Is there any Champs out there!!

[JohnnyRooster]

This is my 2, a pair M & F(I think). Male is about 7", still a young'in.

[gomezladdams]

He is a real looker all right!

[anthony martinez]

nice fish and tank.

[tydus]

Nice trout! He is a stunner for sure, will look much better when grown. One of my most favorite malawians out there.

[JohnnyRooster]

Thanks, hes def. my favorite, I'm still waiting for him to get that real nice blue iridescent look. He was my first fish ever, I've had him a little over a year now. I didnt start with a goldfish I just jumped in head first. Didnt know how much I had to learn, but now its a disease. lol

[Pittbull]

Here are a few of mine as youngsters..


317594

317595

317596

[blkg35]

Nice looking fishes guys...:grinno:

[Ill take that mean one]

very nice

[Pittbull]

thanks

[JohnnyRooster]

those are nice. how long have you had them and big are they?

[Pittbull]

not long at all and i believe they are about 6 to 7 inches now pretty small for a monster in the making..

[JohnnyRooster]

I've had mine since they were about 1 1/2 to 2". FUnny thing is I didnt know I was getting myself into. I bought them because I wanted to have some fish mates with my turtles in my 40g tank. I have since got rid of the turtles and upgraded to a 180g and hoping sometime in the yr or so move up to at least a 220g.

[Pittbull]

me as well i have a few big tanks but i want a 220gal but i want those big cichlids from lake tanganyika Boulengerochromis Microlepis aka emperor cichlid..

[Otherone]

Champsochromis is on my wishlist................luv your fish

[MalawiTango]

wow very pretty fish man.

[JohnnyRooster]

here's more pics of my male.

[Marius]

me as well i have a few big tanks but i want a 220gal but i want those big cichlids from lake tanganyika Boulengerochromis Microlepis aka emperor cichlid..

220 gal is not enough for those guys. I have a pair (20"ish) in an 8' 400gal tank. They will outgrow my tank in a couple years.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/Marius_Gabriela/FISH/TANGANYIKA/P1010145.jpg






here's more pics of my male.

Can you take some pictures of the female?!? I am not convinced it's a she. :popcorn:

[Muske]

Where's Wimmels at.....

[NOLAGT]

here's more pics of my male.

:headbang2 NICE!

So how big do these get being raised in a fishtank?

[tydus]

here's more pics of my male.

He is just stunning! I envy you, I've always wanted a huge champ. Do you see any spawnings going on?

[JohnnyRooster]

thanks alot tydus. They haven't tried to much, I think he's still to young. Every once in a while you see him displaying, but for some reason my M Venustus stops him every time.

[Wimmels]

Where's Wimmels at.....

Oi just read this thread. Been pretty busy at work lately.

I have had 2 strains of champsochromis caruleus. A greener variant and the normal one. Both were well in the 30cm 12" + I believe more like 14".
My green variant male on the photo's died, and the other I sold. The green ones fry is just getting mature at about 10"

Here are the photo's

[JohnnyRooster]

He is very nice. Cant wait for mine to get that big. I didnt know they had blue and green varient. I suppose you can line breed for the green. I think I have the blue champ, he's starting to get this deep irradecent blue, back behind his gills. A what size were they in full display and mature.

[Wimmels]

No this was no line breed. This was F1 but the original was caught in some unknown place.

I don't keep linebred or crossed species.

Yours is indeed the normal one.

I have been searching for ones like I have/had but couldn't find any untill now

[Marius]

No this was no line breed. This was F1 but the original was caught in some unknown place.

I don't keep linebred or crossed species.

Yours is indeed the normal one.

I have been searching for ones like I have/had but couldn't find any untill now

I was just about to ask you if you know the collection point of your greener varient :)

Nice Champs Wimmels :popcorn:.

[JohnnyRooster]

F1 thats cool. Unfortunatly, there's not to much info on Champs. I have found a few articles but they all say the same thing.

[JohnnyRooster]

Wow Wimmels, you have some nice looking fish, I just checked out your site.

[Wimmels]

Thanks :)

I've been driving around a lot here to get those species.

The next on my Wishlist is the Champsochromis Spilorhynchus and Buccochromis Heterotaenia.

I hope to get them in a months time

[Bogwoodbruce]

Very nice we have some beautiful wild ones in at the shop. I forget the exact species as there are a few champsochromis sp.

[Wimmels]

Untill now only the Champsochromis Caeruleus and Spilorhynchus have been described as official species.

Do you have any photo's Bruce?

[JohnnyRooster]

Thanks :)

I've been driving around a lot here to get those species.

The next on my Wishlist is the Champsochromis Spilorhynchus and Buccochromis Heterotaenia.

I hope to get them in a months time
Do you have all your Haps in 1 big tank or spread out in different one's and what sizes? :popcorn:

[krichardson]

JonnyRooster your champs really look nice,they look like two males to me but maybe not.They are my favourites of all of the Africans.I have an Emperor also but there is nothing like a well developed champs.I currently have a seven or eight inch male and it has long fins that reach its tail fin and on its tail fin there is a thread like fin extension that extends out almost from mid point in the tail,it is about three centimeters in length.I really need to get pictures to share.

[freshwaterfishing]

very nice, great colour:)

[JohnnyRooster]

JonnyRooster your champs really look nice,they look like two males to me but maybe not.They are my favourites of all of the Africans.I have an Emperor also but there is nothing like a well developed champs.I currently have a seven or eight inch male and it has long fins that reach its tail fin and on its tail fin there is a thread like fin extension that extends out almost from mid point in the tail,it is about three centimeters in length.I really need to get pictures to share.
I love to see a pic of yours. You might be right about the F, I got them both a year ago and they were the same size. THe light egg spots make me wonder but I have seen F in pics with egg spots. He could be a less dominant male, but she/he is really dull so for right now I'm saying its a F. Plus, I have seen my male displaying for her/him(maybe he's ***). lol. My M is 6 or 7 in. and I dont have the fin-ig like you discribe yet. I cant wait for that. I'd really love to see a pic.

What size tank do you have them in?

[JohnnyRooster]

I love to see a pic of yours. You might be right about the F, I got them both a year ago and they were the same size. THe light egg spots make me wonder but I have seen F in pics with egg spots. He could be a less dominant male, but she/he is really dull so for right now I'm saying its a F. Plus, I have seen my male displaying for her/him(maybe he's ***). lol. My M is 6 or 7 in. and I dont have the fin-ig like you discribe yet. I cant wait for that. I'd really love to see a pic.

What size tank do you have them in?
Heres a better pic of the one that I think is a F, plus another little guy I'm hope is also going to grow into a terror(not a champ).

[Marius]

Very nice we have some beautiful wild ones in at the shop. I forget the exact species as there are a few champsochromis sp.

Untill now only the Champsochromis Caeruleus and Spilorhynchus have been described as official species.

Do you have any photo's Bruce?


Caeruleus is found lake wide, different color variations are probably the result of their specific diet. Can you see any morphological differences between the two variants, Wimmels?!?

...speculating of course, but I guess Ad would have mentioned something about this already, if it was different.

[krichardson]

I love to see a pic of yours. You might be right about the F, I got them both a year ago and they were the same size. THe light egg spots make me wonder but I have seen F in pics with egg spots. He could be a less dominant male, but she/he is really dull so for right now I'm saying its a F. Plus, I have seen my male displaying for her/him(maybe he's ***). lol. My M is 6 or 7 in. and I dont have the fin-ig like you discribe yet. I cant wait for that. I'd really love to see a pic.

What size tank do you have them in?
I have mine in a 180,you say you have seen one display for the other then that should suggest that that they are different gender.I have had what I thought to be a female get chased mercilessly by my male and he eventually killed her.Do you ever see any chasing?My only problem with champs is that they grow soo slowly,I bought mine as a two incher and it took quite a few years to get it to the size that it is now but they are the beautifulest of them all.I think they are very overlooked as monsterfish along with the emperors.I will post pictures soon.

[Marius]

I have mine in a 180,you say you have seen one display for the other then that should suggest that that they are different gender.I have had what I thought to be a female get chased mercilessly by my male and he eventually killed her.Do you ever see any chasing?My only problem with champs is that they grow soo slowly,I bought mine as a two incher and it took quite a few years to get it to the size that it is now but they are the beautifulest of them all.I think they are very overlooked as monsterfish along with the emperors.I will post pictures soon.

Food, space and water quality are always a factor in their growth rate. They're carnivorous, train them to eat some shrimp :D ...you'll see a difference.

[krichardson]

Food, space and water quality are always a factor in their growth rate. They're carnivorous, train them to eat some shrimp :D ...you'll see a difference.
I almost exclusively use flakes and pellets.Which shrimp do you suggest,market or freeze dried.My champs will eat a few freeze dried krill before spitting them out.

[Marius]

I almost exclusively use flakes and pellets.Which shrimp do you suggest,market or freeze dried.My champs will eat a few freeze dried krill before spitting them out.

Market shrimp, fresh. If you get them to chow those down :D ...you're set. What pellets do you use?!? I feed my emperors and my kitumbas nls thera-a (extra protein).

Cut the shrimp is smaller pieces, fingernail sizes or something, so they can chow them down easily. Once they get used to the taste, they'll be able to take half, or full size shrimp down.

[JohnnyRooster]

I got my champs at about 2" and like I said there about 7" in a year I think there growing pretty quickly. I feed my NLS 1mm cichlid formula, Hikari cichlid gold 3mm, and frozen cubes of brine shrimp and blood worms everyday. When they were younger I was feeding them minows and small goldfish, but now I have so juvi's that are in the tank that are about the size of small goldfish so I try to keep them out of the hunter mentality.

[Will Hayward]

Beautiful fish. They are like the African Pike Cichlid

[JohnnyRooster]

I have mine in a 180,you say you have seen one display for the other then that should suggest that that they are different gender.I have had what I thought to be a female get chased mercilessly by my male and he eventually killed her.Do you ever see any chasing?My only problem with champs is that they grow soo slowly,I bought mine as a two incher and it took quite a few years to get it to the size that it is now but they are the beautifulest of them all.I think they are very overlooked as monsterfish along with the emperors.I will post pictures soon.

about the chasing. No I don't get to much chasing, only when I do a water change. I think its because of the stress. What is starting to happen is he fights with my venustus. At least once a day they puff up and stare each other down. Its gets pretty heated between the 2 sometime and usually ends up as a stailmate. The venustus always start it though, he's a character, I think I'm going start a thread on him next.

[JohnnyRooster]

Beautiful fish. They are like the African Pike Cichlid

definatly like a pike. That why I like them

[ben1020123]

cool fish

[Mad About Cichlids]

Don't own any Africans at the moment but if I do these would be it.


Here's some pix I took, male was hiding behind a rock the whole time I was there so didn't get a pic of him:(.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215767

[Wimmels]

Do you have all your Haps in 1 big tank or spread out in different one's and what sizes? :popcorn:

My main tank for the larger haps is a 1300 liter (250cm x 80 x 70) or ~350 gallon tank. Not all species fit in this tank off course.

I have 3 other 875liter or ~300 gallon tanks of 175x100x50 (about 6' by 3'4" by 20"). 2 of these tanks are for the stingray species I am growing up and the last one for my special breeding stock(a group of 7 Lichnochromis Acuticeps and some other nice stuff :))

For growers and some smaller staying species I have 6 tanks of 150x50x50cm (around 5' by 20" by 20") these are 375 liters or about 100gallon each.

For females holding fry and to grow the fry up untill 2" I have 3 tanks of 100x50x50 divided up in different compartments and another 3 tanks of 80x50x40.

All in all I have around 8000 liters or ~ 2100 gallon of aqaurium water momentarily divided over 16 tanks.


My friend who lives a few hundred meters from me who keeps Malawi too has another 5000 liters worth of aqauriums. Including a showtank of around 600gallon


I looked at your picture in the previous page, and I am afraid that you have 2 males.

[Wimmels]

Caeruleus is found lake wide, different color variations are probably the result of their specific diet. Can you see any morphological differences between the two variants, Wimmels?!?

...speculating of course, but I guess Ad would have mentioned something about this already, if it was different.


Well there is certainly a difference between the 2 I had.
The normal one grows uhm thicker around the body and higher. While the green one has a real cigar shape

The head is shaped different as well. The normal caeruleus has a more flat head which is more pointy. The green one I have has definately a more rounded nose.

And lastly the colors differs considerably where the green one developed a red spot behind the gills like Strigatus does.

The differences can't be explained by different food as they both grew up in the same tank with the same food I give them. My fish largely live on Granulate which is fabricated from fishmeal. Really nutritious stuff :)

[krichardson]

Market shrimp, fresh. If you get them to chow those down :D ...you're set. What pellets do you use?!? I feed my emperors and my kitumbas nls thera-a (extra protein).

Cut the shrimp is smaller pieces, fingernail sizes or something, so they can chow them down easily. Once they get used to the taste, they'll be able to take half, or full size shrimp down.
I used to feed them the Tetra JumboMIN but I have switched to a rotation of the different Hikari pellets,mainly their carnivor and arowana sticks.I will try the NLS and try out the shrimp as well.

[Marius]

I got my champs at about 2" and like I said there about 7" in a year I think there growing pretty quickly. I feed my NLS 1mm cichlid formula, Hikari cichlid gold 3mm, and frozen cubes of brine shrimp and blood worms everyday. When they were younger I was feeding them minows and small goldfish, but now I have so juvi's that are in the tank that are about the size of small goldfish so I try to keep them out of the hunter mentality.
Frozen food and feeders don't really have that much nutritional value. This is a lesson I've learned from master Neil :D. Frozen food: cells will start breaking up as soon as they thaw and you pretty much throw nutrients into the water ...not "into the fish". A pretty raw explanation, but you get the point. Feeders, especially goldfish, is a risk too big to take and not as great rewards as on might think.

Best way to go around all the urban legends is: keep the water pristine (I do 80% water changes weekly on African setups, double sometimes of grow out tanks), large enough space and good food. I prefer pellets ..can you say NLS :D




I looked at your picture in the previous page, and I am afraid that you have 2 males.
That's what I thought too. The anal and dorsal fins are too pointy for a female.



Well there is certainly a difference between the 2 I had.
The normal one grows uhm thicker around the body and higher. While the green one has a real cigar shape

The head is shaped different as well. The normal caeruleus has a more flat head which is more pointy. The green one I have has definately a more rounded nose.

And lastly the colors differs considerably where the green one developed a red spot behind the gills like Strigatus does.

The differences can't be explained by different food as they both grew up in the same tank with the same food I give them. My fish largely live on Granulate which is fabricated from fishmeal. Really nutritious stuff :)
Have you documented their growth, size, pattern?!? It's definitely material for a good article my friend.

By the way, do you ship :)... I might be interested in either the adults or some of the offspring :D



I used to feed them the Tetra JumboMIN but I have switched to a rotation of the different Hikari pellets,mainly their carnivor and arowana sticks.I will try the NLS and try out the shrimp as well.

My personal choice is way simpler: ONE brand, usually NLS, supplemented with shrimp. Water quality, space and tankmates sometimes do more than just the food they are being served.

[Pharaoh]

I'm thinking that a few of these will be entering my setup in the near future.

[Wimmels]

Have you documented their growth, size, pattern?!? It's definitely material for a good article my friend.

By the way, do you ship :)... I might be interested in either the adults or some of the offspring :D



No didn't document their growth really. If I search really hard I might find a few pictures from when they were smaller.

I do not ship yet. But in the future I want to expand the breeding of malawi and register a company.

Once I have more species and fry and a registered company, I might start shipping worldwide if I can arrange the permits and there is enough demand for it.

[hitemup4u]

I got my 6-7" male from a guy last week for $10. I lost a smaller one about a month ago in ice storm because of loos of power but I love the new one.

[krichardson]

Thats a helluva price for the size.The only store that even brings them in out here sell two and three inchers for more than ten bucks.

[JohnnyRooster]

Frozen food and feeders don't really have that much nutritional value. This is a lesson I've learned from master Neil :D. Frozen food: cells will start breaking up as soon as they thaw and you pretty much throw nutrients into the water ...not "into the fish". A pretty raw explanation, but you get the point. Feeders, especially goldfish, is a risk too big to take and not as great rewards as on might think.

Best way to go around all the urban legends is: keep the water pristine (I do 80% water changes weekly on African setups, double sometimes of grow out tanks), large enough space and good food. I prefer pellets ..can you say NLS :D





That's what I thought too. The anal and dorsal fins are too pointy for a female.




Have you documented their growth, size, pattern?!? It's definitely material for a good article my friend.

By the way, do you ship :)... I might be interested in either the adults or some of the offspring :D





My personal choice is way simpler: ONE brand, usually NLS, supplemented with shrimp. Water quality, space and tankmates sometimes do more than just the food they are being served.
Sorry guys ive been busy the past 2 days. Thats a big setup you have there wimmels im pretty jelious about that. I've thought about getting into to breeding and selling them, not sure yet. I would need a house first, plus a spare room or garage and some more knowledge. So thats definatly in the future.

Marius, thats some good knowlegde to know, thanks. I knew about the dangers of feeder fish, another reason I havent fed any more, but I didnt know about it not being nutritous. I dont understand that, thats what they eat in the wild, I know not goldfish but still fish. I understand that you wouldnt get all the vitamins and mineral that you would get in a pellet. But theres got to be a bonus in the raw protien they got from live fish. The bld worms and brime shrimp i can understand, my fish get that cause i have a little figure 8 puffer in a seprate tank that only eats that and its a waste to feed him 2 cubes of it so i throw the rest in the malawi tank, and they love it. I think im going to do the shirmp thing that you talked about earlier. I dont know what Im doing, I just know that my champs are growing pretty big and quickly in a year plus the color im getting out of the one male at 7" is amazing, and he's not the dominant fish in the tank. I guess it fall down to what I hear alot on MFK is "do what works best for you"
I Guess Im going to listen to you guy's about the female, now male. I think im going to sell him or give him away to some one who can acomidate him. I think it's a waste of a good champ if he's always going to be less dominat one and not color up. Plus I dont think I need a 4 way battle between 2 champs, venustus, and a german red, if he decides to come out of his shell.
Again i just want to say thank for the info you guys a providing. I'm still new to this, this is my first time keeping fish(a year now) but still dont know enough and learnig I research anything I can about the fish i own and have been doing it in steps. I think I'm going to start on setups and filtration next.

[JohnnyRooster]

I got my 6-7" male from a guy last week for $10. I lost a smaller one about a month ago in ice storm because of loos of power but I love the new one.
Thats a nice champ and setup you got there.
I wish I would of done sand instead of the river rock.
How do you keep your tank so crystal clear? Mines clean but not like that.

[JohnnyRooster]

I just nabbed a pic of a Champ/Venustus stare down. It was a draw

[hitemup4u]

Thats a nice champ and setup you got there.
I wish I would of done sand instead of the river rock.
How do you keep your tank so crystal clear? Mines clean but not like that.

weekly water change and an fx5 on a 125g. Nothing special

[tydus]

I just nabbed a pic of a Champ/Venustus stare down. It was a draw

That's a cool shot!

[Pittbull]

Nice champ hitemup4u

[SubMariner9]

Dude...you've got some nice Africans! All of us Malawi African Aficionados should like stick together and share a lot of info. For example, you wanna see some nice African's let me share with you my Fishies...go to my profile and check out my album.

Cool,

Richard

[SubMariner9]

Here is my Champion Dude!

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/finomendez/1aRichardsRedEmpress-3.jpg

Shout out and thanx to Bobby Phillips for the pic.

Richard

[willtang3000]

Here is my Champion Dude!

Shout out and thanx to Bobby Phillips for the pic.

Richard


This thread is for champsochromis caeruleus, but however nice fish!

[tydus]

Here is my Champion Dude!

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/finomendez/1aRichardsRedEmpress-3.jpg

Shout out and thanx to Bobby Phillips for the pic.

Richard

Nice fish. That photo turned out very nice by the way.

[greenearthlawns]

wow there are some incredible pics on this thread!! and some great info!!

[Bre]

Wow...Nice thread...These are awesome looking fish. How aggressive are they?

[Pittbull]

They have a nice appetite for sure mine did, they wouldn't take any crap..

[Marius]

I just nabbed a pic of a Champ/Venustus stare down. It was a draw

Nice photo.

[Silk]

SWEET!!!

[JohnnyRooster]

well since I have last posted, the champ has taken over the tank. My venustus has no say anymore and doesn't even challenge him. I also think the champ remembers all the times the venustus has pick on him, cause he gives him no slack.
Also, to Marius and Wimmels, you guys were right. The other champ is definatly a male, he finally starting to show color. No growth in the fins yet though. I'm debating on keeping him or finding him a new home. The choice would be easy but he is 1 of 3 of my originals, which also includes his big brother and the venustus.
I would have posted some more pics but I currently without a camera. Pics will go up as soon as I get it back.

[Marius]

well since I have last posted, the champ has taken over the tank. My venustus has no say anymore and doesn't even challenge him. I also think the champ remembers all the times the venustus has pick on him, cause he gives him no slack.
Also, to Marius and Wimmels, you guys were right. The other champ is definatly a male, he finally starting to show color. No growth in the fins yet though. I'm debating on keeping him or finding him a new home. The choice would be easy but he is 1 of 3 of my originals, which also includes his big brother and the venustus.
I would have posted some more pics but I currently without a camera. Pics will go up as soon as I get it back.

If you have no females in there, then it might work. What size is the tank?

[JohnnyRooster]

If you have no females in there, then it might work. What size is the tank?

I have a 180g, hopefully in a years time I can up grade, no bigger than a 300g. Even if I do up grade and give them there space what do you think about his coloring?
I'm not sure on this, but wouldn't he always be duller than the domanint one and not be to his full potential and size. If that Is the case I think I would like to give him up. That way he can shine somewhere else and not just be a sub-domanint male in mine.

[Pittbull]

:iagree:I would think so with the subdue colors of being a lower rank fish and i agree with your analogy on letting him be top fish in another setup and if its concerns of a dither male you can always count on your other fish to take the heat..

[JohnnyRooster]

:iagree:I would think so with the subdue colors of being a lower rank fish and i agree with your analogy on letting him be top fish in another setup and if its concerns of a dither male you can always count on your other fish to take the heat..

Ya Im just going to hate having to part with him.

[Pittbull]

Oh i know the feeling i no longer have my Champs and was really kicking my backside for letting them go.. I just had to have the Calvus hehehe man one day i will get them back..

[JohnnyRooster]

Calvus are nice I have one myself, with no problems luckly. The champ pays no attention to him. I've had him for about 4 months now, and he's only gotten bigger so I think he's going to be ok.

[Pittbull]

Cool i have 10 of them in a community setting in my 120gal and is the reason i got rid of the Champs so i could have a Tanganyika community setup.. Take care buddy..

[JohnnyRooster]

I know what you mean. My original plan was to have a Malawi community but then I seen an adult Calvus and had to have one. Out of my 31 or 32 fish I have only 3 of them arent Malawian, my Calvus and 2 Pleco 's. I guess I don't have the discipline to keep a proper community.
Now is your community just Calvus or do you have other Tanganyika's?

[Bre]

I too love the Calvus and Comps...I actually have them in my malawi/victoria community and they do great. They are striking fish, can' wait till mine are full grown.

[Pittbull]

My 120gal community is crazy but its working for me, i have Lelupi, Mustax, Julidochromis, Caudopunctatus, Cylindricus, Calvus and Alto. Compressiceps..

I do have plenty of retreats here is a photo of it..

343222

343223

343224

[Bre]

Nice setup...Those rocks are awsome looking!!!

[greenearthlawns]

Nice setup...Those rocks are awsome looking!!!


I second that!!

[Will Hayward]

I second that!!


Thirded!

My 120gal community is crazy but its working for me, i have Lelupi, Mustax, Julidochromis, Caudopunctatus, Cylindricus, Calvus and Alto. Compressiceps..

I do have plenty of retreats here is a photo of it..

343222

Great tank! Tell us more about it, whats your setup? any breeding going on? how do you keep the rock so white? I've always liked tanks that are full us Texas Holy Rock.

[Pittbull]

120gal high, the bottom is lined with egg crate, about 3inches of Aragonite Fiji sand, filtration consist of 2 Rena XP3 canister filters, 2 Maxi jet 1400 power heads with foam on the intakes, 300 watt heater..

Water perimeters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0.1 Nitrate, PH 8.0 and Hardness 390ppm ..

Weekly 50% water changes with monthly filtration maintenance new media added monthly.. water stays crystal clear..

Stock levels are 6 Neolamprologus Lelupi, 4 Neolamprologus Mustax, 3 Neolamprologus Cylindricus, 5 Julidochromis Marlieri, 3 Julidochromis Dickfiedi, 4 Julidochromis Ornatus, 5 Lamprologus Caudopunctatus, 10 Altolamprologus Calvus & Compressiceps - (3 black Calvus, 2 white Calvus, 2 Gold Calvus, along with 3 Gold head Comps) 2 Albino Bristlenose Plecos, 5 Preacox rainbowfish, 6 Synodontis Multipunctatus and 1 Syno Decorus..

As for breeding my Lelupi's have bred for me and i only have one off spring from that in another setup for survival, my Caudopunctatus breed every month, my Preacox are getting ready to drop a load of eggs which will end up like last batch as fish food..

The Albino BN Plecos keep the Texas rock in check and no one seems to mess with them..

In a nut shell almost all of my fish are full grown except the Calvus & Comps.. I know there are going to be people that say i have way too much in my setup but its been up and running for over a year now without issues, don't get me wrong there is some aggression but honestly everyone messes with each others own colony, well except the Lelupi's love to mess with the Mustax.. :nilly::popcorn:

Thanks guys for the kind comments.. i strive to keep up on my maintenance and honestly if i didn't i would have a nightmare on my hands..

[Bre]

Cool...That is a lot of fish but I for one believe if you can keep the water quality where it should be and it works for you....Go for it!!! :)


Some people would reem me for having all 3 lakes together but I keep my water within everyones range and I researched very carefully and went thru a lot of fish till I got a good mix. I only mixed fish labled as mildly aggressive or peaceful. That is why I went for the calvus/comps for tangs, mine mind their own business and nobody bothers them either.

[JohnnyRooster]

Tha is a really nice setup Pit. How do you keep the rock so clean and white. They look like bones.

[Pittbull]

JohnnyRooster (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/member.php?u=39161) wrote: Tha is a really nice setup Pit. How do you keep the rock so clean and white. They look like bones.

I have to give credit to my Albino Bristelnose Plecos on keeping the rock very clean and white, they are such good cleaners..

[Pittbull]

Thanks Bre..

[JohnnyRooster]

JohnnyRooster (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/member.php?u=39161) wrote:

I have to give credit to my Albino Bristelnose Plecos on keeping the rock very clean and white, they are such good cleaners..

I'm going to look into those Bristlenose plecos a little more, I've heard that those guy are great algea eaters and you just 2nd it. Swap them out with my common plecos they don't eat much of the algea and poo a whole lot. How big do they get.

[Pittbull]

The male BN gets to be around 4" and the female around 5" pretty small for a pleco and they are one of the plecos that love to eat brown diatoms and some algae.. The regular brown BN plecos are ok but wow the Albino's are like electric yellow, very cool pleco.. There is also a long fin Albino as well but way expensive mine came from a local breeder..

[JohnnyRooster]

The male BN gets to be around 4" and the female around 5" pretty small for a pleco and they are one of the plecos that love to eat brown diatoms and some algae.. The regular brown BN plecos are ok but wow the Albino's are like electric yellow, very cool pleco.. There is also a long fin Albino as well but way expensive mine came from a local breeder..

well I didnt waste any time. I went picked one up today. BN pleco, Asian algea eater, morii, and Protomelas of some sort, he was mixed in with the Red Empress but he's definatly not a Red. Now I got to find a home for the common pleco I have.

[JohnnyRooster]

got some new pics of my Champs.

[Pittbull]

sweet photos aye and cool deal on the BN Pleco.. good job buddy..

[JohnnyRooster]

dont alway have a camera so i need to take advantage when i got it.
cought him yawning, and the other is of my other male. Colors are just starting to come in. Anyone in the Socal area looking for a champ. Im willing to part with him.

[Pittbull]

Man i have been trying to catch my fish yawning but i am always too late hehehe.. sweet photo buddy..

[JohnnyRooster]

definatly a lucky shot.

[MalawiTango]

hey guys, picked this joker up at last month's local club meeting for $25 :D

He's showing a little more color now that he's comfortable in the tank. He's a solid 7 inches and eats, well like a CHAMP!!!! Sorry for the crappy pics but he wont stop moving when im close to the tank he thinks im about to feed!

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16007.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16009.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16010.jpg

[JohnnyRooster]

nice champ, his colors will be coming in real quick at that size. about the pics, doesn't it fustrate you to have a fish move right at the last second, and blurs your shot. I have a few guys that I don't even have pics of, luckly my champ is very photogenic. plus I'm always staring with my face planted to the glass, so they don't even react to me anymore. the only time you see them freak out is around feeding time between 6:30-7:30pm

[MalawiTango]

yeah dude, my Champ is a pig!!! He bites my other fish by accident while trying to get at the food!

[Wimmels]

hey guys, picked this joker up at last month's local club meeting for $25 :D

He's showing a little more color now that he's comfortable in the tank. He's a solid 7 inches and eats, well like a CHAMP!!!! Sorry for the crappy pics but he wont stop moving when im close to the tank he thinks im about to feed!

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16007.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16009.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/F8LBITEva/MalawiApr09/MalawiAPR16010.jpg


I don't know what kind of camera you have. But if you have a more expensive one with which you can fidlle you can try openning or closing the (don't know the english word for sure) Diafragma? So that more light enters the lens. This wil reduce the shutter time resulting in sharper photo's.

If you can't fiddle with those kind of controls try to add more light into your tank. Once a "cheaper" camera senses more light it should reduce the shutter time