Istlanum and stalsbergi outside in Oregon

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Modest_Man

Modest_Man

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 5, 2006
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Washington
Just pulled them out of the pond, as nights are starting to get chilly. This was my first try keeping cichlids in an outdoor pond, and it worked out well. Never saw the fish though but I managed to find all ten after a month looking great. Next year I'll get them out earlier in the season. Temps were in the mid 80's during the day and in the mid 70's at night.

I also did a little "surgery", cutting down the split dorsal fin of the istlanum in the photo. If things go correctly it should regrow and look like "new".

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They were only out for about 3 weeks, so they didn't grow all that much. Istlanum grew more than the stalsbergi, obviously.
 
These two look good and do you have any tank shots now that you have pulled them in? Who was the one who did the damage? The stalsbergi or was there something else? I have had cichlids w/ fins torn that badly and healed without having to do anything.
 
I had similar experience doing that with carpintis... they grow quickly outside in the sunshine, but you can't see them unless you pull them, that's then only downside. Wonder what makes them grow so much faster? I fed them normal NLS and didn't even do any water changes all summer
 
freebyrd said:
I had similar experience doing that with carpintis... they grow quickly outside in the sunshine, but you can't see them unless you pull them, that's then only downside. Wonder what makes them grow so much faster? I fed them normal NLS and didn't even do any water changes all summer
Click to expand...

Being able to graze on algae and small bugs they can catch has a lot to do with it. They can graze all day long if they like.


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cichlidfish said:
These two look good and do you have any tank shots now that you have pulled them in? Who was the one who did the damage? The stalsbergi or was there something else? I have had cichlids w/ fins torn that badly and healed without having to do anything.
Click to expand...

I got him that way, no idea what caused it. They're just in some 30 gallon grow out tanks, nothing exciting at all.

Outdoors is the way to go for sure. I'll be doing it again next year on a longer, larger scale I think.
 
My portable pond is still outdoor since SoCal is experiencing warm weather for the past months. I'll keep it outside for another month.

Do you guys use any type of filtration? I don't, just plants and every week I add fresh water.


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