So, I finally got my 125 cycled and levels correct.
Since this was my first tank I decided not to go all out $$ wise until I got the hang of it. However I do believe in if something is worth doing, to do it right the first time. So I did go heavy on the filtration, but rather than spending as much in shipping for the fish as I did for the tank, I went the Petsmart way for getting my African Cichlids...
Yeah I know..
....
So far I've got 11 total. I've tried going online to identify them. So far this is the best that I can come up with for what I have. I know these aren't the 'proper' longer names, but you'll get the idea hopefully.
2 Electric Yellows (One is solid yelow, the other has black stripe along top fin)
2 Blue Kenyi Africans
2 Bumblebees
2 Zebras (Bright Orange in color)
3 Acei Cichlids.
Here's my dilema. I've had the Electric Yellows and the bright Orange Zebras for about 8 months. (They were in a 29g.) The Zebras have gotten up to about 2.5in long, but the Electric Yellows are still 2in long. The same size they were when I got them. The Bumblebees are growing the fastest at around 3.5in long.
I know with a 15g sump underneath the 125 gallons up top, I'm way understocked. I was thinking to get a total of 20-25 to keep it around the 1in per gallon rule.
I've heard that Petsmart fish are usually not the best 'bred' so they tend to either be stunted in growth. I've read that they will eventually get up to around 5-6in (maybe depends on where I read) total, but would take about 2 yrs. If that is the case, should I stock 30 total in it and just plan on dealing with getting another tank in a couple years when they get bigger, or just stock at 20 and since they are now in a larger tank they should grow faster? I know there are quite a few that I've seen online that I'd like to have, but ordering online with shipping gets so high, unless I'm ordering a bunch, it doesn't seem worth it.
When starting this tank I envisioned having larger fish, (monsters eventually in a future tank), maybe 5-8in long each. But I'm starting to wonder if I went with the wrong type?
I understand you get what you pay for. But I'm just wondering if anyone has been in this same situation?
Okay.. I'm done rambling.. You can all start throwing the eggs now...
Since this was my first tank I decided not to go all out $$ wise until I got the hang of it. However I do believe in if something is worth doing, to do it right the first time. So I did go heavy on the filtration, but rather than spending as much in shipping for the fish as I did for the tank, I went the Petsmart way for getting my African Cichlids...
Yeah I know..
....So far I've got 11 total. I've tried going online to identify them. So far this is the best that I can come up with for what I have. I know these aren't the 'proper' longer names, but you'll get the idea hopefully.
2 Electric Yellows (One is solid yelow, the other has black stripe along top fin)
2 Blue Kenyi Africans
2 Bumblebees
2 Zebras (Bright Orange in color)
3 Acei Cichlids.
Here's my dilema. I've had the Electric Yellows and the bright Orange Zebras for about 8 months. (They were in a 29g.) The Zebras have gotten up to about 2.5in long, but the Electric Yellows are still 2in long. The same size they were when I got them. The Bumblebees are growing the fastest at around 3.5in long.
I know with a 15g sump underneath the 125 gallons up top, I'm way understocked. I was thinking to get a total of 20-25 to keep it around the 1in per gallon rule.
I've heard that Petsmart fish are usually not the best 'bred' so they tend to either be stunted in growth. I've read that they will eventually get up to around 5-6in (maybe depends on where I read) total, but would take about 2 yrs. If that is the case, should I stock 30 total in it and just plan on dealing with getting another tank in a couple years when they get bigger, or just stock at 20 and since they are now in a larger tank they should grow faster? I know there are quite a few that I've seen online that I'd like to have, but ordering online with shipping gets so high, unless I'm ordering a bunch, it doesn't seem worth it.
When starting this tank I envisioned having larger fish, (monsters eventually in a future tank), maybe 5-8in long each. But I'm starting to wonder if I went with the wrong type?
I understand you get what you pay for. But I'm just wondering if anyone has been in this same situation?
Okay.. I'm done rambling.. You can all start throwing the eggs now...
), and I think that is understocked (I had about 30, but I sold some and just die off). Remember, with Mbuna, overstocking is better than understocking.