Acclimating Wild Tropheus Colony - Tips

[h0nkzz]

Re: Tropheus Tips

I know ... lol
okay ... seems like I'm getting a 6'er tonight.

so tank size SOLVED !  8)

other issues ?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Tropheus Tips

Oh.... and ek only has 6 males in his whole colony.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Tropheus Tips

Other issues?

Aren't these fish coming next week?

[h0nkzz]

Re: Tropheus Tips

yes they're coming next week.

I'm tearing the 100 down and put the 135 up tonight, save as much water from the 100 and put it back in the 135.
All filters, substrate, rocks & occupants stays the same.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Tropheus Tips

We have 27 Adult Trophs and a bunch of fry in a 5ft/100g tank.

But you guys have a lot of experience keeping trophs though. What size tank & number of trophs was your first colony?

Hmmm...first 'colony' was 20 Kachese in a 5ft/100g and 28 Nkonde in a 6ft/135g...we got them at the same time.  We had a group of Dubs before that, but I'd hardly call them a colony.  They lived in a 4ft/75g and that's where they still live.

[h0nkzz]

Re: Tropheus Tips

So I got the tank right !

any other issues ? filtration? chemical ? food ? acclimating ?

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Tropheus Tips

Find out what the fish have been eating and have some on hand.  That way you can feed what they were feeding AND what you want to feed and gradually get them over to only eating what you want to feed.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Tropheus Tips

All of the above.

[h0nkzz]

Re: Tropheus Tips

All of the above.

what do you mean ?

[jetchanic]

Re: Tropheus Tips

Make sure that you have tons of filtration and water circulation.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Tropheus Tips

First thing you need to do is ask the seller what food, and what pH he keeps his tanks at.

When you first get the fish, you want your pH to be no more than 0.5+/- of theirs, and you want to have the same food they have for atleast 2 weeks.  This way you know that if your fish are not eating, its not because they dont like the food, or the water or something like that.

Then over the next two weeks blend in, the food you are wanting to feed them until your about 100% on the new food.  I would not suggest going directly to a pellet food, if they have not been accustomned to eating a pellet.  I would stick with flake for the first couple weeks, then start blending in a pellet food.

When you get the fish, float their bags in your aquarium for atleast 20-45 minutes for temperature equalization.  Then open the bag over a bucket and check pH of the shipping water.  AS long as the water is not acidic, you can net and release the fish into the aquarium.  If the shipping water is acidic, then waterchange 50% of the bucket, and add dechlorinated tap water back to the same level and add airstone to the bucket/buckets.  Repeat the waterchange every 20 minutes until the pH is above 7.5.   Then at this time you can net and release into the tank.

Once in the aquarium, keep the lights off for the first pretty much the first day, and do not feed.  I usually wait a day or two before I feed them, it all depends on how they act.  The first couple feedings should be very light, dont get crazy with it.  You'll know by how well or not so well they are eating if they are ready to start your regular feeding routine.

Check the water for Nitirite about every 6-10 hours the first couple days to see if they generated a cycle.  If so, add aquarium salt and waterchange daily about 30-50% and DO NOT DEEP GRAVEL VAC or clean a filter during this time.

After you've had them for 2 weeks, then start your normal waterchange routine, and enjoy!

Best of luck..

Geoff

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Tropheus Tips

Oh, and I got 28 Annectens in the 115 gallon and it is 60 x 18 x 24, it has a 2260, and a 2217 for filtration, about 9X filtration turnover in the tank.

IT is very crowded in there, but it works.

I would definately suggest 6ft tank for a much better home for them.

hope this helps..

Geoff

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Acclimating Wild Tropheus Colony - Tips

Cassie has promised me that my 150 gallon is shipping now from Wisconsin, so I should have it by end of next week.

At that time, my 125 will be for sale, if your interested.

[J-WS6]

Re: Acclimating Wild Tropheus Colony - Tips

Cassie has promised me that my 150 gallon is shipping now from Wisconsin, so I should have it by end of next week.

At that time, my 125 will be for sale, if your interested.

Finally. I sure hope it comes through this time man, I was even starting to get frustrated for you.  

6 months ago I probably would have bought your 125, but I plan on moving the cyps/xenos to the 150, and upgrading the petros/trophs to a 180/210 by the end of the year.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Acclimating Wild Tropheus Colony - Tips

I ordered that tank on May 28th.  It came in a week later broken.  Then a warranty repalcement was sent in about a month later, and it was broken also.

I have been waiting on the 3rd repalcement tank since after the 4th of July.

August...September...October..