Is it possible to keep any species of tropheus in a standard 55 gallon tank? These fish have been calling me and I think im ready to try and keep them. I am a bit nervous because of the horror stories I hear but I've dealy with mbunas which have very similar requirements and I have also dealt with bloat so I think Im ready. I really like tropheus duboisi but I will keep any species really. Any other pointers are helpfull!
Tropheus in a 55?
- Thread starter rrcoolj
- Start date
Tropheus should be kept in a 75 as a school but you might be able to get a away with a 55 for a while but I dont know Ive never even heard about tropheus till now 
Prepare to feed them vegetable-based flakes or pellets such as sprinella. They fish can get bloat really easy so be sure not to overfeed. And they have small mouths (i.e. compared to mubana), which limits the size of the food they can eat, so it helps if you grind up the flakes or pellets if large i have found.
Okay, I have seen them breed by an amazing breeder in 55s without trouble. I keep them in 120. You will want to get a good ratio of male to females. Males are really aggressive and you will want somewhere from them to hid and spit babies. I use texas holey rock. lots of space for babies to hid.
Food, I only feed NLS 1mm or 2mm. I lost a colony of dubs once. Turns out a pleco died and then they all got bloat and died... however on the same diet and system I have a coloy of cherry spots breeding like mad... males will fight to the death if necessary so be ready.
Food, I only feed NLS 1mm or 2mm. I lost a colony of dubs once. Turns out a pleco died and then they all got bloat and died... however on the same diet and system I have a coloy of cherry spots breeding like mad... males will fight to the death if necessary so be ready.
Thanks for the help mike...
I plant to keep this tank one species only so to keep any other illneses out of the tank. I also have clout on hand for bloat. What ratios would you reccomend for this tank? I also have tons of rocks to use so that's no problem.
I plant to keep this tank one species only so to keep any other illneses out of the tank. I also have clout on hand for bloat. What ratios would you reccomend for this tank? I also have tons of rocks to use so that's no problem.
I would be sure to have some metro on hand as well. Use clout only as a last resort. Metro is a good front line med that will do less damage to your bio filters than clout
In a 55, you should start with tank raised fish and let them grow up together. Adding wild trophs to a small tank will be difficult IMO.
nls and dainichi make excellent food for trophs.
Good Luck!
ps - the most important thing is to feed them whatever your source is feeding them until they've acclimated. Introduce new foods very slowly, in small amounts, over a couple of weeks.
In a 55, you should start with tank raised fish and let them grow up together. Adding wild trophs to a small tank will be difficult IMO.
nls and dainichi make excellent food for trophs.
Good Luck!
ps - the most important thing is to feed them whatever your source is feeding them until they've acclimated. Introduce new foods very slowly, in small amounts, over a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the tip about the metro. I have heard people use it I just assumed that clout was basically the same thing. I have heard it's good to use meds as soon as I get the trophs is this a good idea? They will definatly be captive trophs and I will most likely be ordering form livefishdirect who sex the fish for you. Im guessing I can't keep more than one male in this tank correct?
becoming super excited about these fish!
becoming super excited about these fish!
Hi
captive fish are not the same as fry or juvies...... You cannot vent juvies very well...
You are much better off to get about 15 or so juvies in the tank... make sure its rocked with piles on both sides....
Good filtration is necessary... for a 55 gallon... it would be nice to have about 800 gph and some good water movers.
if you have 15.. good ratio is 3 to 5 males and rest females.... People often times over do the ratio part....
You may have to reduce the size of the colony as they grow.... or eventually upgrade to a larger tank....
Say 75 gallon or 120 gallon 5 footer...
Hope this helps...
Bill
captive fish are not the same as fry or juvies...... You cannot vent juvies very well...
You are much better off to get about 15 or so juvies in the tank... make sure its rocked with piles on both sides....
Good filtration is necessary... for a 55 gallon... it would be nice to have about 800 gph and some good water movers.
if you have 15.. good ratio is 3 to 5 males and rest females.... People often times over do the ratio part....
You may have to reduce the size of the colony as they grow.... or eventually upgrade to a larger tank....
Say 75 gallon or 120 gallon 5 footer...
Hope this helps...
Bill
Im getting the idea that 55 really isn't the ideal size for these guys. I think I will wait until I get atlest a 75 to keep them. I've been searching around and I think Im going to breed leleupi in a spare 29 I have. Thanks for the input though.