Need advice on new 2" cichla

[High City Rida]

As Disturbed would say, I'm "Down with the Cichness"
Only problem I'm having is finding enough guppies at LFS to feed these guys. On that, how do you keep your guppies alive??! I have kept them in a separate tank in the past and have found atleast 5 dying a day.

Ahhh I have another member that had a 100 feeders die this weekend. I called him and he told me what happend. I still find 5 dead feeders just like you and a little less sometime's but at least one dead everymorning. The bigger the holding tank the better you success you will have. I first had to see what the total capacity my 10g could handle. I have had 200 feeders in here but I had to feed half of that to ensure all of them survive.

My limit right now is exactly 100 feeders in this tank. And all I have on this tank is a power head and a undergravel filter with an up riser with a carbon cartridge. I have found that daily or at least every other day I need to change 10 percent of the water. (this helps) Temperature is the other factor. Rosies like cold temps 75 degr compaired to Cichla 87 deg, that is a drastic change So what I have done is right around the time I have the last of my feeders from the previous week coming to the last ten or so, I bump the heat down a little. On Friday when I get my 100 feeder's the tank should be at 80 deg because I turned it down a little the day before. Sat morning I then bump it back up 2 deg so they don't die when they hitt the Cichla tank. This is how I get away with leaving feeders for my cichla 24/7.

Truthfully your going to have to try a few thing's that make it more of a succesful holding tank but Water Changes is the key.

 

[ado124]

Awesome advice, Thanks!

 

[Marius]

Ahhh I have another member that had a 100 feeders die this weekend. I called him and he told me what happend. I still find 5 dead feeders just like you and a little less sometime's but at least one dead everymorning. The bigger the holding tank the better you success you will have. I first had to see what the total capacity my 10g could handle. I have had 200 feeders in here but I had to feed half of that to ensure all of them survive.

My limit right now is exactly 100 feeders in this tank. And all I have on this tank is a power head and a undergravel filter with an up riser with a carbon cartridge. I have found that daily or at least every other day I need to change 10 percent of the water. (this helps) Temperature is the other factor. Rosies like cold temps 75 degr compaired to Cichla 87 deg, that is a drastic change So what I have done is right around the time I have the last of my feeders from the previous week coming to the last ten or so, I bump the heat down a little. On Friday when I get my 100 feeder's the tank should be at 80 deg because I turned it down a little the day before. Sat morning I then bump it back up 2 deg so they don't die when they hitt the Cichla tank. This is how I get away with leaving feeders for my cichla 24/7.

Truthfully your going to have to try a few thing's that make it more of a succesful holding tank but Water Changes is the key.

Have you tried raising you own feeders (Convicts?).

 

[ado124]

I have, the fry aren't growing fast enough!

 

[High City Rida]

Have you tried raising you own feeders (Convicts?).

Brother I have seven on going breeder's. Convict's included!

 

[High City Rida]

I have, the fry aren't growing fast enough!

I have a batch of fry from all of the seven every month and this is always the problem. (not all at the same time) but I always have fry around. Cichlid fry don't grow fast enough. But the purpose of me breeding is to get the fry to 8'' to feed to my big boy's! Haha always have the little thing's covered. I am super attentive.

 

[haynchinook334]

I have, the fry aren't growing fast enough!

Power feed. I power feed my fry cons.

 

[High City Rida]

Power feed. I power feed my fry cons.

Well you already know I do. But what is a 2'' feeder to an 8'' Cichla and how long is a 100 con fry really going to last? That's why I keep other breeder's. i also keep fry from all of my fry to have future breeders. Alway's staying ahead of the learning curb.

 

[haynchinook334]

Well you already know I do. But what is a 2'' feeder to an 8'' Cichla and how long is a 100 con fry really going to last.

I feel you on that one bro. I feed my bass feeders to convert them to silver sides and then to shrimp.

 

[High City Rida]

I feel you on that one bro. I feed my bass feeders to convert them to silver sides and then to shrimp.

That's funny I start off with shrimp and krill to get them onto everything else. To each his own.