I Am Having A Nightmare Time!

[Malawakiwhite]

O.k I have a 240 litre tank with ocean rock. I don't know where to begin put after the first disaster of losing cyps and a punk from courier journey. I hold my hands up and made a mistake by buying a larger punk who terrorised the other 3 punks after 2 weeks in the tank and also stressed the cyps who survived. 2 punks died within a day I sent the punk back but other punk was so stressed, never looked well after and died 2 weeks later. The shellies then started to breed but all was well. So I decided to get 3 more juv punks and 2 juv black calvus I had to get them online as no LFS stock them except the one with the terrorising big boys. Next thing the shellies chase the punks about and 1 dies that day so dive down to LFS and buy a 60 litre tank and move all the shellies out. Another punk died that night from trauma (had a damaged tail from attack) The other Punk is now solo but happy. I put some bacteria laiden filter sponge in new tank filter, some substrate and water from big tank, but getting slight nitrite readings on new tank so doing 50% water changes but so far shellies look fine. So I have a 240 litre tank with 3 cyps, 3 calvus, and 1 punk. I can't get hold of anymore of the cyps (Malasa blue flash) Can someone please advise me on stocking as it looks pretty sparse and don't want to make anymore mistakes. Shall I just get some more juv punks? Only worry is the first calvus is starting to grow and is suddenly bold as brass attacking my fingers since I evicted the shellies, I hope he's going to behave himself. Help! I must be an idiot or something, I did lots of research too

 

[bullit]

Sorry to hear mate. You are having a nighmare. Have you got a pic of the 240 tank by any chance? What are the shellies again? cheers

 

[Malawakiwhite]

I can try and put one up tomorrow as I'm using husband's computer today. There is 1 on Photos and journals but rock formation has changed with 2 separate rock piles and either end and a bit in the middle. The piles are slighty above 1/2 way up and tried to create caves. The shellies are similis wannabe pirhanas. I can't knock them for there parenting though. There is 1 really small one who is mother to the fry and 3 larger, 1 maybe a bit larger than the other 2. I cant decide if it's 3 males and 1 female or 1 male and 3 females but they certainly are working as a breeding dream team! Thanks for the reply Bullit.

 

[myrtle]

To be honest you were extremely unlucky with the first lot and the courier, there was nothing else you could have done to prevent that. I can't really advise on the stocking as I'm in a similar position myself after an impulse purchase of Julidochromis transctiptus when I first set up my tank. I now have 1 rogue individual patrolling the entire 240l tank and attacking anything that ventures near the substrate. I had researched these too and believed they had smaller territories. No matter how much reading and question asking you do, nothing beats making mistakes for teaching you! Take a deep breath and relax, you'll get it sorted in the end.

 

[bullit]

Yeah if you can still stick one up when you can it might help but it sounds like you have plenty of rockwork though. If it was me id be inclined to leave the punks out. Having punks and shellies can be hit and miss because of them competing. Your calvus is just protecting his territory, so not alot you can do there. 3-4 species is enough in one tank so 3 calvus, shellies and your cyps would be good but your unfortunately your down on your cyps. You could leave out the punks and try up the cyp numbers but if you cant get them, maybe add a group of paracyps. I noticed them cheap on AQ the other day. Another option is move your shellies and have a shellie tank and get some more punks for the main tank. cheers

 

[kiriyama]

As above, shift the shellies to a wee shellie tank, 240 for Cyps , punks and calvus, , ,
should give you a nice display
Cheers, Sean

 

[WAG741L]

I can try and put one up tomorrow as I'm using husband's computer today. There is 1 on Photos and journals but rock formation has changed with 2 separate rock piles and either end and a bit in the middle. The piles are slighty above 1/2 way up and tried to create caves. The shellies are similis wannabe pirhanas. I can't knock them for there parenting though. There is 1 really small one who is mother to the fry and 3 larger, 1 maybe a bit larger than the other 2. I cant decide if it's 3 males and 1 female or 1 male and 3 females but they certainly are working as a breeding dream team! Thanks for the reply Bullit.

Where are you, Malakiwhite? I have similis in a 4', but my population is depleting. Have sourced from three different areas over some years, but would like to introduce some new blood to my tank, as I now have only about seven or eight similis, three bristlenose, and three Goodeid. If your similis are breeding, I'd be interested in buying some of their fry ...

 

[Malawakiwhite]

Hi WAG741L, I'm from York. I've moved them into a smaller tank and carefully picked up the shells and transferred but can only see a couple of fry left. They were so small and the time and looks like a lot have been lost but hopefully they'll breed again. Thanks for all the advice guys.