New 125 all male peacock and Hap tank

[Eric1115]

For the shrimp or prawns you can just cut it into the smallest you can get, they will chew on it for a while. I feed 3 mm NLS 5 nights a week, then shrimp the night before my water change, then I dont feed them the night of my water change. I like to think the shrimp helps improve color but honestly I just like watching them attack the shrimp pieces.

And yes they will flash when they have glue flukes and as a territorial thing. If they do a little shake after they flash it means its territorial. And generally they do it to kick up sand and make a scene.

And I use epson salt, Pickling salt and baking soda every water change to adjust water hardness and Ph. If your salinity or hardness is low they will flash as well.

Yes, mine is a little low 7.6 out of the tab and for the longest time I was adding baking soda and Epsom salt to buff to 8.2 and my LFS told me it’s too high and most of the fishes being sold these day are tank raise, they can adjust to lower ph. So I started lower by buff and eventually stopped buffing and just let straight out of the tab also stopped checking PH, GH and KH. I do have crushed coral mixed in my sand. I would say 1.5 inch sand with .5 inch crushed coral as my substrate.

I will try a few small pieces of prawn today and see.

Thanks

 

[Eric1115]

?

Yes, mine is a little low 7.6 out of the tab and for the longest time I was adding baking soda and Epsom salt to buff to 8.2 and my LFS told me it’s too high and most of the fishes being sold these day are tank raise, they can adjust to lower ph. So I started lower by buff and eventually stopped buffing and just let straight out of the tab also stopped checking PH, GH and KH. I do have crushed coral mixed in my sand. I would say 1.5 inch sand with .5 inch crushed coral as my substrate.

I will try a few small pieces of prawn today and see.

Thanks

I tried feeding prawn, I cutted them up and throw into the tank, it did took a piece but spit it out, then ate it again and spit out again. Did that couple of times and another fish snatch it and ate it.

 

[Eric1115]

Could be a variety of issues. I would isolate and treat with general cure ( prazipro is easier on the fish but not as effective on a variety of issues) for 7 to 10 days. Offer food after 5 days and if it dosnt eat after 10 theres not much you can do.
It's likely just an internal parasite. The fact it isnt eating could be the first sign of internal parasites, bloat or worst case gill flukes.

I recently got an order of fish with gill flukes and have lost 4 smaller fish over the past 3 months, it's a brutal parasite and almost impossible to treat or get rid of in a large tank. Luckily most fish arnt effected much by it unless they are stressed. Internal parasite are pretty common and easily treated in haps.

so on top of the Mylochromis, I also notice three other new fish with white string of poop. Two of them are spitting the pellets out. I think it's internal parasite? So should i order Genral Cure and dose the tank or treat with some other meds?

Thank you for you help on this.

 

[ryang85]

so on top of the Mylochromis, I also notice three other new fish with white string of poop. Two of them are spitting the pellets out. I think it's internal parasite? So should i order Genral Cure and dose the tank or treat with some other meds?

Thank you for you help on this.

The spitting out of food is usually a sure sign of internal parasite of bloat. My female christyi just started doing tonight it so she is going into quarantine, I generally assume its bloat or parasite until they start eating again. If you have a big enough quarantine tank I would place them there and treat. My tank is only 30 gallons but it works fine since they are only in there 10 days. It will allow you to do multiple things such as feed medicated food, put in espson salt ( a natural laxative), go a longer time without water changes and keep them away from aggressive fish.


If you dont have a spare tank treating the whole tank is the only option.

 

[Eric1115]

The spitting out of food is usually a sure sign of internal parasite of bloat. My female christyi just started doing tonight it so she is going into quarantine, I generally assume its bloat or parasite until they start eating again. If you have a big enough quarantine tank I would place them there and treat. My tank is only 30 gallons but it works fine since they are only in there 10 days. It will allow you to do multiple things such as feed medicated food, put in espson salt ( a natural laxative), go a longer time without water changes and keep them away from aggressive fish.


If you dont have a spare tank treating the whole tank is the only option.

If couple of my fishes has it, doesn't it mean my other might have it also or in the tank water like other parasite? I was suppose to get a new a new 55 but is delayed so don't have something big enough for all these large fish so I will have to treat the entire tank.

I just order General Cure but due to this Corona Virus, I wouldn't get it until 4/25. I do have PraziPro, Aquarium Salt, Epson Salt and Garlic. Not sure if I will be able to get other med from anywhere now because everything is closed and all shipping delayed.

Is there anything I can do to help my fish last til 4/25 when the general Cure arrive?

 

[Eric1115]

The spitting out of food is usually a sure sign of internal parasite of bloat. My female christyi just started doing tonight it so she is going into quarantine, I generally assume its bloat or parasite until they start eating again. If you have a big enough quarantine tank I would place them there and treat. My tank is only 30 gallons but it works fine since they are only in there 10 days. It will allow you to do multiple things such as feed medicated food, put in espson salt ( a natural laxative), go a longer time without water changes and keep them away from aggressive fish.


If you dont have a spare tank treating the whole tank is the only option.

This is how the poop looks like, very very thin white poop.

thanks

 

[ryang85]

View attachment 1412021
This is how the poop looks like, very very thin white poop.

thanks

Prazi wont bother the fish much. I would treat the whole tank now and if it works then you can just save to general cure for another day. If it dosnt then do a big water change and use general cure.

 

[Eric1115]

Prazi wont bother the fish much. I would treat the whole tank now and if it works then you can just save to general cure for another day. If it dosnt then do a big water change and use general cure.

I just dosed the whole tank with PraziPro. Will wait 3 days, then water change, the another wc 3 days after that and dose again, repeat until General Cure arrive and dose GC if fish does not improve.

hopefully my fishes survive this. Do I need to cut down on feeding?

thanks

 

[Eric1115]

Surprisingly, I keep most of the Cichlids listed in your first group in my 120.
Regarding the wish list (all great choices)
many will eventually reach 9" - 12" inches.
Although a standard 125 tank seems like a big tank, five or six 10 inch predator Haps will quickly make it look small & cramped.
Might be a good idea to stock only one of the wish list big predator Haps and maybe a big relatively peaceful Hap like the VC-10; the rest smaller to mid- sized Haps.
I only have two Predator Haps, a young adult Fusco & Juvenile Livingstoni. Other Haps include, Borleyi, Red Empress, Tiawan Reef, Gold Blaze, Chrysonotis, & Azureus. The rest are Peacocks & Mbuna .
My tank population is maxed out. Not cramped but definitely full.
IMO your current stock list plus the wish list cichlids would take a 200 plus gallon tank to accommodate.

Hi

So my wife agreed on letting me get a bigger tank, 300 gallon or bigger, as long as it can fit through the door. I figure since the125 can fit through, then I should be able to get the 300 through. This should be able to allow me to keep all the fish on my wish list plus more. Then I will be able to use the 125 as rehome tank for any that I will need to take out from the 300.

I have the space for up to a tank size of 2000 I think. Price is a big factor and getting it into the house is another big factor.

It might take a few months to get the tank, set it up and cycle it. Starting to look through online store, Craigslist to see where’s the best place to purchase already. Also looking to see if custom build one is worth it or not from a price wise. I also read about plywood tank and not sure if that’s worth it and if anyone will build it for me and price wise if it will be better, if so I might go the biggest I can afford. Any suggestions?

So, I know you have the Fusco and Venustus, what size are they Currently at and do they fight often?

I really like the Venustus, do you think my current 125 will be ok for few month to a year to house all these fish until the larger is up?

All fish 5-6 inch except a few

Protomelas taeniolatus Red Empress 3.5 in
Albino Taiwan Reef
Placidochromis Star Sapphire 4.5 in
Morrii Blue Dolpin
Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus 3.5 in
Lichnochromis acuticeps Malawi Gar
Aristochromis Christyi
Protomelas Spilonotus Mara Rock
Placidochromis Electra
Copadichromis azureus 4 in
Tramitichromis intermedius 4.5 in
Placidochromis milomo Super VC 10
Copadichromis Refin borleyi
Rapheal Catfish
BN Pleco
PLACIDOCHROMIS Madko White Lip
Otopharynx Lithobates Z Rock
placidochromis Johnstoni
OB Peacock
Mylochromis lateristriga
Nimbochromis venustus
Fossorochromis rostratus 7.25 in

Thanks

 

[A201]

Getting a 300 gallon! That is a fantasy tank for an African Cichlid community, or just about any aquarium fish community.
My Fusco is about 5.5" inches & is the dominate Hap in the tank.
I no longer have a Venustus, but the Fusco never really bothered it. Although fairly aggressive, the Fusco is no match for my Zebra Chilumba or Red Zebra.
You have a very good stock list. Keeping them together & healthy in a 125 might be a challenge, but is certainly doable. Especially in a temporary situation.
Be a good idea to start rock hunting at your local rockyard or landscape company. There is a lot of space to fill in a 300 gal. tank. Much cheaper & huge selection at a rockyard.
A 300 gal. tank with a good sized rock hardscape & plenty of open swimming area above, allows for a mixed community of Haps, Peacocks & select Mbuna. I really like my Haps & Peacocks, but the tank would be lacking without the Mbuna dashing between the cracks & crevaces of the rocks.
Just keep in touch with the forum, we'll try to help if any problems arise.