Need Some Advice & Information

[sxyatsxty1]

I know everyone is busy with the holidays coming up but I'm giving myself some new cichlids for Christmas and want to know what my options are, with the fish and numbers I currently have in my 55g.

Right now I have: 2m/3f Icebergs, 2m/1f Electric Yellows (have several more females coming soon) and 1 pr. of Red Zebras. Everyone seems to get along well with everyone else and I'd like to keep it that way. What breeds could I add, how many total (for a 55) and still have a fun tank? I'm partial to anything black/white, bright blues (my Iceberg boys aren't as striking as I would like but OK) and maybe some reds or rainbows. And, where could I go in Houston or surrounding area to find them? I also think I need some algae eaters but haven't the foggest notion what.

My second question is: Right now the staple diet consists of TetraMin Flakes and Aqueon Cichlid Mini Granules. I think there should be more variety but I don't know what or which brand is best.

Third question: I have about 30 Electric Yellow fry in a 10g. They are 10 weeks old, I think, and about an inch long. I'm looking to sell/trade most pretty soon as their mother is 'holding' again and will need to be moved soon to the baby tank, and I think my Red Zebra female might be, too. Are these little guys big enough to drop in the 55 w/o becoming lunch for the current occupants? I do have Holey Rock in the 55 with small hiding places but I'd rather spare as many as I can by not moving them to soon.

Phew...I guess that's all my questions for now. Everyone seems so smart about this than I am so I'm hoping someone will help me out.

EC

[HawgHunter]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I wouldn't put the Yellow fry in the big tank....your Icebergs will make a meal of them. As your male Iceberg males get bigger, they will get more aggressive towards one another. I had 3 in a 100g and had to drop it to 2....even with just 2 males they will flare up at each other, but not too much more. Just keep an eye on those 2. You need more female to male on the yellows, but you're taking care of that soon.
I feed all my fish (cichlids) Wardley Premium Floating cichlid pellets. I crush it up for the fry....But, there are much better (and pricier) foods out there.
Someone else needs to chime in on what else you could put in the tank.

Hope this helps a little....

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

Thanks, HawgHunter. Yep, got the new Yellow 'girls' lined up from you, and appreciate the inside scoop on the Icebergs. Maybe I'd be better off rehoming the other male and leave just one with the females?

Anyone else have suggestions on what I can add to my tank and where to get them? Anyone out there have anything for sale or trade that would work for me?

EC

[CichlidFan]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I'm not sure about this, but I'd say the tank is just about full at this point, I mean you could put a few more in, but it would seem to me that there would be more pressure on the new fish as far as trying to find "their" place in the tank.

The fish you have in there now, will grow and continue to develope more aggressive behavior as they get older (in my opinion)

Maybe a pair or trio of petricola cats would be acceptable to the existing inhabitants, but I don't know for sure.

As far as diet, maybe try some frozen mysis shrimp or blood worms for a little treat and additional protein.

I wouldn't add the fry to this tank, I'd sell them or trade them in at your local fish shop for credit.....

PS...Not to be a wise n hymer, but this thread doesn't belong in the fish market...No biggie to me though...

CF

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I'm sorry if I've placed this on the wrong forum. It was unintentional.

EC

[HawgHunter]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I'm sorry if I've placed this on the wrong forum. It was unintentional.

EC

Happens to the best of 'em ....maybe the mod or someone could move it to the African Cichlids section.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I know EXACTLY where you're at in your cichlid addiction.    I was there once too.  I had a 55g and always wanted more fish.

How many fish you can fit in your tank is going to depend a lot on your filtration and your maintenance schedule.  If you only have enough time to do your water changes and general cleaning of the tank a couple times a month, then you'd be better off with less fish.  But if you are willing to do your cleaning a couple times a week, then more cichlids are fine.  When I started with my 55g, I had a handful of Africans.  I started to see aggression problems and so I added more fish to make it harder for the dominant fish (a bumblebee cichlid) to target any one fish.  I had 18 various Africans in my 55g at one time.  Of course, I was cleaning ALL THE TIME.    I had a couple of bumblebee cichlids, various zebras, 3 yellow tailed acei, a couple of parrots, a few yellow labs, a couple of jewel cichlids, and I'm probably forgetting some...it's been a few years.  

And CF is right...any new fish you add are going to force everyone to battle for position in the tank again.  Be prepared for that.  

As for an algae eater, I'd recommend a bristlenose pleco.  If you get a common pleco it will outgrow your tank before you know it.  And if you get a Chinese algae eater, you're chancing aggression from him.

[Darbex]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

If you look on the net you will find the old rule of 1" per gallon. If you have the right filtration as IGG as said you can do more. I like to over filter when I had Africans since they dont mind so I was doing about 2" per gallon no problem. I had about 30+ in a 125G with everything from Sunshine peacocks to Electric Blue Ahli to Blueberry OB. So the aggression level ranged the gamut. But I also made sure there were plenty of hiding places as this also helps. I noticed that the Blueberry was the meanest but with so many other fish in there he couldnt attack anyone for to long and there were plenty of places for them to run and hide. Right now your total length at maturity is about 60". So if you clean often and I would say at least once a week then you could add more. Also what I learned is if you do introduce new fish to this established tank. The current fish might gang up on the new one. So before adding the new one. Move the decor around and try to make the tank as dark as possible right after for the rest of the day. This way the old ones will think the new guys were there all a long. It helped when I added guys with the Blueberry before this he would kill anyone added after doing this the first time I never had a death.

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

Right now, I have a Penguin 350 Bio-Wheel running in the 55g and I might clean once a week, maybe every other week. I change filters at least once a month and spray off the 'wheels' at the same time. Never had a water problem I've been aware of and I'm not against adding another 350 if that will make things better for the fish and easier for me. And, if it will allow me to have more fish, what's $35? Maybe I can even find something used/bigger on here. Anyone have something I should consider adding?

EC

[CichlidFan]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

You really shouldn't have to do much with your Bio Wheels, they are supposed to support the Beneficial Bacteria without any maintenance. I would not use tap water to spray them with....that could harm or even kill the BB.

I like and am a really big fan of Air Sponges, I believe they really add a lot of water movement in a tank and increase the cleaning capicity too....

If your still looking to add to your fish population, you might consider adding a pair M/F of kenyi to your tank, they will add more color and can take care of themselves with your current fish population as well.   The male kenyi is mostly yellow with about 5 vertical stripes, and the female is blue, with similar stripes. Their fry is usually a gorgeous black and blue.....

CF

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

Air sponges? Educate me, please.

EC

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

I would love to find a couple Demasoni and Cobalt Blues. Would these be risky with what I already have?

EC

[CichlidFan]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

Sponge filter: A sponge filter is powered by air. A sponge filter consists of a tube, a sponge, and a place for air-line connection. Air is pumped into the tube, creating a vacuum, and causing water to pass into the tube through the sponge. In the process, debris in the water is trapped in the sponge where the debris is broken down by bacteria.

You usually see sponge filters in just about all LFS, in their stock tanks, that or UGF systems....

There are many types on the market, but a standard 8 inch diameter sponge filter is an excellent addtion to any filtration system.

CF

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Need Some Advice & Information

One new sponge filter on my shopping list......  Now that taken care of, what about my choices of fish to add and food supplements? I'm mapped to hit The Fish Ranch next Monday. Any other places I should investigate while I'm down that way?


EC