Mystery cichla grow out

So I posted about a month ago asking for an ID on some cichla at my LFS. I wound up getting 5, so I figured I might as well do a grow out thread, because why not.

Day 1: At LFS


Day 1: Back home in the tank (Sorry for the bad quality)




About 20 days in I lost one. It was obviously the "runt of the litter". It was barely eating and getting bullied. I did my best to feed in two locations to allow it to get some food also, but it just wasn't eating even when it got the chance. By the time I cleared up room in my refugium, it was too late.

Day 26: So then there were 4.

Here's a video of them devouring some frozen blood worms

[video=youtube;MNAacCjVtIk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNAacCjVtIk[/video]

Day 49: Currently ~2". They're growing slower than I would like, but their diet is frozen bloodworms and freeze dried krill. Once I get them on to hikari cichlid gold, I expect them to explode.

Right now they're in a severely heavily planted 13. Once I finish growing out my longfin oscars, these guys will move to the 55. But I also have two Senegal bichirs and a green sunfish in there, so I want these guys to be at least 3" before they get moved

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And then there were 3. Came home today to one of them dead on the bottom. Looks to be from aggression, but not sure. Could've been sick and been picked on because of that. They were all eating fine last night, so I'm kinda at a loss.

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BushFishRox said:

They need a bigger tank.

Click to expand...

It's in the works. I'm just waiting for the oscars to get big enough to add to the next grow out tank.