Thanks for the replies, I don't plan on keeping them together long term. Also I know the ph is a bit high for chocs, but have read that frequent water changes, UV sterilization and good water quality can minimize the effects of high ph over time. I've read and followed both of your threads on chocolates and am familiar with their needs.
Chocolate Cichlid (Hypselecara temporalis)
- Thread starter fishguy1978
- Start date
My water is hard with a 8.2 PH & the Chocs do just fine. It probably would be much better to keep them in soft water with a neutral to slightly acidic Ph, especially for breeding purposes.
I would rehome the miscellaneous Africans. My female is very food aggressive and any time I hand feed I get bit. The male is more shy. The SDs probably are partially to blame as they are very food aggressive.
Are loaches too boisterous for chocolate (question above about putting them in a 550). I do know my festum get a bit annoyed at time with the loaches - esp at night when the lights go out - the loaches don't harm them but they get nervous with their constant swimming the length of the aquarium. I'm actually working on a dense of plants (vals) for them to hide or rest away from the loaches.
My Loaches are active day & night. They don't appear to bother the Chocolates.
Syncrossus Helodes aka Tiger Loach, would be about the only Botia Loach to avoid. Those monsters would likely attack anything.
Syncrossus Helodes aka Tiger Loach, would be about the only Botia Loach to avoid. Those monsters would likely attack anything.
I've been waiting for the juvenile chocolates to be big enough to move into the 260g with the other two. I removed the SDs over a week ago and have really appreciated the change. 
Although their may be average grow rates, in closed systems like aquariums, the rate of growth often depends on water change schedules that gets rid of the grown inhibiting hormones produced by certain territorial species, that normal filtration doesn't deal with......i.e.
If you do 1 x 50% water change per week, your fish will grow slower than if you do 2 x 50% water changes per week, or ......
one of the reasons in discus hatcheries, (in order to get spawns to sellable size faster,) 90% water changes are routinely done daily.
If you do 1 x 50% water change per week, your fish will grow slower than if you do 2 x 50% water changes per week, or ......
one of the reasons in discus hatcheries, (in order to get spawns to sellable size faster,) 90% water changes are routinely done daily.
Yes there is variation but can you give an approx or estimate or range? I.e, are do they take a year or 10 years or between 2 and 4 years ?
A 2in chocolate with proper feed and water changes will grow quickly. My large male, ~10in (250mm), came in at that size. The female was already an adult. The two juveniles came in around 1in (25mm) a year ago. They're about 4in now.I don't power feed and my tanks are on a auto water change.
