I am considering a new type of fish...

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

Author	Comment
kairi	I am considering a new type of fish...	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1392 (01/21/09 17:40:29) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Tags : None ... well, for me anyway. I am generally a betta kinda gal, but I have been given a 54 gallon corner aquarium (full set up- post on it is in the freshwater section, I think). Anyway, after browsing the various tanks at various pet stores, I am thinking about cichlids, but I really don't know anything about them other than they are fish, they are kind of aggressive, and the pet stores don't actually know how big they'll get. Can anyone offer me a bit of advice? And what kind of tank decorations do they prefer? I've been given a bunch of plastic plants and a castle (which I am hesitant to use with any fish just because it's too easy to get up in there and get stuck.... )
Zaela Sedai		#1	[-]
Posts: 1443 (01/21/09 19:24:22) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Are you looking for a community? (Africans) or someone solo or a pair? OOH Here, this link will help you http://www.cichlid-forum....les/cookie_cutter_55g.php
ShellyB518		#2	[-]
Posts: 6957 (01/21/09 19:28:41) Administrator Smarty McFarty Pants Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Are you wanting African cichlids or S. American cichlids? What is your pH, kH and gH? Any fish that catch your eye?
Zaela Sedai		#3	[-]
Posts: 1444 (01/21/09 19:28:47) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	If you choose Africans I can give you advice
kairi		#4	[-]
Posts: 1395 (01/22/09 10:43:47) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I have no idea what I want, that's why I asked. =) The tank is 54 gallons.... I'd like more than two, but if that's not possible, I can live with two The ones I really like are the little blue stripey ones I've seen... but I really don't know anything about them. The pure yellow/gold/orange colored ones are really pretty too.
kairi		#5	[-]
Posts: 1396 (01/22/09 10:47:12) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	oo! I like how these look http://www.cichlid-forum....files/species.php?id=1204 http://www.cichlid-forum....files/species.php?id=1008 http://www.cichlid-forum....files/species.php?id=1313 but really, I have no idea. I just want something interesting, not too terribly complicated, and fun. Oh, and colorful lol My last big tank was all black and spotted (dalmation)
Zaela Sedai		#6	[-]
Posts: 1445 (01/24/09 09:58:23) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	looks like you like the africans...if you want to do that do either all Mbuna or Hap/peacock. Since it seems you like the Haps, I'd recommend do maybe 2 haps and then 4 peacocks (they are smaller), that being said some haps are huge and I'm not sure you want to keep them in a 54 gallon tank. Maybe you coud just do like 10 Peacocks instead. You could do some Yellow labs and peacocks if you want since the Labs are not very aggressive. Let me see what I have for common peacock and Hap pics in my tank... VERY easy set up.
Zaela Sedai		#7	[-]
Posts: 1446 (01/24/09 10:20:20) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Peacock Peacock Yellow Labs and a blue acei... they are also very peaceful Giraffe Haps (Too big for your tank) the sulpher head is the blue one Sulphurhead Hap, not sure how'd he do size wise... Theres a ton of peacock types, I had had a really nice blue one that didnt make it. Just keep in mind that only one male of each type will color up. So when purchasing get the most colorful one, and it'll prolly stay dominant. But the others won't.
pLaurent2007		#8	[-]
Posts: 2938 (01/24/09 15:35:14) Blue Eyed Beauty Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	These pics are sooooooo great!! That peacock pic is a winner.
elginhaus		#9	[-]
Posts: 26 (01/24/09 19:08:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	The 2 top peacocks are gorgeous! I haven't seen them before, what are their common names?
Zaela Sedai		#10	[-]
Posts: 1449 (01/25/09 10:17:49) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	To be honest I think the store made up the names. Sunrise was the yellow and something else for the Red.... They are all variations of OB peacocks I believe. I should look them up some day.
kairi		#11	[-]
Posts: 1397 (02/04/09 11:01:49) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	so, what kind of decorations do they need? water temp? pH? substrate? the tank won't actually be set up for a few months as I don't feel comfortable setting it up in an upstairs apt, but I want to know everything I can ahead of time.
Zaela Sedai		#12	[-]
Posts: 1468 (02/04/09 16:40:40) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Gravel that they can't swallow...or sand, but they are cichlids so sand would be messy. Caves caves caves rocks rocks rocks terracota pots work well. Anything with hidey holes. Peacocks don't need as many caves as Mbunas do. Fake plants are fine, they'll eat real plants for the most part (Hornwort won't be eaten.) Ph - 7.6 - 8.5 Temp - 76-82 (highly recommed a stealth heater that they can't break. make sure you get the right food (African Cichlid Food) and feed them green beans and lettuce and such THats about it
tetralina3		#13	[-]
Posts: 13244 (02/05/09 04:26:32) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	What is your tapwater pH at now K? If it is running on the lower side and you don't want to alter it, you could also consider some of the smaller SA cichlids. t
kairi		#14	[-]
Posts: 1399 (02/15/09 08:19:43) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	well, I am not planning on filling up the tank right now, I am waiting until we move as we are in a temporary apartment til we figure out what we want.
tetralina3		#15	[-]
Posts: 13366 (02/16/09 03:35:49) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Right. So the pH of the new place might be different. Although, if most of your area is on the same water, it could fall within a range . . . t
kairi		#16	[-]
Posts: 1401 (02/23/09 06:41:50) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	we are moving to FL from AR probably which is why I am waiting. I loathe cross country moving with fish. It's more of a pain than the cats.
tetralina3		#17	[-]
Posts: 13508 (02/25/09 02:23:30) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I am sure the fish feel the same way! But seriously, good for you for being patient and doing research in the meantime. t
kairi		#18	[-]
Posts: 1404 (03/01/09 13:41:29) dedicated fishlover Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	it's what's keeping me sane with TWO big empty tanks LOL Can I have a pleco in the tank with ciclids?
tetralina3		#19	[-]
Posts: 13602 (03/01/09 23:26:45) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Good question. As long as the tank is large enough, you can keep common plecos with the lower-pH cichilds because they have armour. It is a bit touch and go with the bristlenoses because if your cichids are a bit aggressive they can try to bite the bristles. I am not sure that usual plecos (common, bristlenose) are good in higher pH. I am sure the high-pH cichlid keepers will be able to help on that issue. t
Zaela Sedai		#20	[-]
Posts: 1511 (03/02/09 16:51:12) Red Sox Muggle Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	All my plecos seem to flourish in the higher pH. Mind you mine is only 7.8, which is high but not super high. THe also do fine with the African cichlids. Nipped fin here and there but I think that's them scuffling with each other more than the Africans. I KNOW my syno and Gibby fight over the same cave. And the BN, surprisingy always looks beautiful and scares off the other fish. BN's are good with Africans because the aren't food like the could be with a full grown Oscar. No algae in my tank, both the plecos and the Africans eat it off of everything.

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

I am considering a new type of fish...

I am considering a new type of fish...

Quick Reply