Help choosing new cichlids

Question
Hi

I'm wondering if you could help me choose some new fish.

For the last few years we've had an African Cichlid (Malawi) tank: 4 foot, around 250L/66 gallons (it's tall and not very deep) with lots of rock (slate) and a sandy bottom.  We have a canister filter (1000 litres per hour) and a couple of power-heads (one with a water polishing attachment).  We do a 20% water change every 2 weeks.  Water quality is good and hardness, carbonate hardness and pH are monitored.

Initially we started with a few Pseudotropheus saulosi, Ps. acei (Yellow-Tail) and Synodontis catfish. The fish bred (a lot) and the Synodontis used them as a host and bred as well.  We ended up with a very full tank.

Wanting to switch from lots of little fish to simple colony of larger fish, we sold the saulosi and acei and bought some Nimbochromis venustus - 1 male and four females.  They also bred, but the catfish were too scared to get too close.  They're now fully grown and too big for the tank.  I am sadly going to have to sell them as they're getting very aggressive towards each other.

I would like to keep the catfish and get some fish that would be suitable hosts for them.  Something less aggressive than the venustus.  I would ideally like just a pair of larger fish, but I don't know of which mouthbrooders can be kept as pairs.  Do you have any advice?

I would also like for the female to be colourful/interesting too (ie not dull brown/grey).  I like the look of say Frontosa, but not fond of the big-ugly-lump-head thing and I also understand I'll need something from Lake Malawi or Victoria for the catfish to breed.  I don't particularly like Yellow Labs as they're a bit too bright if you know what I mean.  And I had some C. moori once and they look a little pale and boring, and then there's the lump issue with them too. Something with blue would be nice though.  Am I too picky? Any suggestions?  I've been searching and searching but can't seem to find anything.  Just need some species names...happy to do the research on how to care for them!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers,
Mary

Answer
Hi Mary,
 Unfortunately, what you want isn't quite possible.  Mouthbrooders don't really come as pairs, at least any of the ones you are ever likely to see.  The East African mouthbrooders are typically one male with multiple females.  For that same reason, the females are almost always dull colored.  The males are colorful to compete with each other for the attention of the females.  The females do not compete and hence are not colorful.   

 The one exception is the electric yellows, but you say you don't want them.   

  You might consider Labeotropheus trewavasae.  The males are blue and the females are orange (not as bright, but interesting nonetheless).  I don't know if the catfish will breed with them, but they might. I maintain them as a group of one male and two females, so that is close to a pair.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>