Trimac owners, light or dark substrate?

[Magnus_Bane]

Thanks cich78 , appreciate the pics. Hard to say if I like the fish on the light or dark... Looks good in both pics, lol.
Its not like I dont like mine on the dark was just curious if it stressed him out.

Generally I find that most fish prefer a darker colored substrate vs a lighter colored one. My main idea on this has to do with them camouflaging themselves from aerial threats. It's harder to see a darker colored fish against a dark colored substrate and the same can be said for a lighter colored fish against a light colored substrate.

 

[DMD123]

The trimac has been an interesting fish to keep. Very actively watching me as I am in the garage, but no puppy dog dance or flaring/glass banging. Just a dead stare at me. Responds to feeding by waiting for me to drop pellets and then it hits them hard. Then it eats real slowly. It spreads out the meal over a course of at least a half hour. It just acts so differently than my other cichlids (midas, red devils, rtm).

My original posting was regarding if the substrate color being dark is a possible stress factor. After some others postings, Im saying thats not it. The lymphocystis spots on the tail flare up and shrink. Ive noticed that more frequent water changes flare it up. I was doing everyday changes for a awhile andit was worse. Every two days still bad. But once a week and it does better, lol.

It was a solo fish and it would spook so I add a tankmate. A Sagittae that I was trying to cull. It doesnt kill it and the runt/deformed fish is thriving and the trimac seems to calm down a lot but still dealing with lymphocystis.

I felt like the 75 was a bit small and added to the trimac stress. I am limited as to tank length but was able to go a little taller. A 90 was set up for it and again a step toward the fishes comfort. It didnt really stress out and it seems to appreciate the taller tank... but again still dealing with the lymphocystis spots on tail.

When spots first appeared I treated with various meds approaching from bacterial infection, parasite, fungus treatments before I realized it is viral and is what it is.

Sorry for the long ranting about the fish but am kind of frustrated with the progress of it. I feel like my trimac is a dud, lol.

 

[DMD123]

Forgot to add, I didn’t want the trimac to feel like he had no place to go because it was too open a tank so I added a large Mopani piece it can get behind and out of sight. Still plenty of swimming space for him.

Im kind of running out of ideas for this fishes comfort.

 

[DMD123]

Trimac home, 90 gallon

Tail issue

Close up shot, this is a mild flare up at the moment

 

[DBLN8]

White pool filter sand and a black background, never heard this guy complain

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I’m sorry for brining back an old post, but check this out! I guess Andy woods cichlids uk has a very personable guy!

Last pic is a example of lymphocystis on one of my Carpintis

 

[DMD123]

Was in the fishroom today watching the trimac and snapped a couple pics.