NEW 55 gallon, watcha think hfb?

[FrontosaurusRex]

Awesome video. Thai...its a losing battle. If YOU like your tank then it's perfect.

[myjohnson]

I don't know if it's a high horse I'm sitting on or not.

But if you going to keep fish in a tank and want them "happy".....biotope.

[TonyO]

I don't know if it's a high horse I'm sitting on or not.

But if you going to keep fish in a tank and want them "happy".....biotope.

I agree and disagree with this sentiment. My thinking is that it is likely dependent on the resource in question. . . if it's a good hiding spot and it keeps them from being hammered by a dominant male, then it's a good hiding spot regardless of the materials constructing the hiding spot. I'd wager that they only truly care about getting out of that dominant male's path as quickly and as securely as possible. We've probably all had fish or know of someone who has had fish who have eschewed the typical spawning locations presented in a "biotope setting," and spawned in a clay flower pot. Why? It was a good spot. Certainly, that isn't a part of the natural biotope (maybe it is found as trash, I don't know), but it filled that need the fish required, and they used it.

Is this the case with every resource and every species? Certainly not. Animals do show preferences or have requirements in the wild (and in captivity!). . . but artificial can oftentimes be just as good.

Do I think it looks better to use a nice rockscape for Rift Lake species? Yes, I agree with you there. Do I think it is absolutely necessary to do a rockscape for Rift Lake species to be "happy"? No, so long as the necessary aspects provided by the rockscape can be adequately mimicked.

I reserve the right to change my mind on this, if someone produces literature to the contrary showing not only preferences, but effects on physiology and reproduction.

[freespool]

Thai,
when I used the term "ballin" I was more referencing the stylin side of the word and not necessarily the money aspect. If need be please strike my comment from the record.

[myjohnson]

If need be please strike my comment from the record.

Lol, you have no idea how many times that very same line save my @$$!

[myjohnson]

I agree and disagree with this sentiment. My thinking is that it is likely dependent on the resource in question. . . if it's a good hiding spot and it keeps them from being hammered by a dominant male, then it's a good hiding spot regardless of the materials constructing the hiding spot. I'd wager that they only truly care about getting out of that dominant male's path as quickly and as securely as possible. We've probably all had fish or know of someone who has had fish who have eschewed the typical spawning locations presented in a "biotope setting," and spawned in a clay flower pot. Why? It was a good spot. Certainly, that isn't a part of the natural biotope (maybe it is found as trash, I don't know), but it filled that need the fish required, and they used it.

Is this the case with every resource and every species? Certainly not. Animals do show preferences or have requirements in the wild (and in captivity!). . . but artificial can oftentimes be just as good.

Do I think it looks better to use a nice rockscape for Rift Lake species? Yes, I agree with you there. Do I think it is absolutely necessary to do a rockscape for Rift Lake species to be "happy"? No, so long as the necessary aspects provided by the rockscape can be adequately mimicked.

I reserve the right to change my mind on this, if someone produces literature to the contrary showing not only preferences, but effects on physiology and reproduction.

Agreed. However, my point was simple but mainly missed by many.

We (no matter what we do) will never know how a fish "feels".

We are already stuffing them in a glass box for our pressure.

The least we can do is make them feel at home.

But let's stay on topic.

OP, just wants to know what we think about the set-up.

[aone4u2luv@yahoo.com]

well my fish have to be happy theres NO picking at each other lots and lots of places to hide and th parrots are breeding and the jewels paired up so i must of done something right....also added a new member to the team whom is also happy with all the coverage its a synodontis eupterus and hes happy too

[aone4u2luv@yahoo.com]

o yea thats for the critizium lol ????????

[TonyO]

Agreed. However, my point was simple but mainly missed by many.

We (no matter what we do) will never know how a fish "feels".

We are already stuffing them in a glass box for our pressure.

The least we can do is make them feel at home.

But let's stay on topic.

OP, just wants to know what we think about the set-up.

No worries!

[TonyO]

well my fish have to be happy theres NO picking at each other lots and lots of places to hide and th parrots are breeding and the jewels paired up so i must of done something right....also added a new member to the team whom is also happy with all the coverage its a synodontis eupterus and hes happy too

I'll be honest, I disagree that you have enough secure spots. You've got some potentially boisterous species in there (especially if that mystery one is a kenyi), and just because it's ok now, doesn't mean it'll be ok later. If you start to see torn fins, marks on bodies, fish hanging out in corners, etc., handle it properly. . . that includes the Synodontis. When I kept more of them, like S. angelicus or S. decorus, they really tended to do their business at night. I'm pretty sure that they there were the members of the tank making the audible "croaking" noises I would hear.

All of the fish I can see in the photos look to be about half (or less) the size they should attain. Full-grown mbuna are much bigger than most people realize. . . and I've seen blood parrots with bodies as big as my hand. You may be ok now, you may not be in the future. Just be prepared. . . I've heard far too many stories where things were "perfect," only to have them turn the other way quickly.

[aone4u2luv@yahoo.com]

well i do plan another up grade in tank size when i start to see them gettiung bigger or meaner lol i am prepared for whatever comes with the fish what about the synodontis? croaking? what are you talking about? im not to educated with the syno yet but am learning about them on the net.

[50cal17]

post some pictures