How can I get a more colorful Green Terror?
- Thread starter phyber
- Start date
phyber;4806701; said:
Nothing really "wrong.".,......LOL..........Just, if you were looking for GT tankbuster, by buying from a LFS, you succumb to the potential of weak genetics.........The best thing to do is to purchase from online sources such as Jeff Rapps...........Tangledupincichlids.com has all the good stuff cichlids to get............You get the top quality wild caught speciman that you were dreaming of about.....And best of all, they have distant blood line ties from the common lfs...........So breeding will be way OK, if decided to in the future...........Just remember to window shop before purchasing a long living cichlid monster............
Bought my pair from my LFS, they are beauts. He does get his from a local breeder who does bring in 'new blood' every so often to avoid inbreeding.
Just do a minimum of 50% water changes per week. Feed a varied diet; stick with the spirulina sticks, use a good quality pellet, frozen bloodworm, crickets and meal worms for live food but no live fish, you can also try some raw prawn chopped up quite small. The varied diet will ensure excellent nutrition and that nothing is missed in it's diet. The spirulina and a good pellet will enhance it's colour quite a lot but the rest will help, the spirulina will aid in it's digestion and keep the little guys guts clean and regular.
More space will also help, get the largest tank you can fit and afford to buy, please do not get the minimum unless that is all you can afford or fit. Remember to look ebay and craigslist for cheap but large tanks.
A 75g should really be your minimum, 12"+ GT's are rare probably because many die before they hit full size or are sold on before they reach it.
Keep an eye on it's fins, if they do not start to heal then it is a good bet that something is nipping, probably the African seeing how mangled a BP's jaw is. Stress will not help so check for chasing as they are easily stressed when young.
Even poor quality GT's bought from places like petsmart look good, 90% of the GT's shown by the Americans on this site are places like Petsmart. I think your one just needs some TLC. Give it time.
More space will also help, get the largest tank you can fit and afford to buy, please do not get the minimum unless that is all you can afford or fit. Remember to look ebay and craigslist for cheap but large tanks.
A 75g should really be your minimum, 12"+ GT's are rare probably because many die before they hit full size or are sold on before they reach it.
Keep an eye on it's fins, if they do not start to heal then it is a good bet that something is nipping, probably the African seeing how mangled a BP's jaw is. Stress will not help so check for chasing as they are easily stressed when young.
Even poor quality GT's bought from places like petsmart look good, 90% of the GT's shown by the Americans on this site are places like Petsmart. I think your one just needs some TLC. Give it time.
It sound like you might have a female on your hands. If its a female the colors are going to be dull.
As mention before the tank you have is going to be to small for them to spend its life in. IMO i think a 55 is bare minum for a GT by itself and even then that pushing it. GT get big. 75 gallon would be a better choice then the 55.
As for coloring her up. Alot play on genetics but a very heathy diet and good water will go along way. Spirulina well help bring the green/ blues out.
As mention before the tank you have is going to be to small for them to spend its life in. IMO i think a 55 is bare minum for a GT by itself and even then that pushing it. GT get big. 75 gallon would be a better choice then the 55.
As for coloring her up. Alot play on genetics but a very heathy diet and good water will go along way. Spirulina well help bring the green/ blues out.
Thanks all for the help.
As an update, I'm glad to say thy the diet change has been giving great results. Simply adding a spirillum specific food to the mix has brought out the metallic green in my fish's side and is slowly lightening it. Maybe in a while I'll post another pic for progress.
Thanks again for your help!
As an update, I'm glad to say thy the diet change has been giving great results. Simply adding a spirillum specific food to the mix has brought out the metallic green in my fish's side and is slowly lightening it. Maybe in a while I'll post another pic for progress.
Thanks again for your help!
Good to hear that changing the diet is working for you. Hopefully the GT turns out to be a stunner. Keep us posted on the changes.
Just keep an eye out when going to your LFS this includes Petco and Petsmart. I seen some nice GT's in those two stores.
The fish in my avitar was him at 4".
Just keep an eye out when going to your LFS this includes Petco and Petsmart. I seen some nice GT's in those two stores.
The fish in my avitar was him at 4".
Just because you bought your fish at Petsmart or Petco doesn't mean it wont grow into a stunner. I personally think my female looks amazing since I bought her from Petsmart (saved her from a tank with ick). But you'll have a better chance if you do your research and look at breedings or online vendors.
