Cichlasoma Ornatum Journal

[Verminator89]

Sounds like your Rainbows are doing what my Jacks do. Show absolutely no interest in dithers during the day, as far as they are concerned they are fine to be with when the lights are on. But, in the dark of night as tail floating just in reach or at the water surface is just to tempting NOT to bite. This, is exactly what my cichlids do, if not my Jacks, it could just as easily be my big Rotkeil, or Geo's or the latest addition my GT.

 

[mattlee]

within the last week i have added another 10 colombian tetras making the group back up to a decent amount if this doesnt work out then i will look for tougher dithers.

i have also added today a pair of rainbow cichlids and a Megalodoras uranoscopus catfish thats about 6 inches. always wanted one of these cats and gave in today. i know their potential size is about 2ft but it will take some time as they are slow growing and its currently only still pretty small.

so current stocking is -

6 x cichlasoma ornatum
17 x colombian tetra
2 x rainbow cichlid
1 x giant talking catfish

 

[minnnt]

So is the sick ornatum back in with the others then? Can't wait to see a picture of the 17 CRF's!!

 

[mattlee]

yeah i released it back in this week and it seems to be much better now. not 100% but a lot bettre than it was so fingers crossed it will make a decent recovery

 

[minnnt]

Excellent.

 

[mattlee]

ill get some pics up when the new tank has arrived and is set up

2 weeks to go

 

[mattlee]

found another dead colombian tetra this morning one of my original ones looking at the size of it.

again no signs of any infection/disease etc and not attacked in any way

whats going on with these fish?

 

[minnnt]

Were yours alot bigger than mine then?

 

[mattlee]

yeah my original ones are about 2.5-3 inch, about the size of the female rainbow.

i really dont know whats up with them. if i start to loose them again ill look into a different dither i think

 

[minnnt]

Blimey, they must be pretty impressive at that size!!!

 

[mattlee]

lovin my new catfish he/she is just a beauty...

cant wait for it to get a bit bigger. its eating like a horse and is just over 7 inch (measured it properly today) its gonna be very impressive when its over a foot in length

 

[minnnt]

PICTURES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[mattlee]

PICTURES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

ill get some when i move it as the current tank is a bit of an algae mess

 

[minnnt]

LOL! Chicken.

 

[mattlee]

well its 1 week tomorrow until the new tank arrives for the ornatums not that im counting or anything........

the new tank is 60x24x24 and will be filtered by 2x FX5's, heated by 2x 300w titanium heaters and the lighting will be an arcadia LED tube. it will have unipac limpopo sand as substrate and lots of wood. i will be using the big piece of sumatran driftwood i removed from Keiths tank with another decent sized piece i found at an lfs along with 2 pieces of redmoor wood i bought ages ago if they will fit...... ive also been out and about and have picked up some very nice looking purple rocks from garden centers and lfs. the only plants will be artificial exo terra style that i have in Keiths tank.

the stocking will be -

6 x cichlasoma ornatum - ( ex-cichlasoma cf.ornatus )
6 x rainbow cichlid - ( Herotilapia multispinosa )
16 x colombian tetra - ( Hyphessobrycon columbianus )
1 x megaladoras catfish - ( Megalodoras uranoscopus )

and if its still available at lfs....

1 x red humped eartheater - ( 'Geophagus' steindachneri )

im still debating about having a trio of pictus catfish or good old humbugs as a clean up crew..... then thats the tank about fully stocked i think until the ornatums grow up a bit then i will have to sell a few on if the aggression gets too much in there!

also if the colombian tetras start to get picked on again i might have to move them on and choose another dither fish but fingers crossed they will be safe