hi guys pls help, what fish are this called?

[xinanlove]

thanks~~~~~~~

[vinz]

Looks like a type of Malawi and Tanganyikan cichlid. I can't give you a exact name, but you can go look up water conditions for Malawi or Tanganyikan cichlid.

In brief, they need high pH and high GH. Check out the fish shops for products that create ideal water conditions for them. Their homes are usually rock piles with sandy bottoms. Some species are territorial.

Hopefully some comes along and names them for you... then you can get exact info.

[xinanlove]

thanks,, hmm 1 more question, sometimes i see the fish chasing 1 another , its like bitting them, is this normal? or are they playing around >.<

[wynx]

thanks,, hmm 1 more question, sometimes i see the fish chasing 1 another , its like bitting them, is this normal? or are they playing around >.<

I wonder why you buy these fishes when you have no knowledge of them? Anyway, as Vinz has pointed out these are most likely cichlids and cichlids being cichlids are territorial fishes, i.e. they will fight other fishes who come to near for comfort.

How big is your tank, by the way?

[vinz]

That probably means that this species is territorial.

The reason Malawi and Tanganyikan cichlids are often overcrowded in their tanks is to confuse the dominant ones. With too many to bully, the dominant one cannot focus on one fish and bully it to death.

Give your fishes plenty of objects to swim into or behind. That will give the submissive ones places to hide form the dominant fish. Get a few more, so that the dominant fish cannot focus his bullying on a few only.

[xinanlove]

, maybe i upload my tank then u see where can i improve

[xinanlove]

I wonder why you buy these fishes when you have no knowledge of them? Anyway, as Vinz has pointed out these are most likely cichlids and cichlids being cichlids are territorial fishes, i.e. they will fight other fishes who come to near for comfort.

How big is your tank, by the way?

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/s...1122009125.jpg

60cm by 45cm by 45cm with 10 fishes

[vinz]

Too little hiding space for them. The typical Malawi or Tanganyikan setup features large piles of rocks.

Usually we pile rocks almost all the way to the surface. Seldom put plants as the water conditions do not match what the plants need.

As some of these fishes will dig, they could undermine your entire rock pile and cause the rocks to tumble and break the glass. The proper set up requires:
- A thick piece of Styrofoam on the tank bottom (inside the tank, not outside) to protect the glass bottom from the rock pile.
- Rock pile placed on top of the Styrofoam. Rocks must be placed properly so that they are stable.
- Lastly, pour in crush coral as substrate. You can use gravel, but crush coral is preferred as they will maintain the tank pH and GH suitable for the fish.

[fishking]

I maybe wrong, but these fishes look like juvenile patterns of some kind of cichlid...cant put my mouth to it the name of the cichlid...but it maybe the tropheus type of cichlids...not too sure as the fishes look blurred to me..

But I more or less can confirm that these are juvenile patterns and not the adult colouration.

[xinanlove]

thanks all for the help,

[stormhawk]

These are highly likely to be juvenile Tropheus duboisi. A 2 ft tank might not be sufficient for these guys when they're fully grown up.

[StanChung]

It's Tropheus duboisi-Tanganyikan cichlid.

You should keep the kH and GH high. Add some coral chips. Better still if you can use it as the substrate or part of the design. If not there's lots of products out the to do so.

Should keep at least 12 to spread the aggression. I love tropheus- there's so many kinds.
This is my one and only left. -Tropheus moori [sp something]

[xinanlove]

hmm for the gravel what do u guys use? im using small tiny pebbles, should i change it to sand?

[xinanlove]

It's Tropheus duboisi-Tanganyikan cichlid.

You should keep the kH and GH high. Add some coral chips. Better still if you can use it as the substrate or part of the design. If not there's lots of products out the to do so.

Should keep at least 12 to spread the aggression. I love tropheus- there's so many kinds.
This is my one and only left. -Tropheus moori [sp something]

how to i increase the kh and gh?

[StanChung]

The coral sand will help do it but that is very gradual.
You can buy KH and GH boosters for immediate effect but increase it slowly over one or two days or your fish will get shocked.

[xinanlove]

thanks guys

[ranmasatome]

You quoted Stan in your above reply..so i'd presume you know how to help increase kh and gh because you must have read what he wrote?

Also as a suggestion,
google is a very helpful webtool.
There is also a search function on AQ for you to search topics like "Tropheus" or "coral chips" for example.
Try it..
It'll increase your knowledge on the subject and your interested fish species and also prepare you to know what you're in for if you want to keep them.
From the questions you're asking, It seems to me like you're embarking on a rather condition specific species even before you know the very basics of keeping them. This usually translates to many fish deaths later as you trial and error on their (the fishes') cost. And it also mean lots of money loss for you. Both of which is not a fun thing, this hobby is meant to be fun

[xinanlove]

The coral sand will help do it but that is very gradual.
You can buy KH and GH boosters for immediate effect but increase it slowly over one or two days or your fish will get shocked.

normally do u guys wash the sand? will fish food sink into the sand?

[stormhawk]

Initially some will wash the sand/gravel to get rid of finer particles. Depending on the size of the coral sand bits, food can get stuck between the pieces.

If you are afraid of this happening, just buy a small plastic dish, like the base plate for plant pots. Place it in a tank somewhere and just drop the food on it. That way you don't have to worry about food particles getting stuck among the sand.

[StanChung]

Food drop to the bottom with tropheus? Fat chance of that happening!

Always wash sand before using but not soil unless you're one of those paranoid 'shrimpers'.