Newbie cichlids owner need some advice

[rookie]

Hi all I recently set up a tank with 18 cichlids. I don't even know what species they are. Just thought they looked damn pretty so I bought it.

1) what species are they?

2) they can sure crap a lot! Not that I have any issues with it though. what kind of sucker fish (to finish up the crap) can I put in together with those fishes?

Any advice appreciated. Attached pic of tank. Sorry for lousy image.

Thanks in advance!

[leoccl86]

Hi!

Don't u just love their colors!?

To get to know their species, u may wanna check out this useful site.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article..._beginners.php

For their crapping, there's no Plecoptera or Cory (sucker fish) that'll "eat" them.
You'll need to invest in a gravel vacuum or have strong filtering system.

One suggestion to clear their crap is to get freshwater crayfish and feed your cichlids with floating herbivor diet.
You may want to remove your plants and have more caves if you choose this option.

Hope I'm of help

[Ecalyte]

Hi bro,

I see that you're mixing cichlids from Tanganyikan and Victoria lakes. Please note that the Victorian Cichlids are far more aggressive (in general) and will bully your tangans, especially when they're bigger. For now I think you're safe..

[rookie]

Yes the colors are what attracted me to them the most!

I feed them with this thing call "New Life Spectrum Cichild Formula". That's what the shop people recommended. It's the floating kind. That's ok ya?

Not sure what you meant by strong filtering system. What I have is a built in filter system that is built into the whole back of the tank. There are "slits" on the top left and bottom left that allows water to flow through the filter and then a pump on the top right to push out the clean water. That one considered strong?

An under gravel filter will mean that I have to redo the tank all over again. Dang!

Freshwater crayfish can dig out the crap and eat them? Where can I get those? I'm quite bothered with those crap embedded into the gravels.

Hi!

Don't u just love their colors!?

To get to know their species, u may wanna check out this useful site.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article..._beginners.php

For their crapping, there's no Plecoptera or Cory (sucker fish) that'll "eat" them.
You'll need to invest in a gravel vacuum or have strong filtering system.

One suggestion to clear their crap is to get freshwater crayfish and feed your cichlids with floating herbivor diet.
You may want to remove your plants and have more caves if you choose this option.

Hope I'm of help

[rookie]

Hi bro,

I see that you're mixing cichlids from Tanganyikan and Victoria lakes. Please note that the Victorian Cichlids are far more aggressive (in general) and will bully your tangans, especially when they're bigger. For now I think you're safe..

When you say Tanganyikan do you mean the blue-ish purple one (as per the picture I attached)? The one right in the middle. That's the terror I see chasing others around.

Used to have 2 of them. But one of them died. I woke up one morning to find it stuck to the "slits" of the filter. The part where water is sucked into the back of the tank for cleaning.

[lesath]

if im not wrong.. tangans and malawi are high on ph right?? freshwater crayfish might not be suitable

[vannel]

The bluish striped one in the middle is probably a Pseudotropheus Demasoni. These fish are highly aggressive and will chase any other fish on sight, even if it's considered a dwarf cichlid.

The yellowish one looks to be a Labidochromis Caeruleus, or more commonly known as the Yellow Lab. Those are, imho, a little less agressive when compared to the Demasoni.

[leoccl86]

Yes the colors are what attracted me to them the most!

I feed them with this thing call "New Life Spectrum Cichild Formula". That's what the shop people recommended. It's the floating kind. That's ok ya?

Not sure what you meant by strong filtering system. What I have is a built in filter system that is built into the whole back of the tank. There are "slits" on the top left and bottom left that allows water to flow through the filter and then a pump on the top right to push out the clean water. That one considered strong?

An under gravel filter will mean that I have to redo the tank all over again. Dang!

Freshwater crayfish can dig out the crap and eat them? Where can I get those? I'm quite bothered with those crap embedded into the gravels.

I've not tried that fomula before but I heard the cichlids like them. I always use hikari's excel and their cichlid series but importantly is that it's herbivorous as it'll help to curb the aggression of the fish.

For a cichlid tank, you won't wanna use an undergravel filter system.
They love to dig in the gravel.

Strong filtering system that can pick up their crap when they start suspending in the water.

The crayfish can be bought at some of the LFS, I bought mine in Chong Pang area.

if im not wrong.. tangans and malawi are high on ph right?? freshwater crayfish might not be suitable

Yup, the fish require 7.6 to 8.6ph. The crayfish are very hardy and can withstand the GH, KH and ph of the water, only thing that cannot withstand are plants that the crayfish would like to chomp on.

Therefore feeding the ciclid with herbivorous diet would produce herbivorous crap and the crayfish would eat their crap as food source.

generally the crayfish would enjoy the similar setup as cichlids, sandy and many caves, they too love digging and camping in caves.

if you're worried about the crayfish, you may get those feeder prawns to once in awhile clean your gravel floor, but i strongly dun recommend as the cichlids will eat them and you'll see shells all over your gravel again.

Ultimately if you want your gravel to be really clean, invest in a gravel cleaner.
Eheim has a pretty neat one, it's handheld and automatic.

[rookie]

Thank you!

I'll go check out the gravel vacuum.

Also, I was sweeping the floor yesterday and out of no where I found one of the cichlid on the floor. It became dried salted fish already. RIP.

I don't have any lid on the tank. It is a must? Anyone else with no lid on the tank with no problems?

[Ecalyte]

These cichlids will only ever jump out of the tank for 2 reasons; Unsuitable water conditions, To escape aggression.

If the fish haven't acclimatized to associating you with food, then observe them for a good 15 minutes. Look for aggression... this behaviour in cichlids is very common and cannot really be avoided completely, however you should look out for over-aggression. A particular fish being chased and harassed constantly during the observation period.

The reason why I said if the fish haven't associated you with food is because these behaviours will not appear when they're expecting a feed. Their urge to eat over-rides almost every other instinct. If they already associate you with feeding time, then try to observe from a distance.

If everything seems to be more-or-less civil, then you don't need to worry about jumping fish.. start to measure your tank parameters... I've kept African cichlids before, and never had problems with jumping fish. However I was very sure not to mix cichlids from the 3 different African Lakes.. they have varying growth, size, and temperament.

[rookie]

You are absolutely right!

Whenever I'm away from the tank, there is one particular bugger (who happens to be the most pretty one) who is constantly chasing the others around. When I'm near the tank, the aggression stops and all of them are super excited.

I believe we have solved the mystery of that salted fish.

Does that mean I don't have to start measuring tank parameters? Cause at this moment I have no idea what parameters are needed, how to measure, what to buy and etc. I don't even know what species they all are. I really have to start reading. lol.

These cichlids will only ever jump out of the tank for 2 reasons; Unsuitable water conditions, To escape aggression.

If the fish haven't acclimatized to associating you with food, then observe them for a good 15 minutes. Look for aggression... this behaviour in cichlids is very common and cannot really be avoided completely, however you should look out for over-aggression. A particular fish being chased and harassed constantly during the observation period.

The reason why I said if the fish haven't associated you with food is because these behaviours will not appear when they're expecting a feed. Their urge to eat over-rides almost every other instinct. If they already associate you with feeding time, then try to observe from a distance.

If everything seems to be more-or-less civil, then you don't need to worry about jumping fish.. start to measure your tank parameters... I've kept African cichlids before, and never had problems with jumping fish. However I was very sure not to mix cichlids from the 3 different African Lakes.. they have varying growth, size, and temperament.

[leoccl86]

I noticed that your water level is pretty close to the brink, maybe a little too close?

Like what Ecalyte mentioned, those 2 conditions are due to extremes.
Cichlids seldom jump, the only time i saw mine jump was when they're over eager to chase live feeder prawns and followed the prawns out of the water.

Check your water parameters. Since you've got fishes from at least 2 different lakes, keeping the KH and GH on the high side would be advisable. Also ph should be kept at least minimum 8.

that way they'll few less invited to jump out of the water.

[rookie]

Hi all, I need to give away that terror cichlid who is always chasing the others around.

I have to do it here because I have no privilege to post in the marketplace yet. Sorry about that.

Anybody wants to adopt a pretty free fish?

Attached pics of that little terror.

Please PM me!

[leoccl86]

Hi, possible to tell us what are the other cichlids you have?

From your photo, it's quite puzzling why the mildly-aggressive Placidochromis electra mis chasing all your fishes.

Anw, if you wanna climatise your water condition, a quick fix is to add cichlid lake salt by seachem.
It'll give your water the correct KH, GH and pH buffer as similar to their native homes.

[rookie]

So far only that one casualty. So i do believe the water parameter is ok. Not that I tested it though. I will do that soon.

Thank you!

I noticed that your water level is pretty close to the brink, maybe a little too close?

Like what Ecalyte mentioned, those 2 conditions are due to extremes.
Cichlids seldom jump, the only time i saw mine jump was when they're over eager to chase live feeder prawns and followed the prawns out of the water.

Check your water parameters. Since you've got fishes from at least 2 different lakes, keeping the KH and GH on the high side would be advisable. Also ph should be kept at least minimum 8.

that way they'll few less invited to jump out of the water.

[rookie]

I'm honestly not too sure. I went to a couple of websites but they are in so much variety and colors, different lakes and etc. I see until blur.

Maybe I should try to take clearer pictures of them and post them here to get an accurate ID.

Hi, possible to tell us what are the other cichlids you have?

From your photo, it's quite puzzling why the mildly-aggressive Placidochromis electra mis chasing all your fishes.

Anw, if you wanna climatise your water condition, a quick fix is to add cichlid lake salt by seachem.
It'll give your water the correct KH, GH and pH buffer as similar to their native homes.

[rookie]

The cichlid is still up for adoption. Pictures in post #13. Any kind souls to take in? Please PM me.

[GuppyLover]

Just sent you an email as I am unable to PM you. =D

[GuppyLover]

Hey Bro rookie! Thanks for the fish! Very beautiful piece. Will be waiting for it to colour up. Thanks a lot

[rookie]

Most welcome