im new to this species and just purchased 4 but dont now what to take care a part from cichlid care?? food, temperature, and space till they get big enogh to go to my display aquarium theyre at the 2 inch mark right now.
my first c. ocellaris
- Thread starter citrinelum
- Start date
At that size the most important thing is temperature and quality food. Run the tank at 87 degrees, no exceptions. Feed them whatever they will eat. Do not starve them at that size. They should probably eat 3 small meals per day untill the reach 4-5 inches. Then you can reduce the number of feedings. If they will eat prepared food I advise blood worms, and tiny tiny pieces of raw shrimp or fish. If they will eat that or small pellets, you will have a very good head start. Alot of juv. Cichla wont eat anything but live food. If that is the case give them guppies and small rosie red minnows, or live earthworms / blackworms if you can get them. When mine were that size they loved white mosquito larvae. AKA glassworms. They come frozen in cubes, I would thaw them in a cup of tank water, then suck them up with an eye dropper and squeeze them into the tank. Wait till they eat most of them then give them another dose, untill they quit eating or they looked noticeably full. Did the same with frozen blood worms. Stay on top of your water changes. Ide do no less than 25% once or twice per week. Hope this helps, I know it works.
citrinelum;2696671; said:
Food: Most likely, live food. Try anything really, small feeders, small worms, peices of earthworms, etc.
Temperature: At leas 80 degrees, but they should ideally be in 86 - 88 degrees.
Space: Hell, at that size they are ok in a 10 gallon even, if there is nothing in the tank. But, they grow fast. I would say 32 to 44 gallon.
Venom SS;2697061; said:
thanks i think ill go with the fish and shrimps as right now im out of guppies in my pond, and i wouldnt like to buy some that will have parasites.
SOKO;2697100; said:
thanks, well i put them rigth now in a 10 gallon with 3 vieja maculicauda and 2 cuban, since theyre very small and im afraid to put them on a 58 gall. where i have 2 four inch oscars and 3 jd. around 3 inches.
Yeh so basically, temp - 87, alot of aeration in the tank, some dw to help lower ph, and plants would be good to provide some cover.. feed live foods till they reach 7-8" and have a good water change schedule and youll be right 
silverdragon;2698337; said:Yeh so basically, temp - 87, alot of aeration in the tank, some dw to help lower ph, and plants would be good to provide some cover.. feed live foods till they reach 7-8" and have a good water change schedule and youll be right
thanks for the advice, but today when i went home i found two of them dead ive just made them a change to a 16 gallon tank with 4 festae, i hope tomorow they find their new home better and might eat tomorrow.
ive just bought them brine shrimp but one of them just past out and now i only have one i have some small mbunas too and see if it wants some hope it makes it.
Soryy to hear that. I took the advice of the guys here and both mine are still alive. Listen to the pros here and you will do well. These guys know!
citrinelum;2708756; said:
Sorry to hear about your losses.. I hope the one you have left pulls through. You should remember to maintain to keep your tanks at 87 with juvies as their suceptible to ich and other diseases and feed them whatever they will eat at this size. you can worry about altering diets as they get bigger.. hope you get some more
hang in there. I'm glad I did
little ones are very sensitive. Personally, I wouldn't put them in w/ the cichlids you did.
little ones are very sensitive. Personally, I wouldn't put them in w/ the cichlids you did.