Oliver’s tank - plants

[MrsE88]

Back in April I had to move plants out of my 65g when it sprung a leak. Oliver has had most of them since then. I’m happy to say he hasn’t destroyed them. Haha. His tank has been looking really good.

As a side note, I took his son out. Oliver is still sulky and sits most of the time. I’ve tried changing things up but nothing has pulled him out of this funk. I’m at a loss as to why he’s been acting this way for months. If anyone has experienced something similar I’d really love to hear about it. My husband keeps saying maybe he’s on his way out, but I feel like he’s still too young for it to be old age. I’ve kept up with water changes, I only feed a few times a week, no visible parasites not even on a microscope.... water temp has been around 78-79. I just don’t know what to do?

 

[Chief Tom]

May I ask what tankmates Oliver has and what is his normal temperament? Your tank is beautiful, btw.

 

[MrsE88]

May I ask what tankmates Oliver has and what is his normal temperament? Your tank is beautiful, btw.

Thank you.
His normal temperament before was actively swimming the length of the tank. He would always be at the glass on the left watching for people moving between the kitchen and living room. He’d puff his cheeks and bang the glass if you got close. Typical riv behavior I’d say.

His tank mates are a flagtail, 4 rainbowfish, and 13 giant danios(I think). And his son was in there for a few months, but I took him out a week ago. Him and his son got along just fine. Never fought. His son was submissive and not coloring up well so I moved him. I was also hoping that would make Oliver more active, but he’s still the same. Swims for a while, then sits. No flashing or otherwise odd behavior. Just not active.

 

[tlindsey]

? like Oliver is peeking around the plant in the second pic. The Bosemani Rainbow looks great in the aquarium. Have you got the itch to breed the Boesemani Rainbow's?
?

 

[Justepic]

I read this assuming Oliver was your son... I was about to suggest going to a psychiatrist.

 

[MrsE88]

? like Oliver is peeking around the plant in the second pic. The Bosemani Rainbow looks great in the aquarium. Have you got the itch to breed the Boesemani Rainbow's?
?

Haha, he is such a goof. He loves that plant.
I do. But I’ll need to do it in a different tank so the red rainbows don’t get in on it. I’m thinking about getting some females once my other tanks get setup?

I read this assuming Oliver was your son... I was about to suggest going to a psychiatrist.

Haha! ?He is my baby. ?

 

[tlindsey]

Haha, he is such a goof. He loves that plant.
I do. But I’ll need to do it in a different tank so the red rainbows don’t get in on it. I’m thinking about getting some females once my other tanks get setup?


Haha! ?He is my baby. ?

I know you are busy with other projects but I know Bosemani project is coming. ?

 

[duanes]

One of the things I've noticed about new world cichlids in nature, (especially mature males) is they prefer to sit in front of their man cave, lurking, to conserve energy, while waiting for spawning ready females to pass thru their territory, then they display.
The older and larger they get the more stationary they become, maybe also only venturing out when food is near.
Females move much more in loose shoals and only break off from the shoal, to look for appropriate territory holding male to spawn with, when they are full of eggs.
In the video below (I'm sure you've seen it before) the shoals of uropthalmus are mostly females, and subordinate males not yet fit enough to hold territory.
The large dominant males, held large territories with caves, mid Cenote in deep water, and only become visible when females approached, or to hit the surface for edibles like dragon flies, or to drive subordinate males away.
There territories were sometime half the size of a football field.
I've seen the same with JDs and other smaller cichlids in nature, although territories were only the size of about 250-300 gallons per dominant males with the JDs. The photo below is a 10" male JD (right) in a territorial cave as a female approaches.
The entrance to the cave is a 10ft long fissure tapering from 4ft to about a ft at the hole in the rock, depth was about 5-6ft.

Azul imovie edit

 

[MrsE88]

One of the things I've noticed about new world cichlids in nature, (especially mature males) is they prefer to sit in front of their man cave, lurking, to conserve energy, while waiting for spawning ready females to pass thru their territory, then they display.
The older and larger they get the more stationary they become, maybe also only venturing out when food is near.
Females move much more in loose shoals and only break off from the shoal, to look for appropriate territory holding male to spawn with, when they are full of eggs.
In the video below (I'm sure you've seen it before) the shoals of uropthalmus are mostly females, and subordinate males not yet fit enough to hold territory.
The large dominant males, held large territories with caves, mid Cenote in deep water, and only become visible when females approached, or to hit the surface for edibles like dragon flies, or to drive subordinate males away.
There territories were sometime half the size of a football field.
I've seen the same with JDs and other smaller cichlids in nature, although territories were only the size of about 250-300 gallons per dominant males with the JDs. The photo below is a 10" male JD (right) in a territorial cave as a female approaches.
The entrance to the cave is a 10ft long fissure tapering from 4ft to about a ft at the hole in the rock, depth was about 5-6ft.

Azul imovie edit

I hope that is the case with Oliver.

I know you are busy with other projects but I know Bosemani project is coming. ?

Haha, yes. Lots else going on, but if things go well and calm down by fall I’ll be able to get some females for my boy?