No luck with Dithers

[Aqualoon]

Salvinis color up better with lighter substrate. They become murky brown over black sand.

But a poor diet/bad water quality/stress can also keep them from coloring up.

Yeah that's pretty much what I have heard. Setting up a 40g breeder with PFS just for this guy and maybe a little lady for him if I can find one.

 

[davdev]

Actually I heard that they color up best against light substrate. I currently have black sand and my Sal looks so dark.

Here's my guy...is yours showing the same coloration? I was actually thinking of changing out to PFS.

No, mine is much lighter in color. I actually like the way yours looks better than mine. I will try to get some pics later

 

[cacichlids]

Actually I heard that they color up best against light substrate. I currently have black sand and my Sal looks so dark.

Here's my guy...is yours showing the same coloration? I was actually thinking of changing out to PFS.

Here's one of my baby salvinis under a log at only around 1.5" including tail. Tank has pool filter sand

 

[davdev]

Here's one of my baby salvinis under a log at only around 1.5" including tail. Tank has pool filter sand

That's more like what mine looks like. I guess when I got them , I was expecting them to be a brighter yellow. Almost like a yellow lab mbuna, but I guess that isn't accurate, from what I have seen later.

 

[Aqualoon]

Yeah much lighter...

davdev - ever think of setting up a tank for a breeding pair? That's what I'm hoping to do if I can find a female. The colors should then be amazing. Hoping to have a pair that looks like this, and for those that don't want to follow the link...

I want a pair like that ^ ^

 

[cacichlids]

They don't get their full color until mature, at around 4 or 5 inches, mine are only babies... and their best coloration will only be displayed when breeding, like many other CA/SA cichlids.

You can't expect a CA cichlid to color up like an african. Completely different fish.

 

[Aqualoon]

Mine's at 5" if not a tad bigger and that's his coloration in that tank. Really hope he colors up when he goes into his new tank.

 

[cacichlids]

Weird. What do you feed him?

 

[Aqualoon]

Weird. What do you feed him?

Hikari pellets, NLS Pellets, Spirulina Flake, Seaweed, Frozen Blood worms, Frozen Brine Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp and he'll nibble on cucumber.

He doesn't get everything listed above daily, pellets and the flake are what are fed daily with the other stuff thrown in throughout the week (once per week).

I like to feed a variety.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

HA, lol well I can tell you adding dither fish that late in the game will only get you dead dithers as they try to acclimate while getting beat up. I think you'll find a 75 gallon is to small for those fish at adult size with dither fish. you need a 6ft or longer tank for some dithers. When introducing new fish you intro the less aggressive first and the most aggressive last. If this mean catching your current guys and putting them in a bucket with an air stone for an hour while the new guys get used to the digs you gotta do it.