I have a mated pair of mac's and once they start the baby makeing buisness I am in no way going to be able to look after each spawn. So, after I have had my fill of raising babies who could I put in the tank with them to not only clean up the other 70% of the food that these guys blow out their gills and dont eat but also sneak in for some caviar after the lights go out without getting killed? I was thinking some sort of cat or XXL clown loaches would be choice. I realise this may be an expensive trial and error deal but I could really use some suggestions to start with.
Clean up crew for a trimac tank?
- Thread starter LD50
- Start date
LMAO!!! 
Sorry...
What size tank is the Trimac pair in?
I had my pair (m-10~11"; f-6~7") in a 4x2x2 120 gal for about a year. In one back corner I buried several layers of rocks and slate in about 2.5 square feet and put an adult pair of Convicts (m-5";f-4") in with them.
The Male Trimac spent most of his day attacking the rocks until he finally killed them both.
I tried another smaller pair and amusingly he didn't bother them nearly as much. He eventually learned a little game of grabbing the male Convict in his mouth and then raming the glass. This happened about 7 times before it killed the Convict.
Once the female was by herself she decided she wanted to mate with the male Trimac. She was quickly eaten (eaten, not killed) by the female Trimac.
In my fairly limited experience with Trimacs, I don't see any fish working for the application you are looking for. I was hoping the Convicts would work and they had extensive caves to move around in where the Trimacs couldn't get to them. But Trimacs are smart and any fish will eventually come out to "stretch it's fins"...
I suspect something like an adult Red Tail Catfish would work well or som eother kind of very large catfish, but it's unlikely you have the space in the tank for something large enough to not be bothered by a breedin gpair of Trimacs...
Sorry...
What size tank is the Trimac pair in?
I had my pair (m-10~11"; f-6~7") in a 4x2x2 120 gal for about a year. In one back corner I buried several layers of rocks and slate in about 2.5 square feet and put an adult pair of Convicts (m-5";f-4") in with them.
The Male Trimac spent most of his day attacking the rocks until he finally killed them both.
I tried another smaller pair and amusingly he didn't bother them nearly as much. He eventually learned a little game of grabbing the male Convict in his mouth and then raming the glass. This happened about 7 times before it killed the Convict.
Once the female was by herself she decided she wanted to mate with the male Trimac. She was quickly eaten (eaten, not killed) by the female Trimac.
In my fairly limited experience with Trimacs, I don't see any fish working for the application you are looking for. I was hoping the Convicts would work and they had extensive caves to move around in where the Trimacs couldn't get to them. But Trimacs are smart and any fish will eventually come out to "stretch it's fins"...
I suspect something like an adult Red Tail Catfish would work well or som eother kind of very large catfish, but it's unlikely you have the space in the tank for something large enough to not be bothered by a breedin gpair of Trimacs...
Oh, by the way, water changes on this tank was fun...
I had to "challenge" the male Trimac with one hand while cleaning with the other. He nipped me several times bit never got a painful grip. But I could see his teeth and knew better than to ignore his threats...
I had to "challenge" the male Trimac with one hand while cleaning with the other. He nipped me several times bit never got a painful grip. But I could see his teeth and knew better than to ignore his threats...
My male has killed 2 big 10" plecos I don't try anymore. Fot a breeding pair the best kleen up crew is you, a gravel vac and a kevlar glove!
I wouldn't add anything with a breeding pair, because they will kill anything else you put in there. Also if you need a clean-up crew then you are over feeding you fish, wihich is bad for them and the water params. Just reduce the amount of food given and you will be fine.
nc_nutcase;3910097; said:
thats funny, yea I thought about that, since I reunited him with his Mrs. yesterday he starts flareing his gills at me anytime I get within about 10ft of the tank now.cichlidinsomniac;3910176; said:
Outstanding! sounds like they will rock the 125 on their own.
Aquanero;3910193; said:
Apparently thats the way its going to be!
cichlidfish;3910362; said:
I'm not over feeding, but these guys are as bad as oscars. Half their food goes out their gills lol. But yes I suppose its just going to be a matter of vacing the sand every few days. Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice/warnings.
LD50;3910604; said:
Mine LOVED fresh shrimp and gulped it down with no possibility of it crumbling like cichlids sticks etc. Also earthworms, mealworms and a big pellet that doesnt crumble so easily.
Did you post pics of the pair already? If not....whatcha waitin for man? Lets see em!! Not much better looking fish when in pre-spawn or breeding colors!
nc_nutcase;3910092; said:LMAO!!!
Sorry...
What size tank is the Trimac pair in?
I had my pair (m-10~11"; f-6~7") in a 4x2x2 120 gal for about a year. In one back corner I buried several layers of rocks and slate in about 2.5 square feet and put an adult pair of Convicts (m-5";f-4") in with them.
The Male Trimac spent most of his day attacking the rocks until he finally killed them both.
I tried another smaller pair and amusingly he didn't bother them nearly as much. He eventually learned a little game of grabbing the male Convict in his mouth and then raming the glass. This happened about 7 times before it killed the Convict.
Once the female was by herself she decided she wanted to mate with the male Trimac. She was quickly eaten (eaten, not killed) by the female Trimac.
In my fairly limited experience with Trimacs, I don't see any fish working for the application you are looking for. I was hoping the Convicts would work and they had extensive caves to move around in where the Trimacs couldn't get to them. But Trimacs are smart and any fish will eventually come out to "stretch it's fins"...
I suspect something like an adult Red Tail Catfish would work well or som eother kind of very large catfish, but it's unlikely you have the space in the tank for something large enough to not be bothered by a breedin gpair of Trimacs...
You have no idea how bad I want a trimac after reading posts like this.