New Plans

[rich_one]

Haven't started a thread in this section in a while, but here we go. I decided I no longer like one of my 125s, and am moving all of the fish in there, except the hartwegi I got from Dan Ye... one of my favorite fish in my collection... just gorgeous.

Anyway, I decided to empty that 125, and instead, start a festae colony with it. So, I am getting a group of juvie festae from a local friend. This, after my long and failed search for a female big enough to pair with my current large male. Since I couldn't find a large one, I'm starting over and creating a pair the long way then. So be it.

Anyway, I plan to put that group of festae in the 125. I am undecided on what else to put in there with them, at the moment, however. So I still have to figure that out. Feel free to suggest.

In the other 125, I am pushing my luck, and making adjustments as necessary. In there will be my lyonsi, oscar, synspillum, snook, zonatum, hartwegi and severum. Of course I know there is a strong chance this is not going to work. But for now, that's the way its going to be, because these are the fish I want to keep most. However, as battles and aggression dictates, I will rehome what I have to, until it is down to a mix that works, with the hope being I can somehow keep my four favorites... the lyonsi, hartwegi, zonatum and synspillum. Time will tell that tale, I'm sure.

Finally, in the 55 gallon will go a pair of red ceibal centurions, with a group of gymnos sp. norte, and some tetras of some sort. No heater.

What do you guys think? And what might I put in with my group of juvie festae in the 125? I've always kinda wanted some vontehillos... and maybe a few giant danios or silver dollars? I dunno...

-Rich

 

[jgentry]

Festae colony? If you are talking about just growing out a group of juvies the 125g will work for a while. But you have almost zero chance of keeping anything other then 1 pair as adults. Even then you are likely to end up with just a male. They grow slow so you will have sometime but a 125g is not nearly enough space for more the a pair of adult festae.

 

[AcsFoolMike]

Honestly, if you're looking to grow out a bunch of festae (which is going to take some time) just give them the whole 125. The better water quality and volume will help them grow ever so slightly quicker than stocking it with a bunch of other cichlids. Maybe throw in a few Clown Loaches to help with cleanup, but as far as cichlids go, I'd stick to just the festae.

 

[rich_one]

Honestly, if you're looking to grow out a bunch of festae (which is going to take some time) just give them the whole 125. The better water quality and volume will help them grow ever so slightly quicker than stocking it with a bunch of other cichlids. Maybe throw in a few Clown Loaches to help with cleanup, but as far as cichlids go, I'd stick to just the festae.

I was thinking that, so I will take that as sound advice, and consider it done. Only cichlids will be festae. I'll think about the loaches. Was actually considering maybe pictus cats, to be honest. No danios or silver dollars though? I figured some sort of tetra or barb type fish just as a dither type deal... no?

-Rich

 

[rich_one]

No other comments? My plans are that boring, or is it just a slow day? LOL...

-Rich

 

[rich_one]

Festae colony? If you are talking about just growing out a group of juvies the 125g will work for a while. But you have almost zero chance of keeping anything other then 1 pair as adults. Even then you are likely to end up with just a male. They grow slow so you will have sometime but a 125g is not nearly enough space for more the a pair of adult festae.

Sorry, man... I actually missed this post! But yeah... it's a colony, until a pair forms. So perhaps a better description would have been growing out. Once the pair forms, I intend to get rid of the rest. My whole point in going this route is tied to the failed mission to find a female for my current large male festae. So I'm only doing this, so I can grow a pair. At the end of the day, if I had to, once a pair forms, I'll either use a divider in between mating sessions, or separate them entirely... though I am aware of quite a few people with pairs of this fish in 125s that seem to have no issues with them spawning multiple times, and getting along. I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. For now, I just want to ultimately get a pair.

-Rich

 

[AcsFoolMike]

Personally, I wouldn't even bother with dithers in the tank. IME they don't do much to thwart aggression between cichlids unless they themselves are also cichlids. My fish have always seemed indifferent to Tetras, Barbs, Danios, etc.

 

[rich_one]

Ah... I hear ya.

I just figured it'd be nice to have one other whatever in there, that was not necessarily a cichlid. But this is my first attempt to actually grow these out and form a pair... so I'll listen to those who probably know a little better than I do then.

Thanks for the input!

-Rich

 

[Sarah88]

i wouldnt waste my time with danios, but for while they are little a nice school of black neons or cherry barbs would look nice, of course they would become food once the festae get bigger but until then would give more activity to the tank and not create such a large bioload, pretty much with festae though they will really only be true dither fish to get them to come out more and not to avert aggression, best way to do that with festae is lots and lots of room and hides. these guys will not be deterred from conspecifics when it comes to fighting they only have eyes for each other

 

[rich_one]

i wouldnt waste my time with danios, but for while they are little a nice school of black neons or cherry barbs would look nice, of course they would become food once the festae get bigger but until then would give more activity to the tank and not create such a large bioload, pretty much with festae though they will really only be true dither fish to get them to come out more and not to avert aggression, best way to do that with festae is lots and lots of room and hides. these guys will not be deterred from conspecifics when it comes to fighting they only have eyes for each other

Thanks for the advice. Since my main mission here is to grow a pair, I guess I might just abort the whole "other fish" thought, to add some activity to the tank. Seems like it is generally not turning out as a good idea.

-Rich