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ColdPoker
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Friday,
February 01, 2002 - 06:03 pm
I have a ten gallon tank with two cichlid in it (they
are seperated by a partition). Both seem to have spots
on their bottom tail fin. (copy and paste to address
to view ---> http://coldpoker.homestead.com/files/ciclid.jpg
). These sopts do not seem to have any affect on either
fish. Just was wondering if anyone had any idea as to what
they are. Thanks for your help.
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joycedonley
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Saturday,
February 02, 2002 - 07:26 am
The fish you have are cobalt blue zebra Lake Malawi mbuna
"pseudotropheus callainos". The spots are called
eyespots and normally denote a male fish. Sometimes females
can also have one or two, but they are usually not as distinct
as on the male. Anyways you should keep mbuna in at least
a 55 gallon and a 75+ is much preferable.They are aggressive
and territorial fish which is why you had to divide the
small tank. There is no way these fish can continue to live
happily in a ten gallon tank. They also have very specific
needs such as high ph,lots of rocks and Cichlid salt. I
suggest you find a good home for the fish or take them back.
Even my grow out tank for juvenille mbuna is 29 gallons!
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joycedonley
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Saturday,
February 02, 2002 - 10:55 am
Oops I mean eggspots(don't type this stuff up when
you first wake up).
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Jesse Goslee
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Saturday,
March 23, 2002 - 05:43 pm
I have 2 pseudotropeus lombardoi which are blue with dark
blue stripes,1 pseudotropeus fuelleborni I think,it is green,blue
,brown,and orange blotched with 1 yellow eggspot.I also
have two labidochromis caeruleus,and one pseutropeus zebra(orange
blotched).My question is how do I tell if they are male
or female?Also will these fish interbred?
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joycedonley
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Sunday,
March 24, 2002 - 08:02 am
The labidochromis will not interbreed with the pseudotropheus.
It is possible for the others to interbreed. I belong to
a Rift Lake Cichlid group and it seems that the Lab conspec
is much more likely to interbreed with each other(ie
a L. pearlmutt with a L.caereleus). You are much better
keeping at least 4 of each conspec(type) in the
hopes that they will stick to breeding with each other.
The reason for 4 or 5 is that it's almost impossible
to sex juvenille mbuna. Some of the melachromis are color
specific, but they don't always get the colors until
they are about ready to breed (too late for you).Sometimes
eggspots that are very large and clear will denote a male(again
do not count on it).You may be able to tell by the dorsal
fins, usually the females fin are more rounded, while the
male has pointy fins. Most of the time until your females
are holding you just haven't a clues! Some LFS stores
will sell mixed African, but I personally am not keen on
it...kind of like breeding pound puppy fish! Anyways live
and learn, I would also like to have 4 of each in my tank.
I found out about all this after the fact, but I'm getting
a bit closer with 3 of some of my fishies. One other note
labidochromis conspecs are very peaceful for mbuna and usually
have a real hard time competing with zebra or lombardi for
food! Don't get too upset if yours don't make it
into adulthood(I keep my only L caerellus remaining
one in my growout tank).You are headed for big problems
with your current numbers. The pseudotropeus need to be
kept in higher fish density to dispel aggression.When they
get older one will probably take over the tank and kill
off the rest(my guess the P. lombardi). If you insist
on keeping only a few fish you may do okay with the labidochromis
conspecs or aulocorona as some people even keep them with
Rainbows. They just aren't as aggressive as most mbuna.
A few fish just won't work for Melachronis or Pseudotropheus!
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Jesse Goslee
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Sunday,
March 24, 2002 - 01:28 pm
THANKS FOR YOUR ADVISE.RIGHT NOW ALL MY FISH ARE UNDER 3
INCHES,THE SMALLEST BEING 1 INCH IN LENGTH.I HAVE HAD THEM
FOR 2 MONTHS.I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COMPATABLE FISH.MY FAVORITE
ARE THE L CAERELLUS.SO I WANT TO BUILD MY TANK AROUND THEM.I
AM ALSO LOOKING FOR CICHLIDS THAT BREED FAIRLY EASY.ANY
HELP WOULD BE APPRICIATED.
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joycedonley
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Sunday,
March 24, 2002 - 08:42 pm
Yahoo has an African Cichlid group. These people really
only breed Africans, so don't ask anything else off
topic or they may chew you out! Not quite as friendly as
us here on Pat's board, but they really know their stuff.
If you plan on keeping all those different mbuna I hope
you have at least a 55 gallon tank and preferably a 75 or
100 gallon. Like I said you can maybe keep a few L caerelleus
in a 30 or so and get away with it, but the Pseudotropheus
conspecs you have are just too aggressive and will start
claiming territory at the expense of the others. I hope
you have also read up on providing these guys with lots
of caves and rockwork. Mine didn't develop their 'Killer'
instict until I had them for 5-6 months. I have a cycled
75 gallon and have only had two executed. One L. caerellus(early
demise) and one male M. johanni(can't keep two
male M johanii in a 75 gallon).
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Jesse Goslee
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Monday,
March 25, 2002 - 09:01 am
I plan on using a 55 gallon.I think I will get rid of the
pseudotropheus and stick with the L caerellus,and add some
more labidoechromis species and maybe some auloncara species.I
don't know much about african cichlids.I have always
had central and south american.You have a 75 gallon cycled
tank.What does cycled mean?
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joycedonley
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Tuesday,
March 26, 2002 - 06:49 am
You can't just put the fish in the tank until enough
bacteria has built up on your filters to breakdown their
waste or the ammonia and nitrite levels will kill them!
Read Genesis on Pat's main board. You should know all
about cycling a tank if you already have SA and CA fish!
Keep your Labs in groups of 4-5 so hopefully you will have
a female or two in the buch. That should help keep the cross-breeding
down. You should also try to get some Seachem African Rift
Lake Cichlid salt if possible. Also read about the Rift
Lake setup on the main board there is some really good information
there. I read this article before I even bought my tanks!
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joycedonley
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Tuesday,
March 26, 2002 - 08:54 am
Auloncara are also called Peacocks. They are usually pretty
expensive if you can find them! Really beautiful fish,usually
more than one color and pretty peaceful. My Lake Malawi
book says tank size min. is 100 liters(50gal) for
peacocks and this is small compared to other mbuna requirements.
I wouldn't dare put any in with my Pseudotropheus conspecs.
Make sure you have lots of rock caves in the tank!
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joycedonley
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Tuesday,
March 26, 2002 - 09:17 am
Guess I need more coffee! 100 liters is 22.0 gallons. Some
of the peacock were also 150 liters minimum. Anyways 55
gallon should work out fine.
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