Tank too short?

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MP_cichlid

MP_cichlid

Dovii
MFK Member
Mar 3, 2015
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Connecticut
Ok, so I have a festae pair and I really need a tank upgrade. I have an offer for a 80 gallon frag tank. It isn't drilled so I figure it would be fine, no overflow, just bare tank. The tank dimensions are 48" x 24" x 12". Great footprint but it is so short. I'm just not sure if it would be a problem, it is a really good deal, however I don't want to get sucked into a good deal and end up with a tank that isn't ideal for my fish. I just want some opinions please, what do you guys think!
 
That isn't a bad footprint, if its only for that pair and no other fish (and if it's larger than the tank they've been in). If I had it, I'd use a divider the long way (if possible), with a couple spaces where the female could pass thru, and the male couldn't.
If they are both the same size, then no holes.
Cichlids can, and will spawn thru an egg crate divider successfully. Just put a number of flat(ish) rocks up against the divider on the females side to place eggs on very close to the divider.

above is a female Lepidiolamprolugus spawning on one side.
Below the male fertilizing on the other.


 
thanks duanes!! so do you always keep your pairs divided? my pair usually do well together, I do always have a divider on hand
 
thanks duanes!! so do you always keep your pairs divided? my pair usually do well together, I do always have a divider on hand
 
Your gonna need a bigger tank long term obviously, how big are they and what size tank are they in now?
Just have to question yourself really. How much will buying this tank set you back on their forever home?

Your gonna need a 180 before long. My old pair grew from 2 to 10 inch in seven months! Males can get over 15 inch as I'm sure you already know!-)
 
ya i know im gonna have to go big, the male is about 7" right now and the female is around 5. They are in a 40 breeder. I know it is tiny, I am working really hard to get a bigger tank, just with school and sports it is a tight schedule. They have successfully bred in this tank b4, I am just trying to get them something to segway into the permanent tank, parents aren't too hot about the idea of a 180 just yet lol. So Im just all over Craigslist looking for deals. This guy wants to just evenly trade this tank and the lids (i would have to build a stand) for my 40 gallon stand and lids. So I would be getting a good deal but i'm just not sure if it is the right way to go, I really want to get them a better tank. I just dont know if i should have them in the small tank longer and wait for the permanent tank to come along or just go with something along the lines of a 75-90 and get them in quicker.
 
I divide many pairs, just to make sure females aren't killed, especially if tanks are on the small side. And they don't appear totally copacetic.
Even if tanks are large, I divide them, and use some other non breeders on the other side of the pair, to act as a perceived threat and distract.
Extra aggression hormones are produced when cichlids are spawning which fire the pair up in order to help them defend their spawn, and often without distraction, the pair will turn on each other if these hormones don't find an outlet.
 
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