African Chiclid Help

[impact1122]

I have recently started my new 50 Gal tank. I currently have 3 small African Ciclids in my tank and I have a few questions.

1. How many Cichlids can be put in my 50 Gal tank. I have been told that I should maybe have 5 or 6 in my tank because they are very territorial. I have also seen pictures of tanks similar in size to mine with close to 12 fish. I prefer to have fewer fish in the tank so they get big but my little girl wants a lot of fish..... lol so she wins until she gets her own tank.

2. What temperature should my tank be?

3. How often should they be fed. I have been told twice a day but only a little bit each time. And I have been told once every 2 days. Currently I am feeding them fish flakes once a day. What else can I feed them? I saw a post from someone that said they feed them cucumber??? is that ok? I was told that some are vegetarians but I never thought that they can be fed actual vegetables.

Help on any of my questions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dthoffsett]

Is your 50gal a 3ft or 4ft? If it's a 3ft, I'd aim for 12 adults, try for 3 species of 1m/3f each, and stick with the more peaceful species such as: labidochromis caeruleus, iodotropheus sprengerae psedotropheus salousi.

If it's a 4ft you could add another species of 1m/3f, again stick with more peaceful species.

What species do you have so far, and what ones are you interested in?

 

[chr15_8]

I have recently started my new 50 Gal tank. I currently have 3 small African Ciclids in my tank and I have a few questions.

2. What temperature should my tank be?

3. How often should they be fed. I have been told twice a day but only a little bit each time. And I have been told once every 2 days. Currently I am feeding them fish flakes once a day. What else can I feed them? I saw a post from someone that said they feed them cucumber??? is that ok? I was told that some are vegetarians but I never thought that they can be fed actual vegetables.

Help on any of my questions would be greatly appreciated.

2) i have my tank set at 80 degree f.

3)what is the type of fish food you feed? brand etc.
i feed mine cucumber and shelled peas.
i normally feed pellets 4 days a week and veg 3 days a week (alternated) so 1 day is pellet next is veg, 3rd is pellets etc. African cichlids only eat veg like algea in the wild. they should not be feed fatty foods including bloodworn etc.

chris

 

[impact1122]

Is your 50gal a 3ft or 4ft? If it's a 3ft, I'd aim for 12 adults, try for 3 species of 1m/3f each, and stick with the more peaceful species such as: labidochromis caeruleus, iodotropheus sprengerae psedotropheus salousi.

If it's a 4ft you could add another species of 1m/3f, again stick with more peaceful species.

What species do you have so far, and what ones are you interested in?

My tank is a 3ft tank.

I really don't know what species I am interested in. I haven't read enough or seen enough yet. When I bought the fish I did make sure to ask if the 3 are compatable.

The 3 that I have are:

Hap Venustus
Ps Socolari "snow white color"
Sm Cobalt Zebar

I hope I have the names correct. I copied them from the tanks where I bought them

Are there any species that you recommend?

 

[impact1122]

I have recently started my new 50 Gal tank. I currently have 3 small African Ciclids in my tank and I have a few questions.

2. What temperature should my tank be?

3. How often should they be fed. I have been told twice a day but only a little bit each time. And I have been told once every 2 days. Currently I am feeding them fish flakes once a day. What else can I feed them? I saw a post from someone that said they feed them cucumber??? is that ok? I was told that some are vegetarians but I never thought that they can be fed actual vegetables.

Help on any of my questions would be greatly appreciated.

2) i have my tank set at 80 degree f.

3)what is the type of fish food you feed? brand etc.
i feed mine cucumber and shelled peas.
i normally feed pellets 4 days a week and veg 3 days a week (alternated) so 1 day is pellet next is veg, 3rd is pellets etc. African cichlids only eat veg like algea in the wild. they should not be feed fatty foods including bloodworn etc.

chris

The fish flakes that I have is the name brand from the store. "Big Al's"... It is for tropical fish... Cichlids included. I was going to buy Cichlid specific food shortly.

I tried feeding them cucumber today and they seemed to like it! Thanks for the tip!

I had my tank at 75. I raised it up to 80 and I noticed they were a lot more active.

 

[chr15_8]

after looking on google i think the proper name for Hap Venustus is 'Nimbochromis venustus' (Pics on the images look the same aswell)

i also think the Ps Socolari "snow white color" is 'Pseudotropheus Socolofi' albino

as for the cobalt zebra there are lots of types.

im not sure if these are compatable of not but im sure dthoffsett will say if there are/arnt.


is this the food you feed?
http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...leflakefood25oz

although its say for cichlids it not be doing you fish any good. as cichlids digestive systems arnt as strong as most fish it could make them ill. so i would go for a proper cichlid food that is designed for cichlids.

chris

 

[dthoffsett]

My tank is a 3ft tank.

I really don't know what species I am interested in. I haven't read enough or seen enough yet. When I bought the fish I did make sure to ask if the 3 are compatable.

The 3 that I have are:

Hap Venustus
Ps Socolari "snow white color"
Sm Cobalt Zebar

I hope I have the names correct. I copied them from the tanks where I bought them

Are there any species that you recommend?

Ok the hap is n.venustus, unfortunately they get much too large for your tank around 10" if I remember correctly, and they are carnivores, so he'll have to be returned.
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1160"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1160[/URL]

chr15 is right, the second one is most likely p.socolofi Albino, they're nice fish, I'd go with 3 more of them.
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1786"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1786[/URL]

There are quite a few "zebra" species, most likely what you have is metriaclima callainos, check out the link and see if that's what you have.
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=787"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=787[/URL]
If so, they are another great fish, though they'll probably be the top of the pecking order in your tank. You'll definately want to keep 1m/3f with them, they are a little difficult to sex while young, so check with your LFS and ask if they'll take back extra males. If so, start out with around 7 juveniles and then reduce them down to 1m/3f when they are at a sexable age.

So, if you keep the socolofi and callainos, you can pick one more species to go with them. I suggest going to your LFS and writing down the names of all the fish you like, then we'll help you figure out which one will go with what you have.

-Dawn

 

[impact1122]

after looking on google i think the proper name for Hap Venustus is 'Nimbochromis venustus' (Pics on the images look the same aswell)

i also think the Ps Socolari "snow white color" is 'Pseudotropheus Socolofi' albino

as for the cobalt zebra there are lots of types.

im not sure if these are compatable of not but im sure dthoffsett will say if there are/arnt.


is this the food you feed?
[URL="http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...leflakefood25oz"]http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...leflakefood25oz[/URL]

although its say for cichlids it not be doing you fish any good. as cichlids digestive systems arnt as strong as most fish it could make them ill. so i would go for a proper cichlid food that is designed for cichlids.

chris

When buying Cichlids how will I know which fish compatable with eachother besides asking the guys at the fish store?

That is the food that I have been giving them. I am going to get better food. Thanks

 

[chr15_8]

if you do what dawn suggested and go to your lfs and write down the names of the fish you like bring the names back and ask on here.

or if you lfs is good and can order most in for you, you could always look on the internet for cichlids you like the loks of and ask if there compatable here.

chris

 

[impact1122]

My tank is a 3ft tank.

I really don't know what species I am interested in. I haven't read enough or seen enough yet. When I bought the fish I did make sure to ask if the 3 are compatable.

The 3 that I have are:

Hap Venustus
Ps Socolari "snow white color"
Sm Cobalt Zebar

I hope I have the names correct. I copied them from the tanks where I bought them

Are there any species that you recommend?

Ok the hap is n.venustus, unfortunately they get much too large for your tank around 10" if I remember correctly, and they are carnivores, so he'll have to be returned.
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1160" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1160</a>

chr15 is right, the second one is most likely p.socolofi Albino, they're nice fish, I'd go with 3 more of them.
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1786" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1786</a>

There are quite a few "zebra" species, most likely what you have is metriaclima callainos, check out the link and see if that's what you have.
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=787" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=787</a>
If so, they are another great fish, though they'll probably be the top of the pecking order in your tank. You'll definately want to keep 1m/3f with them, they are a little difficult to sex while young, so check with your LFS and ask if they'll take back extra males. If so, start out with around 7 juveniles and then reduce them down to 1m/3f when they are at a sexable age.

So, if you keep the socolofi and callainos, you can pick one more species to go with them. I suggest going to your LFS and writing down the names of all the fish you like, then we'll help you figure out which one will go with what you have.

-Dawn

I checked out your links and the "p.socolofi" Albino and the "metriaclima callainos" are exactly what I have. Although the "n.venustus" doesn't look like my fish. He looks very similar to the "p.socolofi" Albino but he is orange. I know he is a male because he has a few spots on his anal fin.

I will get the names of the fish that I want. Thanks for helping me with this!

I have had the fish for almost a week now in my new tank and all is going well. Should I wait another week to get more fish?

 

[impact1122]

if you do what dawn suggested and go to your lfs and write down the names of the fish you like bring the names back and ask on here.

or if you lfs is good and can order most in for you, you could always look on the internet for cichlids you like the loks of and ask if there compatable here.

chris

Thanks also for your help!

I have another quick question.... My pH is around 7.6. The guy at my lfs said the fish like a higher pH. Is it necessary that I raise my pH or will they be ok

 

[kribensis12]

Did you cycle the tank? If not, try to borrow some Filter Media from a freind. No it isnt nessecary to rasie the ph. Mine is around 8.4, and i wish it would go down!!!!!!!!

 

[impact1122]

Did you cycle the tank? If not, try to borrow some Filter Media from a freind. No it isnt nessecary to rasie the ph. Mine is around 8.4, and i wish it would go down!!!!!!!!

My tank is almost finished the cycle. I borrowed some water from a friend to start the cycle.

 

[dthoffsett]

Did you cycle the tank? If not, try to borrow some Filter Media from a freind. No it isnt nessecary to rasie the ph. Mine is around 8.4, and i wish it would go down!!!!!!!!

My tank is almost finished the cycle. I borrowed some water from a friend to start the cycle.

What are your ammonia/nitrite/and nitrate readings? Adding water from an established tank doesn't do anything for your cycle since the beneficial bacteria isn't free floating. The majority live in your filter media, and a small amount lives on all the surfaces of your tank.

Don't add anymore fish until your ammonia & nitrite stay at 0 for at least a week.

 

[impact1122]

Did you cycle the tank? If not, try to borrow some Filter Media from a freind. No it isnt nessecary to rasie the ph. Mine is around 8.4, and i wish it would go down!!!!!!!!

My tank is almost finished the cycle. I borrowed some water from a friend to start the cycle.

What are your ammonia/nitrite/and nitrate readings? Adding water from an established tank doesn't do anything for your cycle since the beneficial bacteria isn't free floating. The majority live in your filter media, and a small amount lives on all the surfaces of your tank.

Don't add anymore fish until your ammonia & nitrite stay at 0 for at least a week.

Ammonia is at 0.0ppm
Nitrite is at 0.25ppm
Nitrate is at 0.0ppm

I was planning on adding more fish after I do a partial water change when the Nitrates are present. Was my thinking correct?