Some general cichlid advice please!

[powerjen]

Hi

I have a small tank of cichlids. I'm a novice I'm afraid, so bear with me!

Just moved so not too knowledgeable about the fish stores around the new house. Found somewhere who seemed to know their stuff and ended up buying some Malawi cichlids last week:

2 x Golden cichlids (1 male, 1 female)
2 x Lemon cichlids (1 male, 1 female)
2 x Jewel cichlids (sex unknown)
2 x tiny zebra cichlids
1 x blue fish which I think is either a Pseudotropheus callainos or Haplochromis moori???
1 x clown loach

My tap water ph is 7.5 so have got fine coral gravel to get the ph up and harden the water. Have a couple of plastic plants, an internal filter (Interpet 4 Duo) and some rocks to create some hiding places and caves. My tank is about 27 gallons. It is a deep tank and from reading the pinned article on Mbunas it says deep tanks aren't much good for cichlids, but it seems to give the more placid fish a chance to get up away from the Goldens.

My loach seems to be the most aggressive fish in the tank having sucked the side of the male Lemon a few days ago and caused some damage to it. It is recovering and his side is healing but spends his time hiding behind the top of the filter for most of the day now. He also developed a bulging eye for which I put some internal bacteria treatment and some colloidal silver in the tank and it's much better now.

I have the feeling the fish store owner has let me buy too many fish for the tank. I know that they should be relatively crowded to prevent agression and although the Golden male and female are a bit agressive towards the other fish a couple of times a day it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. As they've only been in the tank for a week will they get more aggressive as times goes on? I will happily get a bigger tank when I can afford it!

I've been moving stuff round in the tank every few days so they don't get too territorial but I was told to put very little in the tank other than the fish for a month or so to stop the fish getting territorial, but felt the more passive fish needed somewhere to hide when they start getting chased!

I've read the mbuna article and it's very useful. Any further advice or information that you can pass on or help me with can be gratefully received!

Treat me gently I'm a beginner, but keen to learn!

PJ

 

[semper fi]

if you can post some pics of the fish we could possibly help you to find out the names of them. a p. callainos is a malawi, a h. moori is a tanganyikan.

i would not do anything with your ph. 7.5 is okay for cichlids. i am one who does not do anything with their water, less hassle that way.

the loach is a schooling fish. he will need a group of five or more to feel comfortable. the aggression is one indication he is not comfortable. i would either move the loach or return him if you are going to keep him in the 29.

the fish that is healing may be more comfortable in a hospital tank. he could have popeye which is not contagious, but the stress caused from having to hide from others who might take advantage of his weakened state will cause him to heal slower. also the other fish have no need to be exposed to the meds you are using on him. a hospital tank could be small like a 10 gallon which will also cut down on the amount of meds that you are using.

hth

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I am confused at a clown loach sucking the side of a fish. Clown loaches don't really have the capacity to suck. Are you sure it's a clown loach?

I am not really able to help with the cichlids except from the fact that you may be right about the LFS selling you too many fish for the tank. With aggressive fish, you need a lot of room for individual territory which a 29gall doesn't really offer, especially as the floor area is not as big with a tall 29.

As for the ph, I wouldn't go messing with chemicals but if you want to add shells or whatever it should be ok. I am not sure whether 7.5 is actually ok. Fish can thrive at many ph levels, providing they are not extremes. It may not be ideal but I think fish can adapt pretty well.

And of course to the forum.

Dana

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

I am not really able to help with the cichlids except from the fact that you may be right about the LFS selling you too many fish for the tank. With aggressive fish, you need a lot of room for individual territory which a 29gall doesn't really offer, especially as the floor area is not as big with a tall 29.
As for the ph, I wouldn't go messing with chemicals but if you want to add shells or whatever it should be ok. I am not sure whether 7.5 is actually ok. Fish can thrive at many ph levels, providing they are not extremes. It may not be ideal but I think fish can adapt pretty well.

the general idea with malawis cichlids is to crowd them to reduce aggression, i have my malawi tank at pH 7.5 without any problems. making sure you keep the pH stable is more important than trying to raise it unnecessarily.
the lemon cichlids : sounds like you got your fish from ulimate aquatics in cupar, am i right?
if so, then i think they are red zebras, i bought some from there and was told they were labidochromis caureleus without the black stripe in their fins!!
whereabouts in scotland do you live, if you are anywhere near me i can help you if you need any advice first hand.
alan.

 

[powerjen]

HI Everyone

Thanks for the replies.

Semper fi - thanks for the info. I'll try to take a photo of the blue fella and see what you think he may be. He is lovely though, he's got some damage on him and have got a smaller tank I could set up for him. The yellow lab now seems almost back to normal again which is great, so not worried about him anymore. I was worried that if I took him out of the tank he would be attacked when I put him back in the main tank. Is this right or would it be ok to take him out and not cause him more stress by introducing him back in again once he's better?

Cheese specialist - I've looked on the net and no, you're right I don't have a clown loach, I'll try take a photo of him too and maybe someone could enlighten me as to what he is!

Aberdeen Aquarist - another scot (as well as cheese specialist!) great! I am in Dumfriesshire and we're pretty limited down here as to fish shops unless you want to go to Pets at Home so I got them from a local shop who seemed the best of all I went to. Thanks for the offer of help though!

Thanks again

PJ

 

[semper fi]

when you are reintroducing him to the tank, you need to do so as if he is a new fish. you will need to acclimate him to the conditions of the tank. with mbuna there will more than likely be aggression. mbuna are very territorial. he will be treated as a new comer and the dominant one of the tank will challenge him. i find that if you feed the fish when you are releasing him to distract the others, preferably at the other end of the tank it helps. let him find a hiding spot and the others eat and after feeding, turn the lights off. leave the lights off for a few days. you might also want to do a water change and rearrange the decor in the tank.

 

[powerjen]

Hi, can't figure out how to post photos... )

PJ

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

HI Everyone

Thanks for the replies.

Aberdeen Aquarist - another scot (as well as cheese specialist!) great! I am in Dumfriesshire and we're pretty limited down here as to fish shops unless you want to go to Pets at Home so I got them from a local shop who seemed the best of all I went to. Thanks for the offer of help though!

Thanks again

PJ

small world, i am from dumfries myself!!!!
which part of the shire do you hail from?
which shop did you go to?
i can recommend hearts delight, but am not keen on HGC.