The Cichla Project -

[bassinmike85]

i’ve had two non cichla deaths in the tank here - L14 / Sailfin Pictus -

currently little cloudy eye in a few as i had a nitrate spike when auto w/c was off -

Going to go three rounds of Prazi with some levamisole on the tail end of the 7th day... with large W/C gravel vac - not sure if they died from Tilapia or Bass gave it to them -

all bass eating - one Orino looks stressed though....

Any thoughts or tips welcome!

First question. When feeding tilapia/frozen foods 1 is there any left over food? 2. how often you do water changes?

 

[dr exum]

First question. When feeding tilapia/frozen foods 1 is there any left over food? 2. how often you do water changes?

usually not left overs - sometimes one over eats and pukes a chunk here and there in the back wood area that the cat/pleco would take care of -

due to heated water limitations i can change about 150g’s at a time usually with a good gravel vac once a week in addition to the auto w/c via drip/pump that was changing 120g’s per day now bumped it up to 240g’s a day....

 

[bassinmike85]

Oh ok. Only reason why i asked is because i noticed in general feeding frozen/prepared food it does mess with my water perimeters. Instead of doing one big water change weekly. i do smaller more frequent water changes. I also started using Seachem Pristine. And i noticed it started helping my water out. Not saying anything negative just sharing my input and maybe sharing i fo we both can help ya find a solution. But fresh/frozen does impact water. how long have you heen feeding frozen/prepared food? Have you also done anythung else different to the tank lately?

 

[dr exum]

Oh ok. Only reason why i asked is because i noticed in general feeding frozen/prepared food it does mess with my water perimeters. Instead of doing one big water change weekly. i do smaller more frequent water changes. I also started using Seachem Pristine. And i noticed it started helping my water out. Not saying anything negative just sharing my input and maybe sharing i fo we both can help ya find a solution. But fresh/frozen does impact water. how long have you heen feeding frozen/prepared food? Have you also done anythung else different to the tank lately?

the frozen has been probably 2 months - obviously they prefer it to pellets - i usually rotate dry/frozen - pellets are hilkari jumbo and massivore

they were on mainly krill until i learned that could be bad as a main staple -

6 of these guys came from a vendor that feeds mainly feeders... so it was hard to get them off that, onto blood worms, then krill, now tilapia.... it’s mainly the kelberi that are the holdouts mainly eating tilapia every other day... or it would be dry 100% -

there is some flashing on gravel or rubbing on wood here and there.... not sure if that’s cichla being cichla or other....

different lately - ive added air stones in the back to get out the poo from behind logs -

i’ll order some pristine...

thanks for feedback!

 

[dr exum]

These guys are chugging along - kind of uncertain of what i want to do with these two pinima - i like the bright colors!

- one is deformed - have this guy and an Endli now that are “special needs”

seller offered to send another if i pay for shipping....

i’d like to send him back and have two proper looking specimens.... not going to cull him...

 

[dr exum]

These guys are in a holding pattern waiting for new tanks to get here....

trying to figure out best configuration to house these guys - big tanks looking full for sure two new tanks are going to fill up quickly - most likely the 9 - 5”-7” go into one to start - hopefully with 13” Leichardti and 7” vulture-

 

[dr exum]

little pinima in today from rodrigo -

new intermedia coming next week to replace the doa -

then should be up to 23 or 2 of every “available” species

- one pinima getting donated -

i’d imagine a group of 12 and two groups of 6 are how they will be separated until / if i get either LG indoor/outdoor pond/tank vs. something big inside - rooms not so big here can’t just throw a 10’x6’x30” w/o it being overwhelmingly big... this 625g will probably be the biggest indoor tank - plus wife taking notice now these custom tanks rolling in

the ocel / mono groups have taken up the breeding activities - this will also dictate segregation-

cheers!

 

[dr exum]

some pics of the new class - last intermedia came in today -

Azul , Tem, Pinima, Xingu , and Intermedia

the last intermedia is a strong 2”

have the newcomers 2” intermedia and 3” pinima in their own 40g as well as the deformed unit in its own 40g.... i’ll probably try to put the 3 of them in a 75g here next week -

the recent pinima from Rod looking stronger than the other two - got one deformed and other just looks worried these guys won’t eat anything except tilapia

cheers!

 

[Potato Patatto]

Are you gonna get any Fogos?

 

[dr exum]

Are you gonna get any Fogos?

got two 8”ers in the beginning - now 10”-12”

they are up above ^^^^^

i thought about a 10 pack.... i’m getting to know the species to see which ones i prefer.... got 2 of ea + 1 extra pinima

broko prolly the best so far imo -