sales. Money is not the main reason Malawi's breed like rabbits and I would need quite a few more tanks to grow them out, the wife might have a problem with that. Now, if I wanted a show tank, there would definately be some Malawi's as the colors are the closest thing to salt water fish. I also throw in some Red Head Sevrums into the mix.

Now if I could only get my Moba's to breed.

[mack74]

I keep fish from all 3 lakes and many mixed together with out issue. I mostly have malawi and they are my true love but I have grown to like some tangs and I love the vic's as well.

[Haplee]

I have all Malawi fish and they are definately my favorite. I like the colors and the many varietys of fish available. I appreciate the fish from the other lakes and I have kept a few in the past but I enjoy the Malawi fish the most. Aqualung's Tang pictures are stunning and if I had more room I would definately try Tropheus but for now I am sticking with my Malawis. And Bill's answer was really good too.

[Longstocking]

I voted for Tangs only. I do keep some malawi from time to time though. But, very rarely. It's been about a year.

I started with malawi like most tang keepers. What I found draws me to a fish... is the challenge. Malawi doesn't challenge me any more. Tangs still do ... and my guess will continue to do so for many more years. Some tangs it's the challenge to breed them some it's just to keep them alive. Other tangs I like the way they swim or take care of their young. I found there is very few differences in lake malawi fish.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not putting down Malawi. I still occassionally find a fish I want to try out. I just find tangs satisfy my need for different looking/behaving and challenging fish more than Malawi.

I've kept south american's, central, and vics as well.... I like them all for their own reasons. It's just depends on what type of tank you personally want.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

I have both but I really have cichlids from Malawii, Tanganyika, Victoria, Madagasgar, & South & Central America! Hmm... looks like I am missing West Africa.
So we have 188 members and one 20 people answered the poll?

[6stang9]

I voted for both, but I am a true Vic guy. I've gotten the Hap bug lately, Lethrinops have peaked my interest. I guess I just need something new. Seems Maliwi has the most new stuff.

[why_spyder]

Lethrinops have peaked my interest.

You and I both! Hoping to pick up some at the GCCA Swap in early February in Chicago.

[Afreakin]

I have both but I really have cichlids from Malawii, Tanganyika, Victoria, Madagasgar, & South & Central America! Hmm... looks like I am missing West Africa.
So we have 188 members and one 20 people answered the poll?


What the F#@!, come on guys and gals give it up!

[misterted]

Although Tangs are stunning fish it's the personality of mbuna that keeps me in Malawi. Most tangs are too delicate or skiddish or just plain boring IMO.
I've kept both but Mbuna are best.

[wayne]

Afreakin, what is this? T vs M? Jeez. At first glance at the caption I thought it was a fish fighting game. I said to myself, oh great. First they have online arcade, now they give us online sports betting.
my predictions-
Haps should come out on top of 9” and up class unscathed
C. Horei will win the 5”~6” class, albeit not without a bloody exchange
Mbuna take the 2”~4” unchallenged, definitely
Tang (shell dweller) will gang bang the 1” category

Paypal me $9.95 for detailed analysis.

Oh yes, as a true odds maker, I am impartial to either lake.

[Artie]

Paypal me $9.95 for detailed analysis.

A detailed urinalysis by I.P. Daily !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you're getting nuts too Wayne

[themadhap]

Malawi all the way right artie haps haps haps

[themadhap]

I like fish from the two lakes i never liked victorians lake Tanga and lake malawi