Future RD tank-Should I weigh down the top lids?

[JESTERX626]

In a month and a half to two months or so, I'll be done cycling my tank with fish and start preparing for a RD, most likely from Rapps. Anyways I always wondered.

1. Should my top lid be weighed down in case they try to jump? Or does it not matter?

2. What type of growth rate can I expect from a healthy RD? Starting from...say a baby to 10 inches?

2. How many fish should I use to cycle my tank?

3. I wanna try a new fish I havent used for cycling, something peaceful, so my RD has some powerfed feeders to snack on when he's bigger. I already used tiger barbs. So any Ideas?

 

[large_cichlids]

u shouldent have to weigh down your hood.a average hood will do.A healthy rd will grow 1 inch per month.I woulddent feed your reddevil feeders all the time but very rarely.feeders carry diseases and u dont want to loose a prized fish for a cheap feeder.I would feed it cichlid gold which is rated the most incredible color enchancing pellet for cichlids.how big is the tank.good luck with your rd from jeff rapps.Im ordering one also.

 

[LowCel]

I have had my red devil for almost five years now and have never even had a hood on the tank. I doubt you will need to worry about weighing it down.

 

[albyoscar]

nice fish ya got there

 

[Gourami Swami]

Dont worry about weighing it down, as long as its got room to swim (I usually recommend a 75 as a minimum for a male RD) he shouldnt jump.

Giant danios would work, and compliment the RD's color in my opinion (if its red, as many are)

They can grow up to an inch a month, and slow down when they hit 7-8" or so.

Good luck!

 

[TenaciousTankBuster]

I have had my red devil for almost five years now and have never even had a hood on the tank. I doubt you will need to worry about weighing it down.

First off, very nice Rd you have there.

But I can't help but disagree with you on not having a hood. Is your aquarium completely uncovered? A rd is fully capable of jumping out of the tank at any time. My 2 inch RD jumped out of my arcrylic 60 gallon in the middle of the night when I was sleeping. Yeah I had a cover on, but he jumped out through one of the slits in the top glass that was designed for filters! I know that doesn't happen much but it does happen even when they are small.

Not to mention all 7 of the Red Devils I've kept and grown out till the 8 inch mark were glass bangers. 3 of them would actually keep me up at night by hitting their head on the glass canopy. Yes, that's right, they were trying to jump out, and it's very common. I will admit that the canopy doesn't need to be weighted down tho. But you def need a cover on a tank.

 

[JESTERX626]

u shouldent have to weigh down your hood.a average hood will do.A healthy rd will grow 1 inch per month.I woulddent feed your reddevil feeders all the time but very rarely.feeders carry diseases and u dont want to loose a prized fish for a cheap feeder.I would feed it cichlid gold which is rated the most incredible color enchancing pellet for cichlids.how big is the tank.good luck with your rd from jeff rapps.Im ordering one also.

Yea, the fish I use for cycling are definately not fish from the carp family(goldfish), since they carry the growth inhibiting/stunting enzyme known as thiaminase. But to my knowledge any other tropical fish would do well as plump feeders.

So what other hardy fish can I use for cycling besides zebra danios?

!!I also wonder, how would I gravel vac my tank if the RD tries to attack the siphon?

 

[nomadofthehills]

You could use some convicts as dithers.

 

[LowCel]

First off, very nice Rd you have there.

But I can't help but disagree with you on not having a hood. Is your aquarium completely uncovered? A rd is fully capable of jumping out of the tank at any time. My 2 inch RD jumped out of my arcrylic 60 gallon in the middle of the night when I was sleeping. Yeah I had a cover on, but he jumped out through one of the slits in the top glass that was designed for filters! I know that doesn't happen much but it does happen even when they are small.

Not to mention all 7 of the Red Devils I've kept and grown out till the 8 inch mark were glass bangers. 3 of them would actually keep me up at night by hitting their head on the glass canopy. Yes, that's right, they were trying to jump out, and it's very common. I will admit that the canopy doesn't need to be weighted down tho. But you def need a cover on a tank.

She used to hit the glass tops at night as well, I think she was just trying to get our attention. She always succeded at getting my rat terrier's attention which in turn got our attention and kept me and my wife up a lot of nights. After a few nights of this I removed the glass tops. I haven't had a problem since, well other than getting splashed from time to time.

To answer your question, other than the light strip yes, the tank is completely uncovered and has been for four years now.

 

[JeffLeMay]

i keep a dwarf belly crawler pike in with my red devil. he's about 5 inches, the red devil about 9 inches and beefy, and they get along fine