Cichlasoma Ornatum Journal

[minnnt]

6 Rainbows?!

 

[mattlee]

6 Rainbows?!

i have someone holding 4 more for me in Birmingham until the tanks set up and running

these cichlids are great algae eaters and have stripped the wood clean of it in Keiths tank..... i never knew they did this job so well they are also pretty good target fish that can stand up for themselves when needed even though they are probably one of the smallest cichlids before you go into the dwarfs etc.

the 2 i had from you have settled in very well and have coloured up very well and have almost eaten through the algae mess that was going on in their current tank. for this reason and the fact that they are stunning little fish they get credit and get to be in a bigger group ive always fancied some of these fish but never got round to having any but after having the 2 in Keiths tank and the 2 from minnnt im very pleased with them.

 

[minnnt]

LOL!

I think they have Tricuspid teeth or something like that then enables them to eat it.

Funny they stand up for themselves, they were frightened to death of my Jade Eyeds even though they were smaller than them.

 

[walkers101]

if the humbugs dont fit your plans you know what to do

 

[minnnt]

Have you ever bought a fish of your own?!

 

[walkers101]

plenty

 

[mattlee]

if the humbugs dont fit your plans you know what to do

my 3 humbugs will be staying either in with Keith or in the ornatum tank. i was thinking of getting another 3 so 3 in each tank or a trio of pictus..... not 100% yet

 

[minnnt]

Sounds great Matt.

 

[mattlee]

unless anyone can suggest another armoured catfish......?

my concern with pictus is they arent very well protected and the ornatums have been known to go for little catfish in the past. this is why i like the Doradidae species as they are pretty well covered in armour and dont bother anything.

rare aquatics have a different variant of the humbug in at the minute but my fear is the size. this shop has been known to over exagerate fish sizes to me in the past selling me what i thought was a 6 inch plus panaque that turned up at about 5 inch.....

 

[minnnt]

Spotted Raphaels

 

[mattlee]

just witnessed an ornatum attack a colombian tetra and ripping half of its side off

ive had to remove the tetra and do the right thing im affraid if this continues to happen in the bigger tank i may have to think about moving the group of tetras on and rethink the dither fish.

if the ornatums are starting to get an aggressive side to them then im really struggling to think of what fish can withstand the anger and torment of 6 crazy fish the tetras just dont seem to withstand the bite the ornatums give.

i think maybe more cichlids may be needed

 

[minnnt]

Oh dear god...

Chris, sounds like you better make room for some more fish

 

[mattlee]

i think this tank was too much for the female rainbow and over the last week she has faded away and tonight infront of me passed away

the 240 just wasnt big enough and the fish are on top of each other too much. all other fish are well and looking forward to getting in their new tank which arrives tomorrow

 

[minnnt]

You sure you're not going to find a sticker that says don't fill until whatever like last time?

 

[mattlee]

the sticker is there but the date has passed thank god.....

the new tank is set up and running with fish in but again ND didnt cut the holes in the hood big enough to fit 2 x FX5 filters in so for now its hoodless and light less until i can mod the hood to fit.

so annoying as i rang them and told them what my plans were and reminded them about the other tank that needed cutting to fit and still they dont get it right....

none of my wood sinks either so ive had to chuck it in and weigh it down with big rocks until they will stay down on their own so its not set up how i wanted but the fish dont seem to mind

ill get some pics when the tanks cleared and the hood is on with working lights.

ND also sent me the wrong LED light its the correct size but its the daylight tube not the tropical like i have on Keiths tank ill try it and if its no good ill ring them. at least i will get to see the difference between the 2 lights

also forgot my megaladoras catfish spiked me today when trying to get it in a plastic tub and drew blood.....

whats it gonna be like when it gets big......