The Cichla Project -

[dr exum]

dr exum what type of filtration are you running? I have found over the years if there is a good amount of detritus forming in the sump, gravel, or canister filter it can cause some serious health issues in p bass. This is one of my reasons for no gravel if I could add a drip system to my tanks I would definitely have some sort of substrate.

150g sump with 60g of bio balls , 2-3100gph pumps, and a 2000gph pump for uv

2 canisters with chemical inside

there is a lot of gravel in there - i do vac it once per week and is cleaner than other gravel tanks i have -

sump has filters running inside to move detritus

it’s pretty odd - some bacterial infection that came in on one of the other fish -

l14 / sailfin cat died sadly already

 

[dr exum]

update here :

the bad -

it’s been pretty rocky in the cichla community- a pathogen most likely from a batch of pinima has caused some losses -

1-2 Ocel - both alive but on their way to euthanize

2 Pinima - euthanized the gimpy one - good one died maybe in freak accident head banged on top glass - was eating good - stuck to filter in morning
3rd pinima alive with agonal respiration’s

1 Orino - failed liver and autopsy results coming

1 mono - blind but alive - not eating really on way to euthanize

the good -

the new growouts :

2 azul
2 tem
2 xingu
2 intermedia - 1 intermedia almost looks like it’s missing skin on its head or major case of hith?
doing well - id imagine they will go into the big tank once it’s deemed safe -

the group of 12 is soon to be 6....

the fogo orange is now one of the biggest one in there - 12”+ the little fogo green had some ailment but appears on the mend

the left over orino looks good

big male mono seems ok - may have some funk on his fin

the two broko seem good

2 kels doing well minus missing tilapia- (not sure if this was an issue) and little white dot in center of eye

going to try for one group in big tank with the leftovers 3ea or so mixed into my 400g systems -

no plans for any big / bigger tanks at this time -

keeping water clean and pellets only -

 

[Potato Patatto]

At what size range do you notice the most change in color? And are the humps for males only or is it something like pack leaders?

 

[dr exum]

At what size range do you notice the most change in color? And are the humps for males only or is it something like pack leaders?

still learning - color seems to come from water quality / how fish is feeling / diet

the orino / fogo seem to be most colorful right now

only one with a hump is Mono -

 

[dr exum]

Got some better pics -

Bigger group of 8 (12”-15”) in 625g

i had the male mono out of the tank and it’s measuring 15” - that means my larger fogo that’s similar if not bigger is also 15” ?
the smaller fogo is showing same colors as larger one now -

625g -
2 - Fogo
1- Mono
1- Orino
2 - Kel
2 - Broko

280 -
2 - tem
2 - azul
2- xingu
1 - intermedia

120g
1- 4” intermedia

120g QT
1- 15” ocel - dying vs going blind vs ?

plans changed (no 10’x3’x30”) a little as my local fish tank source is no longer option... most likely no additional fish tanks here....

so i’ll need to accommodate what i’ve got here with aquariums already running -

it’s hard to stay off the vendor sites ?

cheers all!

 

[dr exum]

Some Updates -

Count 16 - down 7

2 - Fogo - 16” / 12”
1 - Mono -15”
2 - Broko - 14” / 12”
1 - Orino - 13”

No movement in this tank - it’s only bass / arow / suncat / trying to give bass as much space as possible - constant w/c

400g - System / 280g tank
2 - Kelberi -13”
2 - Tems - 10”
2 - Intermedia - 10” / 5”
2 - Azul - 9”
2 - Xingu - 6”/7”

Added smaller intermedia to the grow-out tank as he was getting big for his britches in previous 120g - added flag tail month or so ago… thinks he’s a cichla ?

2 lil cats working the bottom -
constant drip here too / wc

waiting to see how fish / space permits / Mono will be first to go if needed -

thinking longer term the kelberi / ? can stay in the 30” width tanks with anyone under 15” the 625g looks full but not packed… ideally save that for the 8 largest and spread / rehome what i cannot accommodate -

gotta say the kelberi are my favs after the passing / rehoming of the Ocels - attitudes and great looks ?

future :

something 10’-12’ glass probably vs. FTD vs outdoor “dolphin fiberglass” tank - (4500g)

vs. nothing - electric bill is off the chain at $550 a month - using 45000kwh per year - solar costs $55k ? - need to dig a well too ?

and the food…. small potatoes vs $1k per month utilities ?‍ i’d imagine we have one of the more expensive hobbies next to drug use ?

thanks all!

 

[Matteus]

This seriously has to be one of my favourite threads. Those tems look killer. ???

 

[dr exum]

This seriously has to be one of my favourite threads. Those tems look killer. ???

thanks brother!

it’s been a journey for sure!

wild tems from steve ? - it’s amazing how these guys grow !

 

[dr exum]

well - seems as though the previous Alpha mono is on the outskirts of the breeding-

the biggest fogo seems to have the best pit (there are about 3 they have dug) not accurately vented the two fogo -

who knows what genders do the digging or is it both? Blakewater cigars ?

TheWolfman

 

[dr exum]

It seems there are eggs -

was going to remove the mono as he was driving the breeding behavior-

seems Mono / Kel

i’d imagine catfish will eat them in the night -

anyone thoughts on this vent pic?