Just got a new 8 inch Texas cichlid and I had a few questions on how to properly care for it. Ive never owned a fish this big and I wasn't sure if their is anything I should be doing different.
1) how often and how much should I feed him? I've only had him for a couple of days and I've given him Large Hikari Floating Pellets and some blood worms and he seems to have accepted both of them.
2) At the store he was this amazing green but after I got him home he was completely washed out grey. I know this is normal but I was wondering if it takes longer for larger fish to adapt to their new environments. He had plants but he made quick work of those so now he doesn't really have anything to hide behind. Most of the time hell just sort of swim near a corner at the top like he's trying to hide. Every now and then hell cruise back and forth around the tank or kick up the rock. As far as the hiding goes I'm assuming this is normal behavior for a fish in a new environment?
3) I was thinking about it but I'm not sure if it would be ok to put maybe some smaller tetras in the tank with him. Just to kind of act as something for him to chase and to eat the food from the messes he makes. Also maybe to act as a buffer because the only other fish in there is a 7 inch pleco and every now and then the Texas tries starting a fight with him. The pleco holds his own so I'm not sure if its anything I should be concerned with.
Anyways thanks in advance to all that reply. Also he's in a 55 long if that matters.
1) how often and how much should I feed him? I've only had him for a couple of days and I've given him Large Hikari Floating Pellets and some blood worms and he seems to have accepted both of them.
2) At the store he was this amazing green but after I got him home he was completely washed out grey. I know this is normal but I was wondering if it takes longer for larger fish to adapt to their new environments. He had plants but he made quick work of those so now he doesn't really have anything to hide behind. Most of the time hell just sort of swim near a corner at the top like he's trying to hide. Every now and then hell cruise back and forth around the tank or kick up the rock. As far as the hiding goes I'm assuming this is normal behavior for a fish in a new environment?
3) I was thinking about it but I'm not sure if it would be ok to put maybe some smaller tetras in the tank with him. Just to kind of act as something for him to chase and to eat the food from the messes he makes. Also maybe to act as a buffer because the only other fish in there is a 7 inch pleco and every now and then the Texas tries starting a fight with him. The pleco holds his own so I'm not sure if its anything I should be concerned with.
Anyways thanks in advance to all that reply. Also he's in a 55 long if that matters.
