African cichlids

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
20% waterchange weekly is the minimum I do.And like I said been feeding spirulena flakes mainly and they love it.Tossed them some finely grated carrot and they loved that too.got a bunch of slate and made some caves,They really like the rockwork and have settled down to some serious digging.My kids think its hilarious when they spit gravel at each other.
 
Just got another,he is alot smaller than the other ones,but the way he was terrorizing his tankmates at the store, I figured he had a chance in my tank.He lloks just like the other blue onewith a gold halo arond the fin edges.Sorry about the blurry pic,I took it whenver I post good pics its cause my wife took them.

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Got a new johanni to add to the mix, he got a pretty bad welcome,Heater in that tank got unplugged somehow :swear: and temp dropped to 62f!!
hes about 1 1/2 inch and not afraid to mix it up with the 6" pseudotropheus,tough little guy. :naughty:

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I kept african cichlids for about 4 years, and they reproduced like crazy. I gave them a varied diet, which is why I think I had so much success. They got chopped up shrimp, lettuce, zuchinni, flake foods, and once every few months, feeders...(which I know isn't neccessary, but it was for entertainment value). I ended up keeping them by accident. I put 4 pseudotropheus in my S.A. cichlid tank with the plan of buying them their own tank in a couple days when I had the money. I had kept the African ciclids at school and I needed to bring them home. AFter a couple days, they took the tank over and I ended up losing a nicaraguense, a green terror, and a jack dempsey. only the green terror was mature. They attacked like wolves. The next four years, I converted it into an African cichlid tank with the right P.H. and rocks and everything. They basically forced their way into my 125 gallon.
 
Lost my initial reply! Looks like a Metriaclima greshakei. Look a doing regular 20% water changes, especially once you add more fish. Malawi's mess quite a bit and like clean water. If you can look at buying wild caught's or f1's. They will cost more but their colour is worth the added monies spent. ENJOY! :naughty: :woot: :clap :headbang2 :thumbsup: :cheers: :mwave:
 
gomezladdams said:
Tried to add this guy to the tank and thy beat the&%$# out of him took him out after he wouldnt come out to eat for 2 days.

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Plan on putting him back in again unless anyone thinks this species of african isnt tough enough to live with the others?
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Its due to a balance/equalibrium issue prob. Most African tanks have that, You put so many fish in your tank and your fish will find a balance or equilabrium and then when you add a new fish they attack and beat up eachother or the new guy untill they have equalibrium again and once you add more fish in after they have got that, they will attack it, add more new fish with your new fish and then you might be able to re balance this or you may lose a fish. I experience this often and test it out to find a good number that each of my fish is happy with and all have good spots for hiding and such. I think I put that in the right words...
 
When you add fish to an established Mbuna tank look to adding a minimum of 3-4 fish. One will be attacked by the rest, and if left, killed. You can also look to re-arrange the stone work which will have them all scampering for new territory.
I have just added 6 fish per tank and it was settled within a day. :naughty: :woot: :headbang2 :clap :thumbsup: :mwave:
 
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