New To The Cichla Game

[jbru70]

Im new to the Cichla Forum.............I read thru the threads and I love checking out the tanks and fish pics in the media lounge. Im already addicted to Cichla.

My questions are..........My cichla is a baby(3"+\- a smidge). I have 3 more arriving on Weds. approximately the same size.

1. What should I feed them? Mine ate a couple tetras,hikari bloodworms, and flake so far.

2. When properly cared for what are their growth rates.

3. Are there any special needs that Cichla have that would differ from my Jags which are healthy and happy at a year old. Other than the Obvious need for a bigger tank, more filtration and way more food?

 

[HULON]

Im new to the Cichla Forum.............I read thru the threads and I love checking out the tanks and fish pics in the media lounge. Im already addicted to Cichla.

My questions are..........My cichla is a baby(3"+\- a smidge). I have 3 more arriving on Weds. approximately the same size.

1. What should I feed them? Mine ate a couple tetras,hikari bloodworms, and flake so far.

2. When properly cared for what are their growth rates.

3. Are there any special needs that Cichla have that would differ from my Jags which are healthy and happy at a year old. Other than the Obvious need for a bigger tank, more filtration and way more food?

If you have your water in check meaning very clean that in my mind is 80%Then temp being above 84 degrees F for young fry up to a foot in length.Helping to keep any parisites at bay with the temps and water changes ..If you have him eating prepared already keep him on it .At that size i personaly feed live only treated and literaly stuffed with good protien rich foods .Alot ,Most will dissagree with me ....Make up your own mind how you would like to go about this ..In my Opinion when keeping a preditor like this as a fry and continue into adulthood as a treat and supliment creating somewhat of a hunt for the lionGo through other guys threads and ask around look at guys fish you will know who adds live to the diet and who does not Greetings and good luck to youOh and you can expect an inch per month maybe a little less until they hit a foot...

 

[jbru70]

If you have your water in check meaning very clean that in my mind is 80%Then temp being above 84 degrees F for young fry up to a foot in length.Helping to keep any parisites at bay with the temps and water changes ..If you have him eating prepared already keep him on it .At that size i personaly feed live only treated and literaly stuffed with good protien rich foods .Alot ,Most will dissagree with me ....Make up your own mind how you would like to go about this ..In my Opinion when keeping a preditor like this as a fry and continue into adulthood as a treat and supliment creating somewhat of a hunt for the lionGo through other guys threads and ask around look at guys fish you will know who adds live to the diet and who does not Greetings and good luck to youOh and you can expect an inch per month maybe a little less until they hit a foot...

I appreciate your input. I currently have 5 tanks running and I religiously do my water changes weekly unless I feel like they need it twice a week. I am meticulous with my tanks. My feeders are all from my planted tank which is happy and healthy(im pretty sure some of my other tanks are in my gallery).

I am so anxious to get my new babies. I could only get one PB at the time when I purchased it. It has grown about 1\4" in a week(surprisingly fast).

My current temp is 82. Its a new via aqua titanium 350 watt in a 125g tank. I will gradually increase it up to 84-86 degrees. I didnt want to go to high with a new heater right away until I was sure the dial was accurate.


Will Hikari Ciclid Gold pellets be alright until my PB's can handle Massivore size pellets???

 

[HULON]

sure but if they will eat them cut them into fourths .I feed hikari gold as a staple and massavore mixed together that way there are floating and sinking .And a little cheaper....Yep checked out your tanks thats how you want it ...It becomes increasinly hard to keep the tank clean as the cichla get larger the metabolism is increadable they eat and poop like no other so get ready for twice a week changes and vacum's

 

[jbru70]

Well I recieved my 3 ocell's on tuesday a day early. They are advertised as wilds on aquabid. They look really good but they are half the size of my other PB. My larger PB which is another type(mono I think???)tried to bully them a bit at first. But everything seems to be working out. The so-called wilds are way more social than my other PB. They are always checking me out and arent skittish at all.

I have been slowly putting in dithers(AKA Snacks lol) 10 bloodfin tetras 6 are left. 20 black neon tetras, 11 are left. 10 zebra danios, all of them got eaten in one day. I think the 2 pictus cats are snacking at night.

Im really glad I picked PB's for my tank. And I hope that more people find this forum and participate in "OUR" hobby(habit).

Jon