cichlasoma ornatus tank mates

[mbeatrice]

very nice.....

 

[balton777]

the little ones

Future stunners^^. Nice pickup.

Mine eat like pigs. They've grown since I got them and are starting to get some color. I feed them NLS pellets of various sizes in the mornings and Omega One pellets in the evenings....plus my usual array of krill and market shrimp, plus broken up pieces of Massivore pellets here and there to put on weight.

 

[NorCaliCichlids]

Looking great. I would recommend a group of something like silver dollars, or small tinfoil barbs. With fish like Ornatum I'd just keep the dithers and them together.

 

[synister]

Looking great. I would recommend a group of something like silver dollars, or small tinfoil barbs. With fish like Ornatum I'd just keep the dithers and them together.

cool thanks, well I hope mine pick up like yours -so far they are eating well.

 

[synister]

Future stunners^^. Nice pickup.

Mine eat like pigs. They've grown since I got them and are starting to get some color. I feed them NLS pellets of various sizes in the mornings and Omega One pellets in the evenings....plus my usual array of krill and market shrimp, plus broken up pieces of Massivore pellets here and there to put on weight.

if I may ask what type of substrate/sand is that ? it picks up light well

 

[balton777]

if I may ask what type of substrate/sand is that ? it picks up light well

It's 20-grade pool filter sand from Leslie's Pool Supply. Sometimes it reflects light a little too much but I love this sand. I used to have black sand and couldn't take pictures worth a crap with it.

 

[synister]

It's 20-grade pool filter sand from Leslie's Pool Supply. Sometimes it reflects light a little too much but I love this sand. I used to have black sand and couldn't take pictures worth a crap with it.

there's a store here in clifton nj, by that name - what is 20 grade , sorry I just dont know which one to ask for .

 

[balton777]

there's a store here in clifton nj, by that name - what is 20 grade , sorry I just dont know which one to ask for .

Pool sand filters use what's known as 20-grade silica sand which is capable of trapping tiny 25 to 30 sized micron particles. A micron is one millionth of a meter. So anyway, when you go in, just ask for a bag of filter sand and it will the right stuff. There's only one kind and it looks like this. It's about the size of sugar, maybe bigger, and my cichlids seem to like it.

 

[bbortko]

As rare and expensive as Ornatum are, I would wait. And when you do add tankmates, I'd recommend something not overly aggressive. Maybe some Heros, Severum or smaller non-aggressive Crenicichla would be cool. Or just some silver dollars or other dithers and a small catfish or something. I just wouldn't want to risk losing the Ornatum.

Now, how some pics of these little guys. I bought two from Jeff and they're about the same size as yours...they might be a few inches now.

Is this recommendation based more on cost/availability or the personality of ornatum? Would you compare their tempermant to that of an ebjd?

 

[driftwood]

Is this recommendation based more on cost/availability or the personality of ornatum? Would you compare their tempermant to that of an ebjd?

Thats what I'm trying to figure out. They are relatively new to the hobby so many don't have any experience with them. I want to get some too but don't want something with the same temperment as a festae. All my research is leading me to think they are more on the mellow side like say a H. Pssiticus or even a Severum which is what I'm hoping to find out before i order some.