Grammode Experience

[nuth88]

Hey~

I have a nice Grammy (5-6" - 2.5 years old) who is pretty mellow, as long as you do not challenge him, he is in a 220 with:

220 Gal:

1x-Ex.Cichlasoma Grammodes
1x-Red Texas (A.liabiatus x H.carpintis)
1x-Nandopsis tetracanthus
4x-"Heckel Stripe" Silver Dollars
2x-"Red Hook" Silver Dollars
2x-Synodontis euptera
2x-Synodontis multipunctata
5x-Red Tail Botia (Yasuhikotakia modesta)
1x-Red Striped Raphael (8")

Filtration:
1x-Pro Clear Aquatics Model 300 Wet/Dry Filter with Prefilter (powered by a Quiet One 4000 Pump - 990 GPH)
2x-AC 70 PH with attachment

Now, here is the rub, I HAD a RT Mota male, about 5" chasing him like a MF, I almost removed the Grammy last night due to fear of losing him, what an idiot, esp since this guy has gone toe to toe with a 9" Male Jag and I had to seperate them for fear of the Jag. The Mota was nuts, went to bed, woke up this AM, went down to feed, and wala, Dead mota, everyone else was just doing their daily thing, but the Grammy was now in a skull (decoration) that he had claimed and did not come out to eat, I checked him out, he was cool, just chillin'.

I want and will add to the tank, I want to have a Grammode, I have had this guy forever and a day, do I get him his own tank? I am not using a 220 as a Grammode Solo tank....

If you are sub dominant, he will not bug you, but try to mess with him, he goes all Medeival. What to do? Thoughts?

Nuthman~

 

[D-Train]

How big is he? I would say get him a 55-75 gallon tank, he should do wonderfully in there. Maybe try a dither fish to get him to come out if he is shy. Thats about all the space he would need, GL.

 

[balton777]

That's a tough call. If he's doing alright in the community tank for the most part maybe you could leave him in there. Put up a sign in the tank, "Beware of Grammodes", so the other fish know not to jack with him. Just kidding Nuth...sorry to hear about your Mota. My Grammy killed my former female Festae and she was my favorite fish. I wanted to thump him on the side of his head. I guess losing a fish here or there comes with keeping a community tank.

 

[darthodo]

How big is he? I would say get him a 55-75 gallon tank, he should do wonderfully in there. Maybe try a dither fish to get him to come out if he is shy. Thats about all the space he would need, GL.

My thoughts exactly. I have a male grammode solo in a 55 gallon tank and it is one of the most satisfying setups I have.

 

[nuth88]

The Problem with doing a solo for him is that I am already planning on a solo 55 for my Instlathum. Space means I can only do 1. If I was not married, I would for sure do a double 55 stack, with them both, but alas, I am married (for now) and losing half my stuff would be half my tanks. I can only do 1. The problem is, he is a great fish, but I would hate for another fish to start putting on some size, challenge him, and then, "That's all folks!" Dillemmma

 

[cchhcc]

nuth88...... I've found they do really well with "unrelated" cichlids. The trouble comes when another piscivore is in with them. Your other fish will probably be fine.

 

[nuth88]

The problem is, I have to have my aggression gene fed, you know? I would love to have a tank like Balton with the big boys (Like I had, Gen Pop I - Waaah!) I am think of adding some amps, they have a much higher activity level, and tend to keep moving, I am getting some Sp.Isletas, and once they are in, may add some A.amarillo as well. I really belive (Call me stupid, I am used to it) that he is just Hyper aggressive in that, as long as you know your place, you should be fine, he has proven in the past to be a gent with larger Amps, and Parachromis, it's the ones about his size that muck up the business.

Short of that, the other thought is to give him the 30 as a solo, and bite the bullet. He has shown to be ok with Cats (Botine, Synos, and the like), that might just be the ticket. I have a shoal of Skunk Botia, who are tough as nails, but could not handle the Instlanthum, well he hates everything but me......

 

[nuth88]

Update-

He has been good today, not really social at all, but still out to eat, Cuban and the Red Texas are running all over, but get out of the way. Gonna add the Isleta's and some Amarillo, then I may do a order from Conkel or Rapps for some nice Freddies.

 

[Dovii kid]

Good luck!

IME grammodes are pretty intolerant of tankmates. I had no luck mixing anything with my male, except when he was smaller and in a growout tank. He ended up in my 125gallon solo. You have more space, so maybe it will work out for you.

 

[davidefc]

Unlucky mate, I have a 6-7" ish breeding pair of F1 grammodes, there fine in the tank, there in a 4by2by2 120 gallon tank, I will most likely move them into another tank soon on there own.