Hey all
I've just joined this forum cos I'm looking for clear info about my Malawi Cichlids & the tank I have set up. Hopefully someone has time to talk a bit & give opinion on where I go next - I'll be looking thru FAQ of course but I have a few questions so I hope someone of vast & wonderful experience will sort me out once & for all
So....
I have a 2ft 60ltr Juwel tank, lit with a 15w UVA flourescent, filtered with a Fluval U3, heated with a heater & oxygenated with a good long airstone. I matured the water with 2 full grown Syno catfish - an angelicus & a possible velifer or hybrid. I also have a token sailfin pleco. All three are about 6" at the mo and in good health.
The water seemed good, so I added ALOT of fry! I was offered 10 malawi fry for £10, which seemed fine, but then when I collected they actually gave me nearly 30! There are 5 yellow labs, easily identified I think. The rest should be mixed red zebras & Ice blue zebras.
The tank went through 4 weeks of white cloud, I am fairly sure this was bacteria 'storming', it settled & with my new filter it is perfectly clear. I change about 20% water every 4 days & keep the heat about 26c.
The fry are now all between 1" - 2.5", they are well & healthy, but, I can't for the life of me tell which are red or blue, or which are male or female. I believe the ice blues are red top Mbuna by other name, a pseudo-something. The red zebs are I believe the sort that will turn an orangey-red with feint stripes. I think they're all around 5 months old, the red zebs I think are maybe a month older than the blue.
The problem? I can't for the life of me tell which are red or blue, or which are male or female! My question is I suppose, what age are they officially mature, or when should I be able to tell? And, is the high population stopping them from colouring?
I understand that the heavy population is affecting things, hut I read so many different things that I can't really decide what best to do, whether to thin out & try my best to group 3 females to a male (how when I dont know which is which?), or whether to keep waiting for more colouration & clear signs of which is which!
Please advise, all & any opinions are more than welcome, the last option is to sell them on & spend more on a confirmed breeding group or colony which I can't really afford!
Thanks for reading,
Phil
I've just joined this forum cos I'm looking for clear info about my Malawi Cichlids & the tank I have set up. Hopefully someone has time to talk a bit & give opinion on where I go next - I'll be looking thru FAQ of course but I have a few questions so I hope someone of vast & wonderful experience will sort me out once & for all
So....
I have a 2ft 60ltr Juwel tank, lit with a 15w UVA flourescent, filtered with a Fluval U3, heated with a heater & oxygenated with a good long airstone. I matured the water with 2 full grown Syno catfish - an angelicus & a possible velifer or hybrid. I also have a token sailfin pleco. All three are about 6" at the mo and in good health.
The water seemed good, so I added ALOT of fry! I was offered 10 malawi fry for £10, which seemed fine, but then when I collected they actually gave me nearly 30! There are 5 yellow labs, easily identified I think. The rest should be mixed red zebras & Ice blue zebras.
The tank went through 4 weeks of white cloud, I am fairly sure this was bacteria 'storming', it settled & with my new filter it is perfectly clear. I change about 20% water every 4 days & keep the heat about 26c.
The fry are now all between 1" - 2.5", they are well & healthy, but, I can't for the life of me tell which are red or blue, or which are male or female. I believe the ice blues are red top Mbuna by other name, a pseudo-something. The red zebs are I believe the sort that will turn an orangey-red with feint stripes. I think they're all around 5 months old, the red zebs I think are maybe a month older than the blue.
The problem? I can't for the life of me tell which are red or blue, or which are male or female! My question is I suppose, what age are they officially mature, or when should I be able to tell? And, is the high population stopping them from colouring?
I understand that the heavy population is affecting things, hut I read so many different things that I can't really decide what best to do, whether to thin out & try my best to group 3 females to a male (how when I dont know which is which?), or whether to keep waiting for more colouration & clear signs of which is which!
Please advise, all & any opinions are more than welcome, the last option is to sell them on & spend more on a confirmed breeding group or colony which I can't really afford!
Thanks for reading,
Phil
