Anyone has experience with checkerboard cichlid?

[Ram]

Hi, yesterday visited Gan aquarium at Neo Tiew Lane and tempted by their checkerboard fishes there. Bought a pair and put in my 2ft planted tank. Would like to know from bros here that anyone have good experience in keeping these fishes and successfully breed them?
The fishes seems like to swim to the top of water, is it normal? I thought most cichlids like to stay at the bottom of the tank.

[valice]

Would like to know from bros here that anyone have good experience in keeping these fishes and successfully breed them?
The fishes seems like to swim to the top of water, is it normal? I thought most cichlids like to stay at the bottom of the tank.

From my short experience with them, it is not normal from them to swim to the top of the water... Unless they think that food is coming down or that they are not feeling welll... Mine died within a within after they stayed there and don't come down...

They need proper climatisation and training to take different kinds of food... They are shy creatures who likes hiding spaces... Fun to see them poking their heads out from their hidout to check out the surrounding...

[kemp]

bro, do you happen to have a pic of the fish?

Hi, yesterday visited Gan aquarium at Neo Tiew Lane and tempted by their checkerboard fishes there. Bought a pair and put in my 2ft planted tank. Would like to know from bros here that anyone have good experience in keeping these fishes and successfully breed them?
The fishes seems like to swim to the top of water, is it normal? I thought most cichlids like to stay at the bottom of the tank.

[benny]

bro, do you happen to have a pic of the fish?

Since you asked!

Anyway...

Ram,

Did you aclimatise the fish properly? Otherwise, they could be in shock. Try putting Melafix to help with de-stressing the fish.

If you can, keep a small group of 6 or 8. It's really fun to see them as a group.

Cheers,

[Ram]

Thank you for all your suggestion. I believe I didn't acclimatize them well before I put in the tank. I hope they will recover soon. Tonight I will check on their condition, and if possible will post the picture to share.

[kemp]

Thanks bro!
that's a nice shade of blue on its body, nice!

Since you asked!

[Ram]

Hi, thank god, the fishes are doing well. Manage to take some blur picture to share. Anyone can identify their sex?

[kevkoi]

male.. and male...

[valice]

Yupz... Females have red/orange vectral fins... And no lyretails...

[joopsg]

Yup. Valice and a few of us have discuss before how to sex them, do a search in the forum.

[Ram]

Thanks. Since both turn up to be male. I will need to look for two female to keep them company. Anyone got idea where can I buy the female checkerboard?

[valice]

You can check out at C328. Sometimes they will have. You can also ask Auntie when the new stock is coming in.