Last of my Tropheus - Hard Times and the Good.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

Trust me.... I'm the last person to give a f...

Just remember that CF said it had something to do with the political race at the time.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

I can't say for sure, but I don't believe that there is one single factor that has been my downfall, again, bare in mind, I had the Ujiji's for 9 months with no signs of sickness or trouble, then out of the  blue one dead fish, then another, then two more, then all but one where gone....

The nkonde's where another story all together, they where brought home from College Station and placed into my newly set up 135, the light where turned off and the fish where left alone for 24 hours, the following day, they where given some NLS, (which I don't believe they where acclimated with) and they would not eat, they did check out the falling tiny pellets, but for the most part, they passed.
Day three and my first dead fish was discovered, it went down here from there. I blame myself for not getting prepared better for their arrival. I made a big mistake by not asking what they where eating when I picked them up.

Same with the kachese, they went into another tank that was not fully cycled, but since I had filtration out the ba-geebees, I thought they would be okay....wrong again.

My only real success story came from my first purchase from fishcrazy1 in beaumont, I bought his colony of WC Chimba's and brought them here to the warehouse. They where under a strict daily patter of care. I fed them at the same time every day M - F and they got regular water changes 3 X's a week. They prospered, and gave me several fry, that are now being raised by Fishlady, she has about 20 F1's of those Chimba Reds'.

Due to problems at the warehouse with my employer and the property management group, I had to remove the chimba's from the warehouse here where they where doing so well.  Soon after moving them to my home, they started showing signs of distress. Here at the warehouse they where bold, playful and would swim about the tank without fear. When they where taken home to my home, they where not the same fish anymore, they where lifeless, shy, almost fearful...I sold them to Screename a lilttle while back.

Home environment : 135 gallon tank - Eheim 2217 - Pro  Clear 125 Wet Dry - Emperor 400 HOB - Oddessy 350 Power heads
                              Water Temp 82  Water changes 1 a week of about 35 percent. Salt given and Stress Coat added.
Feeding:                   1 time a day, usually right after I get home from work, time varies.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

IMO 1x a day is either drastic underfeeding or excessive overfeeding.

Also they need time to digest the food before putting them to sleep.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

They average about 5 hours of light a day, due to my work scheule. I don't turn their lights off until I go to bed around 11pm.

From the time I get home, usually about 5:45pm....they get one quick feeding then, and another helping like after I eat dinner around 8pm.

So in truth, they get two feedins, but sometimes only one....

CF

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

5hrs of lighting with about that much time to digest food is not enough time IMO.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

I agree, but I do the best I can. I leave early, get home late, and leave often on the weekends for fishing trips....truly, the ideal situation was keeping my fish here at work. Here I can give them all the attention and care they need, but unfortunately, my position here is up in the air for an indeffinate period of time.....I do have the 215 here, but I can't keep bringing my fish to work with me.

I'd like to do more, that is why I'm really trying to lower the number of tanks at home.

CF

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

Sounds like a preparation issues with the tanks not being ready.

Then maybee a lot of personal items caused a irregular schedule.

I just hope the best for you Steve, and what you got left.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

Well all political and personal bs aside, I find the help and caring attitude of just about all the box members extremely comforting.

I love my fish as much as anyone else and wish I could do more, and someday, maybe I will be in a better position to maintain the environment the trophs need again.

For now, I appreciate all the tips, comments, and or criticisim offered by my fellow box members. I really do. Even butthead makes me smile now and then.

CF

[katytropheus]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

Thanks for the gruesome details.  Learned quite a bit on the digestive cycle time frame.  Feeding at night after work and keeping the light on a lot of hours was pretty new information.

I had a 200 at work for a while but the water changing, lack of air occasionally was a nightmare.  It did get a helluva lot of people in my office.

[twofronts]

Re: Last of my Tropheus

CF

I know the feeling, I had some Red chimbas for a couple of months then one day, one dead then another. Lost 10 from my colony, did a major water change went back to all flake food then they where ok. I guess you just have to know when to make the move to do whatever.

I did also just learn about the light time and needing time to digest there food. They do hav an extremely long digestive track so given that bit of info it makes since. You may want to invest in an timer for your lights to maybe give them a little more time either before or after bed.

just an thought.

anyway your luck will get better, we live, we learn, we move on.