Central American tank

Bertie07

Peacock Bass
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Aug 27, 2017
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Will update on the tank tomorrow, the rainbows have destroyed all the plants on the left side. I’m not sure on what fish to add to the tank, thinking of a group of different livebearers and a pair of smaller Cichlids to replace the rainbows, they are still in the tank and eating on all the leaf litter and plants. I like them but they’re slowly ruining the tank so they have to go. Any suggestions on what live beaters and small Cichlids I should add? I’ve decided on my solo big fish for the tank, either a cribroheros robertsoni or oscura heterospila. Does anyone know where to get these in the uk?
 

fishhead0103666

Alligator Gar
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May 14, 2018
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Aww not the plants :(
 

fishhead0103666

Alligator Gar
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May 14, 2018
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Have you tried advertising on here? It helps if you’re able to ship.
 

fishhead0103666

Alligator Gar
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May 14, 2018
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This is a bit off topic but how hard do you think it would be for someone to ship from the uk to America?
 

duanes

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The species of plants you have, are generally very tasty to many cichlids (not only multispinnossa).
Plants need to be chosen very carefully for cichlid biotopes, picking the kind that are very distasteful.
Some cichlids will also dig up just about any plants, so planting methods to protect from diggers help, like putting heavy stones
Although certain vegetarian cichlids with eat anything, I have found s few plants to be usable in 80% or 90% of the time.
Java fern, anubis's, and African fern (Bolbitus) have worked for me.
All of the above can be tied to branches, rocks and other decor to make them unavailable to digging cichlids, and because of their rhizomes sound not be pushed deep into substate.


Anubius above and below, although they often grow slowly, they will sometimes break the waters surface

Java fern below

and if given enough time to grow a massive root system and become thoroughly established before cichlids get large, crypts have worked for me



Certain cichlids almost never work with plants though, very territorial type, and those that are 90% vegetarian.
Etroplus eating dandilions
 
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Bertie07

Peacock Bass
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Aug 27, 2017
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I thought I had to close down my tank but after some thinking we worked a way around it so I went and picked up a jack dempsey today, I’ll post picks once he’s settled in but it’s interesting to watch the dominant firemouth flare at him, I also sold the rainbow cichlid pair so I can replant the tank
 

Bertie07

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Aug 27, 2017
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London
Wanted to show an update on my the fish, sorry about the front of the glass. I haven’t got round to cleaning it. The firemouths are showing some good colour except for the biggest one who is quite dull, he might have been from another batch. The JD is still quite skiny and is quite dull but I’m really liking him, (at least I think it’s male). Sorry about the pics too, they move around so much it’s hard to get a good pic. One of the firemouths never closes his mouth and I wanted to know what was wrong with him, is it just a deformity.

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