Cockatoo’s sensitivity?

[nc_nutcase]

How delicate are cockatoos to water conditions? I’m convinced my 55 gal has completed cycling and am wondering how much stabilizing time I need to give it? (Amm - .25, NitI - 0, NitA 50ppm, PH 6.8; I have not done any water changes since I started cycling, so I believe that two or three water changes over a week will have Amm, NI & NA @ 0). The Cockatoos are a week away at best whether I order them online or via a LFS.

Note : FoundMoney, I remember your situation and that’s part of why I’m hesitant. I’m not sure if yours was a fluke situation of the norm.

 

[pnyklr3]

The only thing that cockatoosa re more sensitive too than other fish are nitrates. They don't tolerate high nitrates for a long period of time. They do "survive" in it though. I had a period of about 3 weeks where my nitrates skyrocketed, but they were fine. They didn't breed during that time, but they also didn't show any signs of stress. They will put up with high pH (my local tap water is almost 9!) and hard water, but they prefer lower pH and softer water. Keep the ammonia and nitrites at 0 and you will be fine!

EDIT: I don't think that you will ever have your nitrates at 0. Keep it under 20 and you will be fine. Oh and when I said my nitrates were high, I meant HIGH. At its peak, it was 200 ppm. (seriously) It took me every-other-day water changes, 2 days between feeding, and live plants to get them down!

 

[nc_nutcase]

Sounds good... If I order locally I will they will be in Friday (a week from tomorrow) and if I order via internet (through Apisto Dave, na na na na boo boo) I will have to schedule a day off work to receive them. Like I said, either way I'm a week from receiving them.

Once I get them in the tank I will watch numbers and determine if a standard 25% water change will be enough or if I should increase. (Lord I hope it's enough... )

 

[pnyklr3]

*MUST STOP THE JEALOUSY....MUST HOLD THE GREEN MONSTER INSIDE....OR PLAN TRIP TO NC TO STEAL SAID COCKATOOS*

Either way, you will be so happy with your cacs! I certainly looked locally for mine too. I figured if my lfs already had acclimated them to local water, it would save me the risk of a pH shock that killed them. If you order them from Dave, def do the drip technique to slowly acclimate them in a small container (or the bag). If your lfs orders them and keeps them in the bag, do the same. If you aren't familiar with the drip technique: it involves airline tubing tied in a loose knot, you then start a slow syphon to get the water from your tank to slowly drip into the container with the fish. Or you could float the bag, and add a quarter cup of tank water to the bag every half hour. I know it may seem a bit much, but I always err on the side of caution!

 

[nc_nutcase]

Yea I'm very familiar with housing large hardier cichlids… but am totally new to dwarfs… so I'm going to take the extra steps with the Cockatoos. I've read all through Apisto Dave's site and a lot of his articles. I'm using a lot of info from him as direction on setting up my tank. Also my PH is close to what he uses (his is 7.0; mines 6.8).

I'm really struggling over which source to get them from. Typing this and it just now it hit me! I'll talk to my LFS lady and see if she can order them through Dave. If she can get a discount and still give them to me at the same rate Dave would, I don't have to take the day off work and can pick them up on the way home. I get to give business to the local store that I have grown to trust and appreciate and still get my fishies from the source I want.

Oh, and the most important part... I get to rub it in punk girl's face that I have Dave's Cockatoos!!! and yes I know that's not your name but it's how I read it for so long I can't not see it that way

 

[pnyklr3]

Well, funny thing is, when you said punk girl, I knew you were talking about me! Even if your lfs can't get a discount, you should have her order them for you, and pay her a little on the top to fish-sit for you. It's a win-win. You don't have to take off from work, and she gets a little extra cash. Just use the store's address and the shipping addy, and your set!

Now, to click the link in my favorites, buy fish from Dave, all just to shut a certain nutcase up.......

Oh, and by the way: I deserve pics of what ever fish you get!!!!!
This is the daddy of my females. And boy does one of the girlies have his color!

And here are two of my girls in full spawing yellow, ready to tussle because of a territory dispute!

 

[nc_nutcase]

Stopped by the LFS today on the way home from work... and she's gonna order my Cockatoos from Apisto Dave!!

PS - punk girl... your fish are still beautiful...

 

[FoundMoney]

I had a lot of trouble with my cockatoos but I can't really figure out why. My water parameters were perfect, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, >5 nitrates, stable pH although a touch on the high side at 7.2 or there abouts. I aclimated them by adding tank water into the bag for at least 30 minutes and then dumped out the lfs water.

My otos, which are supposed to be sensitive fish, have never had any trouble. When I got the agassizi they acclimated in about a day. I think that cockatoos have just become really popular and are probably being overbred. Maybe it's just the luck of the draw. I think you're doing the right thing by buying directly from a known, quality breeder.

Luckily, the ones I got yesterday seem at home in the tank, except for the fact that the male is getting harrassed by the male agassizi. Of course, he thinks he owns the tank now so no other dwarf is free from his hassling.

 

[pnyklr3]

*sniff* That means a lot *sniff*

I'm so excited that you are getting some from Dave!!!! What color morph are you getting and how many?

 

[dwarf-puffers]

wow u guys r lucky every where i look no has them or wants them in there store

 

[nc_nutcase]

3 Male / 6 Female

All Triple Reds

I'm really tempted to change one of the males and 2 of the females to Orange Flash but... since I'm getting them from Dave I don’t want to water down the strain. If I fall in love with them as much as it seems I am I may set up a stand with 2 20Gal tanks next to the pond and keep a pair of Oranges in one and a pair of German Blue Rams in the other... but I have enough fish projects in mid progress now so... I'll have to put off planning more....

and Dwarf... To be completely honest... I've never seen a Triple Red Cockatoo in person. I've seen Cockatoos, but never a triple red. I just decided to do a dwarf tank and wanted to do Cockatoos and Rams... then the more I read about dwarfs and the more I saw pics of Cockatoos... I decided to go with the species tank. My local stores don't have them but the one I like most can order them. Then today I stopped in and asked if she could order them from Apisto Dave (A well known/respected breeder). She said she would be happy to and is going to set up a wholesaler account with him Monday. So a lot of times what we want may not be in front of us… but if we are persistent… we can find it.

 

[lucky62]

Hey nut_case ,



It's just my opinions but triple and double reds seem more attractive , than Orange Flash .Good choice .

The dorsal fin are better to look at , or maybe the Orange Flash apistos I've seen are just duds They just didn't float my boat .

Good luck with in experience with dwarf cichlids .

 

[pnyklr3]

I agree that triples and doubles are more attractive!

Nutcase: This crackerhead may just deserve a "finder's fee" for hooking you onto Dave's website *hint, hint* Perhaps your firstborn......fry I mean. If your fishies just so happen to "knock the boots," I wouldn't mind a few first-generation-nutcase cockatoos *hint, hint* I'd even pay shipping *hint, hint* Since the only thing stoppping me from getting my own from Dave is the darn minimum *hint, hint*

I think I layed it on thick enough *hint, hint*

As before, I MUST see some pics when they come in...of the girls and the boys.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I saw your bold face begging but missed the hint...
I'd be more than happy to give you my entire (surviving) second brood.... I'm keepin the first