melanochromis auratus

Question
QUESTION: i have three new juvenile auratus about 1'long..they are with my 1 juvenile kenyi and 7sailfin mollies andare doing well in my three feet long tank. i want to know at what size will the male change his colour and when do they start breeding...plz hlp..thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Ishan,
Mollies do not belong with African Cichlids.  African Cichlids are much to aggressive, and territorial for the Molly.  You will have to remove your mollies, or remove your auratus.
Auratus are extremely aggressive, and will kill other males, and fish in your tank.  He is not a beginners fish.  If you decide to keep the auratus, make sure he has only females with him, and even at that, he may even kill females.  They make excellent parents once they spawn, the female holding the eggs in her mouth for 25 days.  Needless to say, once she lets them go, she will be very weak, and must be well fed.  You should be able to see colouration soon.  Please watch the male carefully, and remove your mollies.  They should also be in a 50 gallon tank with lots of rocky formation.  
Lynda

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QUESTION: but my auratus, kenyi r doin fine wid my mollies....dere iz no agression at all...except that the kenyi chases d auratus sometimes...anyway..where i live, there is no sophisticated equipments for aquariums...so can u sugest some ways in which i can keep my water clean..thamk u..i am from india, assam, guwahati.

Answer
Hi,
Your Mollies will not last.  This I am very sure of.  They will be killed. Your African fish are still small, but their character will change as they grow.  Concerning your water, do you have a siphon, this you can make yourself by using a hose or a plastic tube.  Siphon your water from the bottom to remove all the debris, fish waste, and food.  If you cannot do this you will have to stir your gravel, and catch all of your debris with a net.  This will make your water cloudy, but it will clear up.  Once you have done this, remove 25% of your water.  You have no choice, water must be kept clean, with no ammonia, or nitrites in it.  Ammonia, and nitrites are the number one killer of fish.  They must always be zero.  
Lynda