ok so ive never really had any cichlids before, but i had to buy this fish for my girlfriend (she decided she had to have literally the biggest fish for sale at the store). he (or she) is like 9-10 inches and looking good. first off it eats everything and attacks anything it cant swallow. from what i read this is normal? i brought him home and he was eating within hours. for some reason he really has a grudge against one specific plastic plant. does he not like the plant or is he redecorating? any tips or advice would be cool. right now he is in 80 degree water with 2 powerheads and seems to be doing well. what is a good diet for them? so far today he has eaten frozen krill, flakes, minnows, XL cichlid sticks, and an algea wafer. (dont ask i was curious as to what it would eat) thanks guys!
any advice on Tilapia Buttikoferi?
- Thread starter brich999
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It is one of the largest african cichlids. i had one butti and my friend had several of them. they are shear evil..the one that i had ate whatever it could to outgrow the other tankmates until it could be dominant. cichlid sticks are very messy i just steer clear of those, but flakes, pellets, or krill. maybe the occasional earthworm in you back yard
and right now he is emptying out a cave that probably has a 3" opening, but he is getting all gravel away from it. i dont think he knows his own size
I've got an eleven inch male in a 75 gal alone I feed mine hilarious cichlids gold and algae wafers. They are very agressive and smart. Don't put anything else with it or you'll be sorry and yea they love to redecorate there tanks to there liking. Enjoy your new fish! I love mine
I have one. They are evil, and they like to redecorate their tanks. They will spit rocks out and move it around in the tank. Don't expect for anything to stay the way you set it up, because most likely they will like it the exact opposite way. They will attack anything you put in the tank, and will take away any chance you have of getting any other kind of fish. I was thinking of getting another or getting some gulpers (because they can fight off/ eat anything 2x as large as it). They definately have a lot of personality, and will learn to recognize the color of the pellet bag when you pull it out. Have fun with him.
i already like him in the living room more than my piranhas because he doesnt freak out when my year old daughter slaps the tank or anything. definately a cool fish and i know he is going to be the only one in there. i think i might be a little overstocked with just him, but i have some really good filters and he has room to move for now