I've Actually Shocked Myself This Time !

[hamfist]

Things just all came to a head in my mind yesterday.

I'd been quite concerned about the long term "thrivability" of a couple of my South American species in my pH 8 water. My uaru and threadfin acara were clearly just not thriving in my water. I was also getting a bit pissed off with the ongoing nervousness of the uaru/sev/choc/threadfins with movement around the tank.
The tank is in a high people movement area of the house and my daugher dances in the same room as the tank every evening, and the fish often freak out completely at that point. They just don't seem to be getting used to it at all.

So, the upshot of it all is that I emptied my 500 litre tank out today, and took all the fish to my local Maidenhead Aquatics.

So, I've got an empty 500 litre tank just sitting there.

The other big factor is just how much we have all enjoyed getting "Buster", the new 9" flowerhorn, who lives in the 300 litre (in the same room as the 500). He is just a pure joy to own, and has not one iota of nervousness in his body. We all adore talking to him, and feeding him (if we're brave enough !!).

So, I have now commited to turn the 500 litre into a central American community, with fish which are reknowned for their confidence (read as "aggressiveness" !!).

Blimey, things have moved apace today. I have now ordered three new fish from BrianAdams Cichlids in Newmarket. Three males, about 5" each. One barred Midas, one Herichthys carpintis "Escondido", and one Green terror. I also intend to pick up a 3" flowerhorn from one of my LFS tomorrow morning.

Thus making four, confident, aggressive cichlids. I'm aware that it might not work out for all of them, but that's just how it goes with cichlids isn't it.

I do feel rather guilty about just getting rid of a number of fish that I had got quite attached to, but in the end it's what I wanted to do for the long term.

I hope to get our "big" tank full of confident and characterful big cichlids that do not rush off at the first sudden movement in front of the tank. I just hope that the aggression keeps within acceptable limits. I'm hoping that, as I'm raising them on from a relatively medium size, that they will grow up being used to each other.

Pics will, of course, follow in a new thread once fish arrive !

 

[kaivalagi]

That's a real shame but I can see why....if only you had a bit more time to re-home, those fish could have gone to good member tanks

Did you think about an African cichlid setup? pH = 8...some nice frontosas etc

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Blimey, that's a lot of fish action for one day and I thought mine was bad, doing a 75% water change with gravel vacuum and filter sponge rinse in the Rio240!

Real shame about the Uarus, as I do like watching them at Aquajardin, where yours came from (speaking of which, have you been down there recently? so many new fish in stock)...

Good luck with the new impending arrivals

 

[rdp50734]

Unfortunate for the old but bring in the new!! Aggressive fish are THE way to go, as long as they dont kill each other! But buster has made me want a flowerhorn! Any chance of more pics? I hope it all works out for you!

 

[ian]

i just can't believe Brian Adams has gone into aquatics!

 

[markandhisfish]

thats often how it is with cichlids ime. it can takle a lot of juggling and changing to find a balance that works . but i think that is also half oof the appeal of cichlids , they are jsut so much more involving . enjoy the new fish , hope it works for you

 

[star4]

What a hard thing to do! but ultimately you have put your fish first. You should have no worries with the confidence of the carpintis, mine are not fazed by a 5 year old and 3 year old jumping around the front room looking forward to the pics too.

 

[hamfist]

But buster has made me want a flowerhorn! Any chance of more pics? I hope it all works out for you!

I'll see what I can do. He certainly desrves a bit more photo action, and it won't be a problem for him, as he is a huge poseur !!

i just can't believe Brian Adams has gone into aquatics!

It's true !! Strangely, people are also always saying I look like Brian Adams.

Real shame about the Uarus, as I do like watching them at Aquajardin, where yours came from (speaking of which, have you been down there recently? so many new fish in stock)...

Was there yesterday actually. Had my eyes focussed on any largish cichlids there though.
Their Uaru are all looking rather sad for themsleves now. I suspect they are not enjoying the water in the long term, just like mine.

What a hard thing to do! but ultimately you have put your fish first. You should have no worries with the confidence of the carpintis, mine are not fazed by a 5 year old and 3 year old jumping around the front room looking forward to the pics too.

I am so looking forward to seeing the carpintis in the flesh. The picture on his website shows a truly, truly stunning fish. And, yes, their reputation for confidence is another big attraction to me.

Did you think about an African cichlid setup? pH = 8...some nice frontosas etc

Certainly considered it but I must admit that africans don't appeal to me at all. They don't actually seem to do anything interesting when I see other people's tanks of them. Sure they are pretty, but all they seem to do is either float in midwater or chase each other around madly. Definately not as owner-interactive as the larger SA/CA cichlids.
Thankfully the CA cichlids should really like my water too. It's a bit more alkaline than their natural biotope, but not by much.

thats often how it is with cichlids ime. it can takle a lot of juggling and changing to find a balance that works . but i think that is also half oof the appeal of cichlids , they are jsut so much more involving . enjoy the new fish , hope it works for you

So true. Although I am certainly not hoping for it, I don't actually expect to have the same fish mix in the tank in 6 months time. I expect I will need to mess around with the fish mix to a certain extent.

 

[Wills]

Yeah like Mark said its not ususual to juggle fish about - I totally get what you mean about the timidness of the SAs it is a bit annoying sometimes but

One other thing, most of the times when people juggle their tanks around with fish is when they have bought an upgrade hee hee so your not alone.

Make sure you get some proper glass bangers though once it starts going

 

[snowflake311]

Why not get into the African cichlids? They like the hard water? They are still cichlids and there are so many to pick from. If I were you I would do African. CA cichlids also live in soft water not as soft as the amazon but still.

That's really sad about letting all your fish go. Good luck with the next adventure.

 

[hamfist]

New flowerhorn was bought this morning. He's only a tiddler, at 3". Name is Mick (look at his lips for the reason !)

I don't think he's a particularly fancy flowerhorn, but I liked his character a lot. He is seriously confident, and looks nice and healthy. He is a very different colour to Buster too.

I will be collecting the new midas, pearlscale and GT on weds, to give him some friends. They are all bigger than him, so I'm not too bothered about Mick being in there for a few days, getting his territory before the others arrive.

Oh, and as requested a new pic of Buster, who has been getting his exercise this afternoon by digging lots of holes.

 

[rdp50734]

Lovely fish! Remember I have first dibs on buster if things change! LOL, I hope it all works out for you! I do not envy you when your hands go in that tank, I'd rather chance it with piranhas!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Wow, really surprised to read this. Can't believe you've sold your Chocolate, he was lovely

Hopefully your new stock will work out

 

[hamfist]

Wow, really surprised to read this. Can't believe you've sold your Chocolate, he was lovely

Hopefully your new stock will work out

Thanks. Yes, parting with my choc and Bruce the sev was the hardest. I know they'll be just as happy elsewhere though. I just couldn't keep them and mix them with Central Americans ... I would have if I could.

 

[hamfist]

@ rdp50734 ... yes, I'm hoping it doesn't get too risky. I've never had a tank which I could potentially lose flesh and blood in before.

Buster is already getting quite aggressive attacking the gravel vac. Thankfully he ignores my delicate hand holding on to it (so far !!).