I've got one for the first time last week and i had a couple of questions. Now i've researched a decent amount about them put i want first hand experiences on them. Will they eat dry food (mine has only eaten frozen since ive gotten him)? and there growth rate? thats about it on the questions, please share experiences also. Thank you very much.
Chocolate Cichlid?
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I have had mine for about 18 months. She grew quickly until about 5-6 inches then slowed down considerably. Mine will eat prepared foods and prefers floating pellets to sinkers or flakes. Earthworms and the occasional insect are also relished. In nature, I believe they feed a lot from insects that land on the waters surface.
She is also quite temperamental. She will "sulk", for lack of a better term, after rearranging the tank or a major cleaning. Otherwise, she is a great fish to keep and tends to be the peacemaker in my tank.
She is also quite temperamental. She will "sulk", for lack of a better term, after rearranging the tank or a major cleaning. Otherwise, she is a great fish to keep and tends to be the peacemaker in my tank.
I feed mine almost exclusively on pellets. She sometimes gets frozen treats. Mine also grew fast until 6" or so, then slowed down a lot. I'm pretty sure mine is a female.
I will agree about them being temperamental. Mine pouts when she gets moved or when I change things in the tank.
I will agree about them being temperamental. Mine pouts when she gets moved or when I change things in the tank.
No, but this wouldn't surprise me. A lot of similar cichlids are aggressive towards conspecifics -- Hoplarchus psittacus, severums, oscars, types of acaras, etc. Your best bet at having them get along would be to purchase multiple juveniles and raise them out together. A pair would be ideal but then they could turn aggressive while spawning.
yea, I've had experience with Cichlids, its just my first time with the chocolate. I think their my favorite b/c of the mouth, I was wondering about the colors? I'm guessing it's like other Cichlids where as they grow the more color they get? And when larger would night crawlers be ok to feed him?
I only have the one, but I keep her with sevs, acara, and others in my 180. The only thing that she hasn't really gotten along with is a synspilum that I used to have.
My experience is simlar to many others. Floating pellets is my chocs main diet, although loves frozen bloodworm too. Is not good at competing for food though as he is slow and a bit timid at times
He sulks whenever I do anything in the tank.
Mine is only 5" currently, and I'd guess about 10-12 months old. I guess growth rate would be strongly related to food ingestion and appetite. I expect him to grow fairly slowly from now on.
He sulks whenever I do anything in the tank.
Mine is only 5" currently, and I'd guess about 10-12 months old. I guess growth rate would be strongly related to food ingestion and appetite. I expect him to grow fairly slowly from now on.
Their colors vary wildly and are mostly based on mood. In my 210 gallon, she was usually a dark maroon and olive green color, but sometimes would get excited and turn bright emerald green and red. Now that she's been moved into my 150g with more peaceful tankmates, she has lightened up considerably and is almost a rosy pink color with a prominent black blotch.