Laetacara Curvicep Cichlids

[Akasha72]

thank you. I'm slowly getting over losing her. I'm telling myself that it was a blessing in a way - even though it was a horrible way to go she chose to jump out of the tank. 
She had problems with her eyes and couldn't see food and spent all her time sitting in the plants. She never came out to swim around the tank the male seemed to stress her out too. It can't have been much of a life for her.
 
I'm just glad I saw them lip lock for the last time a few nights ago. He said goodbye to her - in my human mind anyway 

 

[SouthernCross]

So sorry to hear! Hopefully you will be able to track down a new companion for your male. Will try to keep this thread updated with how my two are faring.

 

[Akasha72]

thanks SouthernCross, Please do keep things updated and if I manage to successfully add a new female I'll update too.
 
When I get time I'll have a research on adding females and whether curviceps is one of those cichlids that can live with more than one female. It's not something I know so it's worth trying to find out

 

[SouthernCross]

Mine are sti hiding in the darkest corner of the new tank and aren't really coming out they did come out for a few bites of food but retreated again...

 

[Akasha72]

it's perhaps too bright for them. I found my two preferred shade, I guess because they are the shier type of cichlid. 
 
the best advice I can give you is to either give them some shade with plants or consider adding some leaves to the tank that will stain the water ... this is how they live in the wild and so it stands to reason that a brightly lit aquarium doesn't suit them

 

[SouthernCross]

What I don't understand is they were out and about in the other tank all the time and those bright lights didn't seem to bother them! I have added more plants. Might get some frogbit for the surface too...

 

[Akasha72]

was the substrate in the other tank the same light sand? When I changed from dark sand to light sand some of my fish went from being out all the time to hiding. 

I've just had another thought ... are they alone in this tank? It may be that the fact there was a lot going on in the other tank was what made them relaxed. Perhaps they liked the company. There is a theory that some fish need dither fish around to make them feel safe and I found this with my angels. When I moved them into a tank alone they wern't the same happy fish. The male spent his time in a corner staring at the wall. He also refused to get involved when the female laid eggs. Once I decided to move them back to the busy community tank they went back to being the happy fish I'd known before the move. 
 
Perhaps curviceps is the same

 

[SouthernCross]

Yep it's the exact same sand in both. There is also two cories and two neons in there with them...

 

[Akasha72]

hmm ... I can't think why then. Unless they felt they'd established a territory in the old tank and now they've been moved they need to start over and arn't impressed about it. Maybe they'd chosen a spot to lay eggs and by moving them you've upset that somehow? I don't know ... clutching at straws now

 

[SouthernCross]

Oh my goodness, well I was completely off the mark! While was thinking they were hiding cos they were unhappy, obviously it's the complete opposite! I peered in today and look what I found! They must have been busy getting it on in that dark corner of the tank!!! So excited!!!







Squeeeeee!!!!!

 

[Akasha72]

excellent!!! I'm so please and excited for you ... Such a shame your at the other side of the world I need a new female
 
Keep me posted please. They might be like mine and get it right the first time (I so hope they do!) or they might take a couple of spawns to work out this parenting thing. 
 
Oh I'm so excited now! 

 

 

[LyraGuppi]

Aaaah!
 
That anubias! I'm going to steal it, that ok?
 
Nice work! They look like happy parents. c:

 

[SouthernCross]

Hahahah it's a brand new one, that's why it still looks so good. I splashed out on new plants to pimp the tank up a bit for them - obviously worked!

 

[SouthernCross]

Sigh, I looked in on them this morning and it looks like they've eaten all the eggs. They are both still all colored up though so maybe they will have another go soon.

 

[Akasha72]

are you sure? ... they might have hatched and if they have they will have dug a small pit and the wrigglers will be in it. Look to see if they are guarding an area in the sand. They are clever ... it will be in the most secure place they can find. They also might move them around several times a day
 
Try not to disturb them too much though, they know you are there and as new parents it might freak them out