Anybody here keep Tropheus

[prm]

I am about to start a tropheus colony of Morii (Kaiser 2) or duboisi.

anyone have any experience with them like what to feed, how to deco. etcetera.

[Nate_N_Nicole]

Well as I'm sure you know Tropheus are can strickly only eat veggies, because they can get blout from to much protein and as far as land scapping ( lots of hidding spots like caves and stuff like that.... I hear that Tropheus need lots of water changes also so (atleast twice a month maybe even once a week) about 10-20%

Good Luck

[Oddball]

I've been keeping tropheus for a number of years. Veggie flakes are their main diet. I also feed them frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. They are prone to bloat but, I've found that skipping feedings every third day, to purge, prevents the bloat. My 2 year old Maswa colony has been doing great on this regimen.

[tracyb7377]

i have some in my 55 i change about half the tank once a week w/ add. and i feed omega 1 the red purple and green bottles 1 each day never had a problem w/ bloat but they do breed a lot

[spryandspringy]

I built up layers of thick slate, interspersed to make a sort of wall with lots of spaces across the back, and my duboisi loved it. I very small gravel substrate is good for these guys, too.

I alternated spirulina, bloodworms, frozen peas, and a good omnivore flake food (when juvenille) or cichlid pellets (when adults) and had a really good colony going after a while.

Make sure you have a lot of filtration going, and these guys also don't mind a fairly brisk water flow.

The most frustrating thing with these guys is waiting for them to get that wonderful adult coloration, but it's definitely worth the wait!

[fsc46]

I have a UGF in mine, works great! I only give them shrimp at most once a week. Food particals (even veg.) that get caught under a rock or something will give them bloat.

[Jesse]

I feed my Tropheus only spirulina flakes. I haven't lost one to bloat in a long time, although I do occasionally lose a new one to aggression. :(

[prm]

Im gonna get some Ikolas definitely. Thats one thats not too expensive but I do like the color on them :drool:

[Miles]

I've been told they need to either be kept isolated, or in a group of 10 or more? If not, aggression issues will eventually diminish the group..

Spirulina flakes and purging are good methods to prevent bloat, too! Try sweat peas?

[prm]

Im thinking abt 15-18 juvies to grow up and move to abt a 110g or more

Its either Ikolas or bulus or maswas

[fsc46]

What do you think about this tropheus? This is what I'm getting next.
It's best to keep them (long term) in a 6' tank. Height does matter much, if at all for tropheus.

[Taz2478]

I got 6 on hold for me to see today. Was gonna put em in my 55 looking to breed for shops and friends.

[fsc46]

6 what, turtles? j/k. what kind of tropheus? was/is/will put in 55gal? So are you still going to do it? If so you will have to wait until they are mature. it takes 2 years or longer before they are ready to breed.

BTW does any one have 1-3 male duboisi maswa about a year old that they want to trade? I don't believe in inbreeding. Mine are F1 fry about a year old. If you have older or younger (larger/smaller) males that's OK too. But I'd prefer 1-year-old tropheus. I haven't vented them but the larger ones are usually the males.

[Taz2478]

all they said is they were duboisi and they had six. didnt make it to that shop today. What kind of prices should I be looking for with size? I know last yr they had 2 @ $30ea. There the only shop around here that Ive seen them in.

[fsc46]

around here they go for $15 - 25.

[prm]

Im about to make room for the 55g, then Im gonna order about 24 1" from mainlycichlids.com they have the dub. maswas for $6.25 a peice

O I now have 2 empty 55g so Ill divide them up so I hopefully get faster growth
So does that sound good Yay or Nay? ;)

[fsc46]

sounds good to me. most say that they need a 75. My buddy has 20 adults in a 75 for 2 years now with only a few PVC pipe elbows and gravel. so 12 in each 55 should work out well for now. you might want to trade the 2 55's for a 75 with someone. it will save you time and money with 2 water changes buying 2 setts of filter media 2 air pumps etc.

[Bizdaddy]

You would be better off keeping all 24 in the 55 to grow them out. Even juvies will be aggressive towards each other. Also, they will form a social pecking order as they grow, placing the 2 groups together later on can be tough.

In a 55, you can keep 15-18 adults. If you get a 75+, you could keep your whole group of 24. No need to cull males, as they will keep each other busy, giving the females time to relax.

You'll love the Maswa's, they are great fish.

hth
Justin

[thefishofdoom]

my lfs has a colony of those in a 240 gallon with other cichlids and cats that come from there lake

[ill_eagle]

tropheus do not need a meaty diet. a good spurlina flake is ideal. meaty foods will give them bloat and they will die. it will look like you have a tank full of puffers