Rainbow cichlid advice

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HybridHerp

HybridHerp

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 18, 2012
1,192
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New York
So I'm having a bit of a debate with myself ATM. My tank is a 75 and my only cichlid ATM is this adult rainbow. I used to have other cichlids and other rainbows but there was a tank crash and I have to almost start over.

Thing is, he very rarely colors up anymore and is usually hiding around or a dark brown color. Idk if it's because there are no longer cichlids his size or if it's because there are no longer rainbow cichlids with him.

I've had him for a few years and he's been through a lot with me but idk if I want to keep him if he's going to be unhappy as the only rainbow cichlid or if he's color up when I get more cichlids again. I don't think I really want to have the tank have a whole bunch of rainbow cichlids either and was wanting to try out new similar sized species like HRP and the like.

Tl:dr- will my guy color up when there are more cichlids, would he be happier if there was another rainbow cichlid, or would it be best to give him to someone that could keep a group of rainbow cichlids together.


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Throw some dither in there and see what happens. May help it feel more secure with more fish in there. Putting in another cichlid, of same size and temperament, should also trigger a territorial response and get it going again as well
 
I have two rainbows. They color up that nice bright yellow at each other. I also added a Nicuraguan hybrid that is a similar yellow and now they color up even more. So my guess is you need more than one to get that color. Aquadvisor says a group of 8. I think if you get more rainbows you will see the color you want. or go with a similar looking fish like a nic. You said your tank crashed are the perameters on the water ok it will be dark if it isn't happy with water chemistry also.
 
Is he a he? My females are much more brown than the brights of my males.

-Ryan
 
I think he is a he? Actually I'm not 100% sure anymore :S

And yah, conditions are stable now, I ended up re-doing the tank completely to help sterilize any funk going on and to just change things up to be better.

I'm currently leaning towards adding more cichlids and just fish in general. The fish had more color back when my tank was in it's prime and they had other cichlids to show off to.


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Just clicked on 75G Tank in your signature. How did your EBA work out with everything?
 
My rainbows show blacks only when breeding.

-Ryan
 
Rivers2k said:
Just clicked on 75G Tank in your signature. How did your EBA work out with everything?
Click to expand...

It was working fine, generally ignored because it was smaller.

I don't have it anymore though...diseases started taking over the tank after the crash, re-did the whole tank in an effort to sterilize and let things heal.


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