Floating New Fish in Breeder Box

[Beth777]

Have you all ever heard of, or do you float new fish in a breeder box within your established tank before you turn them loose? Two or three years ago someone told me to do that so that the established fish could get used to the presence and smell of the new fish. I swear ever since I've been doing that I've not had a single problem with adding new fish to the mixed cichlid tank. I can even add one fish at a time.

Is that crazy? Was someone just pulling my chain and I'm having some weird good luck with it, or is it valid?

You all are soooo patient with my never ending questions. HFB Rocks!

[phish]

Great idea n totally true.

[Beth777]

Well I'll be. It sure has worked every time I've done it. They don't even chase the new one [s] at all, it's as though they've known the fish for years.

Great idea n totally true.

[ptran]

Yeah i think it would work if you only add 1 fish at a time


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[Beth777]

That's what I did when I added the first lab, then the jewel and the socofoli.

I tried that with the Brichardi because initially I had some peacock juvies in the 30gal, but that one psycho brichardi would've killed everyone in the box before the night was through. I was watching it ram the others and I really felt like I was going to wake up to only one brichardi in the breeder box so I turned them loose and every thing was fine. I'm sure I got the peacocks out of that tank just in time. I really didn't expect the brichardi to spawn at an inch long.

Yeah i think it would work if you only add 1 fish at a time


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[ptran]

Lol Brichrdi is a beautiful fish but feisty little guy. I actually still have a group but not plan on breeding them.


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[morpheus]

if you think labs breed like rabbits, they are nothing compared to brichardi. i used to keep them before i moved to TX. bought 6 and got 3 pairs. i literally gave hundreds to a store because i had so many. they pair quick, and since they all care for eachothers fry, their numbers just explode. they completely took over my tank. beautiful fish, but really a species only tank for them is best IMO

[morpheus]

as for adding new fish, i usually float the bag for about an hour. i slowly add tank water in intervals into the bag just incase the pH is different, and helps the newcomer adjust. the temp balances in that time too.

usually the fish will swim up to the bag and try to peck a bit and investigate, but seems to get them used to the new guy before release. then i just monitor. feeding shortly after release is also a good distraction so the new fish can get their bearings

with africans, having a larger group helps. new fish can just get lost in the crowd and nobody seems to care or notice

[ptran]

Agreed. That is how I usually acclimate a new fish. It will take a few days for a new fish to become a "familiar". Even then he will still get picked on. Make sure you watch for any size of aggression.

[Beth777]

He's so mean he messed his jaw up ramming the other fish, but he eats and makes babies just fine. lol

How do you keep them from breeding, keeping them apart in various tanks?

Lol Brichrdi is a beautiful fish but feisty little guy. I actually still have a group but not plan on breeding them.


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[amcgee2842]

He's so mean he messed his jaw up ramming the other fish, but he eats and makes babies just fine. lol

How do you keep them from breeding, keeping them apart in various tanks?

I have two in my tank with some peacocks and other tang's the kinda of keep to there selves but if a fish gets to close to them they will let them know. They don't mess with any of the other fish.

[Beth777]

My guys are in a species tank now, except for the snails. lol I dunno, some times I wonder if I made a mistake getting them. I would think a couple hundred fish in a 30gal won't be good.

if you think labs breed like rabbits, they are nothing compared to brichardi. i used to keep them before i moved to TX. bought 6 and got 3 pairs. i literally gave hundreds to a store because i had so many. they pair quick, and since they all care for eachothers fry, their numbers just explode. they completely took over my tank. beautiful fish, but really a species only tank for them is best IMO

[ptran]

He's so mean he messed his jaw up ramming the other fish, but he eats and makes babies just fine. lol

How do you keep them from breeding, keeping them apart in various tanks?

I have 2 proven pairs that keep making babies in the Moba tank, but no fry ever survive. I had to move them out because they become aggressive during breeding. They would not stand down to a 8" Moba and actually attack them.

[ptran]

My guys are in a species tank now, except for the snails. lol I dunno, some times I wonder if I made a mistake getting them. I would think a couple hundred fish in a 30gal won't be good.

If you have nice looking broods 2" and bigger, you can take them to LFS and trade them in for store credit.

[ptran]

I have two in my tank with some peacocks and other tang's the kinda of keep to there selves but if a fish gets to close to them they will let them know. They don't mess with any of the other fish.

I have 6 adults Brichardi including 2 breeding pair in a Tang community tank. I also have a pair of Tetracanthus in there, and the Tetra help keep them in check.