Kels

[Dial92]

I received 3 kels or what I were told to be kels. Very skittish even after 48 hours. Used to have other bass and all of them were very active even the first day. Should I get dithers or just wait a while and see how they acclimate. And let me know if they are kels or not

 

[CichlaRyan]

Either Kelberi or Orinocensis. Probably Kelberi.

 

[Dis]

Your water is too cold..needs to be at least 82 to 84. That should help them out

 

[jimmie1974]

Their not orinos. Vertical bar enters the tail section. Nice color to them. Can you get a side shot

 

[Dial92]

Water is at 81now but I'll bump it up and i will try this afternoon

 

[Dial92]

would red hook silver dollars be to aggressive and large to get them outand moving?

 

[krichardson]

I doubt if the temperature being higher by a few degrees is going to have an effect on the young cichla's skittishness.A lot of young cichla are skittish, most kelberi that I have had were and it is pretty much a matter of them growing out of it...adding dithers might help.

 

[Dial92]

did you do the bigger aggressive eating dithers like red hooks or did you go with something like tinfoil barbs or flag tailed barbs. like say i have had other species and have never ran into this problem. this morning one of the bass looks like it ate but the other two look like they have not eaten since i got them and there are feeders with them the whole time.

 

[Dial92]

or do you think getting a few more bass will help like cheap farm monos or maybe something like that

 

[krichardson]

did you do the bigger aggressive eating dithers like red hooks or did you go with something like tinfoil barbs or flag tailed barbs. like say i have had other species and have never ran into this problem. this morning one of the bass looks like it ate but the other two look like they have not eaten since i got them and there are feeders with them the whole time.

Some do use them but I have never used dithers for my young cichla so that is for you to think on and decide.I also would not bother with getting any more cichla in an attempt to make them feel comfortable,then you would be stuck with fish that you really do not want and will have to rehome.
You said that you have feeders in the tank for them to eat so just let them settle in.They will all go after and eat the feeders when they are ready to.