Wildcaught Tanganyika Tank

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I

ian8834

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 8, 2008
85
0
36
Southern Indiana
Hey guys...I just went out today and ordered some new fish which I think are all from Lake Tanganyika.

Here are my new fish...
(6) Tropheus Brichardi
(3) Tropheus Lupota
(8) Tropheus Ndole
(6) Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis

I got them all for $11 each. Is that a good price? I'm new to these type of fish, although I have had many kinds of cichlids before.

I am constructing the 180-gallon tank that they are going in now. Should be a big centerpiece of driftwood and hopefully a lot of rocks as well. We'll see how it turns out.
 
For that price I can guarantee you that they're not wild fish. For a 180 I would recommend that you get 10 more of each type of tropheus. They need large numbers to help quell aggression. Also be aware that when they get to spawning age the lupota and ndole will likely cross breed giving you mutt fry that people will not want to buy. I know you already ordered them, but I would scrap the ndole and get 20 more lupota as they are much more rare and will be worth more money in the long run.

I would scrap the wood and stick with rocks. Make sure you have tons of filtration and lots of water movement. In my 180 I use a sump with a mag 12, rena xp3, and a 3200 gph powerhead. Trophs are pretty easy once established, as long as a few basic rules are followed. Otherwise they can make you pull your hair out in frustration. Good luck and check out trophs.com for some tropheus specific info from people that know their stuff about these fish!
 
swk;4222509; said:
For that price I can guarantee you that they're not wild fish. For a 180 I would recommend that you get 10 more of each type of tropheus. They need large numbers to help quell aggression. Also be aware that when they get to spawning age the lupota and ndole will likely cross breed giving you mutt fry that people will not want to buy. I know you already ordered them, but I would scrap the ndole and get 20 more lupota as they are much more rare and will be worth more money in the long run.

I would scrap the wood and stick with rocks. Make sure you have tons of filtration and lots of water movement. In my 180 I use a sump with a mag 12, rena xp3, and a 3200 gph powerhead. Trophs are pretty easy once established, as long as a few basic rules are followed. Otherwise they can make you pull your hair out in frustration. Good luck and check out trophs.com for some tropheus specific info from people that know their stuff about these fish!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.

When I said that I ordered them, I did not buy them online. I purchased them from my LFS who got them from a breeder in the area that was moving. He had to get rid of them and the LFS wanted them gone. I told them to wait a few days to fix up the tank properly and I'd be back for them. I am pretty sure they are all WC.
 
If they are wc then you got the deal of the year! The most important thing to get started is to find out what they've been eating and make sure you don't change it. One of the biggest causes of bloat with tropheus is changing foods. If you can keep them alive for the first month you should be in the clear. There are many other tricks to them but check out the site I told you, or check out this link:

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforu...ping-Tropheus-A-beginners-guide-to-the-basics

This is a good general care sheet for trophs that covers most of the basics.
 
Thanks a lot for the information swk. Much appreciated.

I plan on moving the driftwood to one side of the tank and then putting all the rocks on the other side of the tank. I love the piece of driftwood and I really want it to be a part of the tank.

I picked up about 40 pounds of rock today and may go back and get more tomorrow.

On a side note, the LFS I used to go to would sell rock and slate and stuff like that for $4 to $8 a pound. I went to the local seed sales and landscaping place and they sold me the same exact stuff for $0.20 a pound. I found that kind of humorous.
 
So I picked up the fish last night and they are in the tank. I was able to get a couple extra Lupota and Red Ndole's. So far I am pleased with how the tank looks. I will try and post pictures tomorrow.
 
I've also done a little research into what these fish were. There was some questioning as far as what some of these were. Basically, a cichlid collector in the area had moved and dropped these off at the local LFS. He wrote down what they were, but when they were placed in tanks, it was kind of a guessing game then. What was sold to me as Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis was actually Cyprichromis sp. 'Leptosoma Jumbo' Chaitika.

Here is what I believe to have in my tank...

(5) Tropheus Brichardi 'Canary Cheek'
(8) Tropheus 'Red' Lupota (Blood Throat)
(10) Tropheus 'Red' Ndole
(6) Cyprichromis sp. 'Leptosoma Jumbo' Chaitika
 
I agree with the people who say they weren't wild caught... they could be f1 or f2... but for $11 they weren't wild caught... but still got a good deal on all of the fish... I've always wanted tropheus but didn't have a large enough space or the right type of food for them... they're strictly herbivores and can become bloated from protein... Get them pictures up
 
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