How can I get a more colorful Green Terror?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I know my 25g isn't good for life for all 3 fIsh, I was planning on getting a 55 for them to share. This tank is temporary.

I can't tell sex at all but I don't think anyone really can. It looks like it could go either way based on shape and fins.
 
CClump;4804863; said:
its probably a female. Looks a lot like mine and they just dont color as well as the males do.
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I agree with CClump.

Females don't generally get the wide saum and overall bright coloration of the males. I would leand towards yours being a female. However having said that, I have also seen males not color up very much if they are not the dominant fish in the tank. The things you can do to get the most color possible from your fish is clean water a good diet and a 10K bulb which brings out the red/orange and blues in the scales. Other wise you can't do much about genetics and/or the sex of your fish. 25 gallons is not a large enough tank for those fish and I feel a 55 while better is only marginal at best. I would get a 75 rather than the 55 for slightly more money it would be well woth the investment.
 
my regiment for more colorful fish (that works every time for me): Live 2 time a week (black worms or ghost shrimp) Frozen 2 times a week (I get a multipack and krill flatpack) NLS for the rest of the feedings. NLS is probably the best food on the market. If you compare the ingredients to Omega One, you will see that the main ingredients are similer but once you get past the first 3 or 4 you will see the difference. It's a much better food. That food combo with weekly water changes should give you some better results. And as you already know, you will need to upgrade to a bigger tank. I would skip the 55gal and go straight to a 75gal. You will need the space. It would be the better investment. Your GT will need 50gal to itself when full grown and a 55 isn't deep enough 12" fish in a 13" deep tank dosn't suit it very well. Back to the diet though, variety is always best. Although most fishkeepers I know in my area use NLS 100% of the time and get amazing results as well. Hope you end up with the results you want no matter how you get there!
 
Thank you all for your advice, i appreciate it all!

the only outlet for fish supplies i have local is a Petsmart and Petco. From what they have in stock/on sale, they consider a 55g to be of HUGE size. The dimensions of those tanks are indeed awkward...but what would be better options? How about a 55/60g bowfront aquarium?

I've never heard of this "NLS" but it has been mentioned a lot! i'll try to read up on it.
 
search craigslist for tanks. It's cheaper. Bowfront of that size wount work. You need the water space as well as a good footprint. NLS = New Life Spectrum. Petco sells it I think but you can get it cheaper online or through a local distributer like I do. 75gal + is what the fish will NEED. Up to you in the long run but I wouldn't waste the money on the 55/60 if I'll just have to make another upgrade soon anyway. But like I said, craigslist or just a used tank in general is the way to go!
 
On previous searches, Craigslist hasn't been fruitful. Apparently noone has "big" fish, or either they dont sell their stuff. Most owners local keep mollies and etc...small stuff.

Later on, would meals of crickets and etc be advisble for my cichlids? or should i stick with shrimps/frozen-prepared foods?
 
Aqueon (aka All-Glass) has their tanks and stands on special this month. 75s are 50% off. This may be incentive for you to take a bit of a drive to an out of the way store and come home with a new 75.
 
I am not a big proponent of feeding diets high in animal protean to these fish. Do to there digestive systems it has been my experience that the longer it takes to digest a particular food the higher the risk for and internal bacterial infection. A lot of times with these fish the “white stringy poop” often associated with an internal parasite is often cause by diet and is bacterial in nature rather than parasitic. Some foods I have noticed will cause this are Krill/Shrimp shells and worms. I do feed Krill and worms occasionally but not as a regular part of their diet. I use them a couple of times a month as a treat, which they enjoy. I use NLS Thera +A and believe the added garlic is excellent for the digestive system, I also use Hikari Bio-Gold+ and in combination make up the bulk of their diet. I also feed skinned peas a couple of times a week along with Omega One Veggie Wafers from time to time. When I do use Krill or worms I always feed a pea or two first, this works for me and would recommend this type of diet for these fish. If I had to choose only one food I would use the Thera +A. This has been my experience in dealing with these fish.
 
do I really need to upgrade to tanks ASAP? my BRP is the largest now, and he's barely at 4" (see avatar). The yellow lab and GT are the same size, roughly 2.5" I'd consider my 25g a nursery tank...its easy for me to swap water frequently, easy to keep clean and filtered, yet is large enough to only need minor routine attention.

it's a long story to it...but i will be moving here within the 2011 year. I'd much rather move a 25g tank than 75g (a lot less water to use/transfer).

my plan was to use this 25g until 2/3 fish were 5"+, then upgrade at that time if i hadnt moved already.
 
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