Cichlasoma Ornatum Journal

[mattlee]

I check here more or less evry day to see updates. Great to see some pics. Happy to see that they are growing good.

Any rivalties yet?


I have a set of 4 and a thread here about those:
http/www.ciklid.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63805

They look very similar in size.

they all seem to get on fine at the minute. a bit of chasing but nothing out of the ordinary for a cichlid.

my ornatums have a red line accross the top of the dorsal where yours is a greeny/blue. otherwise they do look very similar on the video.

how old are yours?

There looking good bro

thanks nelly.

im really glad i got them as they are colouring up now and looking great although from the bad pics i took you cant really see it

im still no closer on finding out how to sex these fish, after lots of searching and asking on other forums etc i still cant see any differences. ive seen male and female adult pics and still cant see the difference... maybe it will just be down to size

 

[mattlee]

just grabbed a few pic now the sun has gone

this is the biggest and most colourfull of the 6

and some of the others

 

[england]

Id imagine its down to finnage and colour, males i think seem to have more intense green esp at breeding time, but all told, i would say if you can keep an eye on there breeding tubes and see if theres any difference? have you ever read up on venting?

 

[DRE]

my ornatums have a red line accross the top of the dorsal where yours is a greeny/blue. otherwise they do look very similar on the video.

how old are yours?

Yeah you are right, but I have previousely noticed a red line on top on the dorsal. Not sure why it's not visible now??

I bought them as wild caught in end of March then they were around 1-1,5 in (3-4cm) Now the biggest one is 4 in (10cm) and the smallest 2,5 in (6cm)

I've had 2 of them doing a little liplocking actually and at those points they go really dark brownish

 

[mattlee]

Id imagine its down to finnage and colour, males i think seem to have more intense green esp at breeding time, but all told, i would say if you can keep an eye on there breeding tubes and see if theres any difference? have you ever read up on venting?

ive never looked into venting. to be honest i think i would do more harm and stress the fish doing it myself

my ornatums have a red line accross the top of the dorsal where yours is a greeny/blue. otherwise they do look very similar on the video.

how old are yours?

Yeah you are right, but I have previousely noticed a red line on top on the dorsal. Not sure why it's not visible now??

I bought them as wild caught in end of March then they were around 1-1,5 in (3-4cm) Now the biggest one is 4 in (10cm) and the smallest 2,5 in (6cm)

I've had 2 of them doing a little liplocking actually and at those points they go really dark brownish

mine were sold as 1 1/4 inch fish and now the biggest is about 4.5 inches with tail. ive had them since december 2010 so the growth rate so far doesnt seem too bad. i was told they are very slow growers..........

ive not noticed any lip locking just the odd chase here and there. keep us informed of your progress too

they seem to be very hardy fish, ive never had any problems with mine so far....

 

[mattlee]

just ordered their new pad in the form of a 5x2x2. it will be here in september

 

[minnnt]

What happened to the 6x2x2?

Wish i could just order a 5x2x2 like that!

 

[mattlee]

What happened to the 6x2x2?

Wish i could just order a 5x2x2 like that!

the tank has been ordered through ND as i am very impressed with my other i had from them and they have an offer on at the minute on 5x2x2 tank and stands

after much measuring and trying to tweak a 6x2x2 in, i just couldnt do it practically

apparently we need room for an extended dinner table and 6ft would be that bit too big im affraid. so ive settled on a 5x2x2 instead.

when the ornatums get bigger i will have to move a few on as even a 6x2x2 in my eyes isnt big enough for 6 possible 12 inch fish. so i might just have to settle with 1 less fish, time will tell i guess.....

 

[minnnt]

Sounds good mate.

Well, all apart from the extended dinner table!

 

[mattlee]

ive not been on the forum much recently due to work going on with our house etc.... but over the last week or so one of the ornatums doesnt seem right.........

its one of the smaller of the 6 and most of its fins are badly torn etc. for most of the day it sits vertical against a bit of wood almost as if its trying to hide! it does seem to be getting picked on a bit and ive not seen it eat for a few days so im now pretty concerned about it lasting much longer... ive also had to sell all my spare tanks etc so i have no isolation tank/hospital tank to put it in to try and get it sorted so it has to stay in with the others which isnt ideal. it also seems to struggle to swim as it should so im not sure if it has been attacked by the others or injured itself somehow, its breathing is faster than normal too.

it really isnt looking great for the little guy and im gutted i have no spare tanks left to put it in. i really hope it pulls through but i wouldnt put any money on it...

if anyone local has a spare tank they can put it in to give it some sort of chance then please let me know otherwise i fear the worst im affraid.

 

[minnnt]

I've replied to your thread Matt if it's of any use.

 

[mattlee]

the sick ornatum is currently in a breeder net which isnt ideal but its preventing it from getting bullied any further.

i may have a home for him this weekend so hopefully he will get some rest and peace and fingers crossed better.

i also found another dead/half eaten colombian tetra yesterday so im now down to 7

 

[minnnt]

Sounds like it will make a decent recovery then Matt.

Shame about the Columbians. Sounds like you may need to find a slightly bigger dither/shoaler?

Drop me a PM when you can regarding the Rainbows, could do with them moving on sooner rather than later as my Jade Eyeds seem to be possibly making a pairing.

cheers.

 

[mattlee]

once the new tank has been set up i may consider another group of dithers that are a bit tougher...

its very weird that the colombians seem to be dropping one by one. ive never seen an ornatum go for one of the tetras so i dont understand why the tetras are being found half missing! they show no signs of disease or strange behaviour either, but they do squabble between each other but nothing seroius so i cant see another tetra attacking a tetra especially to the death.......

and the gap between each one being founbd dead is quite big so it cant be a disease otherwise the fish would go downhill pretty fast i would have thought

 

[minnnt]

I lost one of my CRF's, but it always hid from the rest. If you decide to move them on let me know!!