Trimac Question #2

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abiddle

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 17, 2008
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I just purchased a male and female Trimac from Jeff Rapps.
The male is 3 1/2 inches and the female 3 inches.
I put them in a 29 gal show tank to grow them out before adding them to my 180 gallon with the following:

* 1 x 12" Oscar (the mellow tank boss)
* Mated Pair of JD's, have not bred, but hang out together, the male is 8" but fairly mellow, the female not aggressive.
1 x Mature Severum aggressive toward my Jag only, submissive to JD.
1 x 6" New Jag, not aggressive so far. cowars to JD and Severum
1 x 5" False GT Female, not aggressive
3 x 5" Firemouths, dithers
4 Mature Silver Dollars, dithers

1. Will the Trimacs work out in the 180 gal with the current stock?
2. If not what should I cull (another tank or LFS)?
3. Will a male and female Trimac work out together?
4. Should I add them to the 180 gal now or get another large tank, and for who?

Please help?
 
I'd put a divider in the 29 and seperate them ASAP. Males are known to kill the females. This could be especially true because you have a forced pair instead of a bonded pair.

No way in the world I would put a trimac pair in the 180g with your current stock. Get a 75g or 125g with a divider to keep them in for life. Putting them in your 180 will eventually result in all of your current fish getting killed!
 
abiddle;2843686; said:
1. Will the Trimacs work out in the 180 gal with the current stock?
2. If not what should I cull (another tank or LFS)?
3. Will a male and female Trimac work out together?
4. Should I add them to the 180 gal now or get another large tank, and for who?

Please help?

You can't say for sure whether it will work or not, but chances are, with the Jag in the mix, it probably won't. Trimacs I have owned have been quite aggressive, and may cause a lot of damage to your other fish in the 180. Your chances might improve a lot though, if the Jag is moved, in my opinion.

I don't understand the third question -- do you mean right now, or in 180? In general, Amphilophus pairs are more aggressive with one another, but the space is sufficient in the 180 for the female to take cover, if the male gets rough.
 
Since you bought a pair I assume your intentions are to breed them. The male will kill the female if given the chance. It's best to keep the pair divided. They are a very easy species to spawn and will have no problem fertilizing right through a divider. I used to keep a pair in a 75 gallon seperated with a divider. They spawned on a regular basis. I sent many of my fry over to Jeff years ago. Just keep them divided with good food and they will be spawning in no time.
 
Its kind of funny, but I have the same mix as you, size of fish and everything. Trimacs are mean lil SOBs. In my opinion they will do great.
 
mated jags plus breeding trimacs if they do breed is probably a time bomb.
75 gallon would be great.
 
Keep a close eye on them in the 29 gallon to see how they will react toward one an other. I've had Trimac pairs that lived in harmony together in a 75 gallon and I've had pairs that would try to kill each other while they were spawning!! Watch them closely, you will be able to tell if they will hit it off or not almost immediately. They are definately from a great source. I've seen Jeff's large breeding pair and they are stunning. If they get aggressive toward each other you will need a divider unless you put them in your 180 with lots of cover for the female. The other fish will not be happy when the Trimac pair grows especially if they start to spawn!!
 
This is my pair of Trimac's there two years old I'm going to go with some other fish so if someone gives me a good offer I am open to selling them.

P2280048.JPG
 
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