Festae cichlid tank setup ideas?

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Kribensis4me

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 3, 2012
248
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Arizona
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Behind some rocks and driftwood I have 3 plower pots hidden. And on tge far left I have 2 pvc logs my bro made me. They are still a bit shy on them pvc logs. But is that a good setup for my little festae tank? I have over 10 festaes, 2 small convict's, and a stray kribensis I was never able to catch.

Will that 125g tank be a workable setup for festaes to spawn in? Or should it be more plane and more pots?

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The way you have it setup looks great but there's basically three zones around those pots, and the convict pair will fight to the death for one of them unless you get lucky and they take over a branch or corner of the tank. Festae pairs won't tolerate other festae (especially not while spawning) so I can't really see a group being kept together successfully long-term. I had four 3.5-4.5'' festae in a 100g and just lost my first one last night. There weren't nearly as many hiding spots as you have, but the dominant female still chased him from the other side of the tank because she liked the other male better. She never hit him very hard tho and I didn't see any big cuts so it was pretty surprising and disappointing to lose one already :( I would hate for your fish to suffer the same fate so I definitely wouldn't recommend keeping more than one or maybe two pairs in there for very long.
 
I forgot everyones names and ny phone wont let ne look back. So i'll try and reply to everyone.

First. Thanks guys/gals for your help.

The festaes are F2 babys. They are all brothers and sisters. I got them off a real cool friend in Arizona on craigslist. Looks as if I did get some runts and I did have 2 that grew upwords more then lengthy. I know over time they will start fighting. Im planning on another 125g tank for a pair or a plywood tank build one day. The 2 convicts in the tank... LOL were ment as food for them as I have mom and dad convict in a 75g tank. And they have been breeding since they hit the age of 5 or 6 months. But I guess when I put there first batch of fry in the tank for festaes to eat. It just turned out that the 2 to survive were male and femal. So with them still being too young to breed. I figured they would be target fish for the festae until I can get another tank going. But them dang convict cichlids grow so freaking fast. I may have to take at least the boy convict if they start to breed.

I know the festae red terrors have a mean reputation. But I dont know how to tell who are male or female yet. The guy I got them from saw a video I postes before. And said it looks like I have a good mix of boys and girls. But I dont have a clue till I see them pare up like convict cichlids do.

Which is why I wanted to make sure my tank was set up "right" for them to breed in. I have been coming across a lot if other people with blank tanks with just a rock or 2 and sone flower pots. And my friend has his full of sand that the mom would dig in for days. Making a mointain of sand. I just want to make sure im doing right for them Festaes that me my wife and daughter all love.

When I can see or spot 2 pairs. Ill sell off or give away the rest.

I have included a video I took last night to better show the tank setup. And to make sure you all think im ok on my setup. We love the festae's. . I was thinking about adding a power head. But right now I have 2 canister filters and the output's are both on tge left side blowing to tge right. And I can see there is sone current under the water when I feed them.

Thanks again everyone. And id appreciate any more crateaking.

My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGCL6LkReco&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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I know I type a lot. Sorry bout dat. ;-)

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