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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Cichlid for community tank
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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23 Feb 2011 12:41 #1
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Cichlid for community tank was created by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Having kept rams before,they just didnt seem to ever survive long term,developing large holes in the head,growths etc.. Im still lost as to why this happened as water conditions were fine but none the less it happened always to the rams after 6 to 9 months so I eventually gave up on them and put it down to something in the tank which the Rams reacted to. Anyhow, they were one of my favourite fish and there spawning was great to watch,but I grew tired of seeing them pass away after a few months I decided to no longer buy them,it was too frustrating each time it happened.
I dont know a huge amount about cichlids,but guess Im still intrigued a little bit and have decided to have another venture into the world of cichlids,albeit a very early tentative step at that!
So my question is, anyone able to recommend a cichlid for a community tank,one that wont eat small fish and one that may spawn in a community setting.(I'll worry about the raising fry part later!!).
Most of you will already know that Im a fan of the smaller fish,so nothing beyond 4 inchs ideally.
All suggestions welcome.
Cheers
Gavin
I dont know a huge amount about cichlids,but guess Im still intrigued a little bit and have decided to have another venture into the world of cichlids,albeit a very early tentative step at that!
So my question is, anyone able to recommend a cichlid for a community tank,one that wont eat small fish and one that may spawn in a community setting.(I'll worry about the raising fry part later!!).
Most of you will already know that Im a fan of the smaller fish,so nothing beyond 4 inchs ideally.
All suggestions welcome.
Cheers
Gavin
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- JohnH (John)
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23 Feb 2011 14:13 #2
by JohnH (John)
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Gavin,
Just about any Fish (Cichlid or otherwise) will eat whatever it can get into its mouth - but I'm sure you will know that.
Firstly, are you looking for another brilliantly-coloured small Cichlid or would aesthetics like that be of secondary importance?
Two spring to mind immediately to me (two of my favourites actually) and they are the slightly more colourful 'version' of the Laetacara Curviceps - the Dorsigerus and both of the regularly available Nannacaras - Anomola and Taenia (or Taeniata, as they are often known) (oops, that's four).
Also, another Fish you might consider is the Peacock Goby - I realise they aren't Cichlids but they behave very much like them and spawn very like them too.
Platty has a short article on them (although he knows them as Peacock Gudgeon) in the 'Articles' section of the Forum.
Doubtless more will be along with other suggestions bye and bye but this can get the ball rolling.
John
Just about any Fish (Cichlid or otherwise) will eat whatever it can get into its mouth - but I'm sure you will know that.
Firstly, are you looking for another brilliantly-coloured small Cichlid or would aesthetics like that be of secondary importance?
Two spring to mind immediately to me (two of my favourites actually) and they are the slightly more colourful 'version' of the Laetacara Curviceps - the Dorsigerus and both of the regularly available Nannacaras - Anomola and Taenia (or Taeniata, as they are often known) (oops, that's four).
Also, another Fish you might consider is the Peacock Goby - I realise they aren't Cichlids but they behave very much like them and spawn very like them too.
Platty has a short article on them (although he knows them as Peacock Gudgeon) in the 'Articles' section of the Forum.
Doubtless more will be along with other suggestions bye and bye but this can get the ball rolling.
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- andrewo (andrew)
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23 Feb 2011 19:16 #3
by andrewo (andrew)
Replied by andrewo (andrew) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
pity you said nothing more than 4 inches; was thinking severums would look nice
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- stretnik (stretnik)
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23 Feb 2011 19:23 #4
by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Keyholes, Apistogrammas, Kribensis,Blockheads etc.
Kev.
Kev.
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23 Feb 2011 23:38 #5
by JohnH (John)
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Kev,
I avoided suggesting Apistos because almost for certain whatever is affecting Gavin's Rams would similarly inflict them with the same problems.
But any of the others are great suggestions - the Kribs being both colourful and most personable are (now, but weren't always so) pretty well indestructible to anything but poor water quality - good call(s).
John
I avoided suggesting Apistos because almost for certain whatever is affecting Gavin's Rams would similarly inflict them with the same problems.
But any of the others are great suggestions - the Kribs being both colourful and most personable are (now, but weren't always so) pretty well indestructible to anything but poor water quality - good call(s).
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- stretnik (stretnik)
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24 Feb 2011 00:26 #6
by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Good point, I have had an Apisto " catch " popeye from another Cichlid, namely a RAM ! so well spotted Mr H.
Kev.
Kev.
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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24 Feb 2011 10:38 #7
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
What rate of female to males should I keep for Kribs?
I presume they pair off, so how many would you recommend? Tank they would be going into is about 160 litre.
Gavin
I presume they pair off, so how many would you recommend? Tank they would be going into is about 160 litre.
Gavin
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24 Feb 2011 11:19 #8
by JohnH (John)
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Gavin,
As sub-adults they will quite merrily exist in a tank your size...but you are very right in that they will pair off.
For what it's worth my suggestion would be to buy a half-dozen smaller ones (they become males and females at less than half-sized so you could buy three pairs) then leave them to select their partners themselves.
If you create three distinct areas of territory they could well each take one over and exist pretty well - until the reproductive urge takes over! - It's then that all bets are off. You might get away with only having to part with one pair but the others really would best then be moved to different tanks (or two pairs moved on).
Of course, this depends on whether or not you want to raise the fry naturally (with the parents) - some 'dithers' would be good tankmates if this is the case, smaller tetras are very popular companions for this purpose.
You mightn't actually want to raise too many since Kribs, being quite easily spawned, aren't too easy to 'move on' - although the same mightn't apply 'down south'.
Good luck if you go down the Krib route, a series of snaps would make a good article for the Forum.
John
As sub-adults they will quite merrily exist in a tank your size...but you are very right in that they will pair off.
For what it's worth my suggestion would be to buy a half-dozen smaller ones (they become males and females at less than half-sized so you could buy three pairs) then leave them to select their partners themselves.
If you create three distinct areas of territory they could well each take one over and exist pretty well - until the reproductive urge takes over! - It's then that all bets are off. You might get away with only having to part with one pair but the others really would best then be moved to different tanks (or two pairs moved on).
Of course, this depends on whether or not you want to raise the fry naturally (with the parents) - some 'dithers' would be good tankmates if this is the case, smaller tetras are very popular companions for this purpose.
You mightn't actually want to raise too many since Kribs, being quite easily spawned, aren't too easy to 'move on' - although the same mightn't apply 'down south'.
Good luck if you go down the Krib route, a series of snaps would make a good article for the Forum.
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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24 Feb 2011 12:08 #9
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Thanks John,
The fish that are in their at the moment would be fine,few rummys,black phantoms nut nothing too exciting to be honest. (The Phantoms I will most likely move on in time). I think I may try the Krib route for a while,the more I read about them the more they interest me. I got quite a kick out of watching the Rams spawning and breeding so from the sounds of the Kribs would provide similar entertainment/enjoyment.
I may just go down that route.
Gavin
The fish that are in their at the moment would be fine,few rummys,black phantoms nut nothing too exciting to be honest. (The Phantoms I will most likely move on in time). I think I may try the Krib route for a while,the more I read about them the more they interest me. I got quite a kick out of watching the Rams spawning and breeding so from the sounds of the Kribs would provide similar entertainment/enjoyment.
I may just go down that route.
Gavin
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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16 Mar 2011 11:00 #10
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Ended up going with the Kribs in the end....interesting characters...very hardy I would say,only introduced them the other day and they were taking food instantly and motoring around the place!
Gavin
Gavin
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- christyg (Chris Geraghty)
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16 Mar 2011 13:41 #11
by christyg (Chris Geraghty)
Replied by christyg (Chris Geraghty) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Kribs are fabulous fish. However , keep an eye for a while as if the pair dont 'hit it off' one will kill the other and not necessarily the male.
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16 Mar 2011 15:50 #12
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
So far no aggression from any of them,I suspect 2 of them seem to be forming a pair, the other two arent overly interested in each other yet. Still settling in I would say but so far they are interesting to watch. (Also interesting to note that shrimp are brighter than we think,they have taken to hiding much more since the Kribs arrived for obvious reasons).
Gavin
Gavin
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16 Mar 2011 17:39 #13
by christyg (Chris Geraghty)
Replied by christyg (Chris Geraghty) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
In my limited experience, when a pair has been established. I remove the others as when they start to breed they become very protective and will see others as threat. Also not sure about shrimp with kribs.
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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16 Mar 2011 22:25 - 16 Mar 2011 22:27 #14
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re: Cichlid for community tank
Yes had a look tonight and some ground rules are certainly being established alright from the looks of it but nothing to worry about yet. Im keeping an eye on it, there is enough room for both sets to form territory for themselves and to still relatively keep out of each others way. But as they are not breeding yet its probably too early to say.
Also I know I said I wouldnt get any more rams!!! I came across a gorgeous electric ram lately (I wasnt gonna buy its but it was very small and was mis priced so picked it up very cheap!).However the Ram is doing very well for past few weeks and despite its size,its very much the boss over the female kribs.
I'll have to keep an eye on the tank now over coming few weeks,as alot of movement going on in there as they all want their place in the tank. Even the most boring phantom tetras are beginning to move about!! (nothing to worry about though,its welcomed in the tank as it was very much lazy street for a while for alot of them!)
Gavin
Also I know I said I wouldnt get any more rams!!! I came across a gorgeous electric ram lately (I wasnt gonna buy its but it was very small and was mis priced so picked it up very cheap!).However the Ram is doing very well for past few weeks and despite its size,its very much the boss over the female kribs.
I'll have to keep an eye on the tank now over coming few weeks,as alot of movement going on in there as they all want their place in the tank. Even the most boring phantom tetras are beginning to move about!! (nothing to worry about though,its welcomed in the tank as it was very much lazy street for a while for alot of them!)
Gavin
Last edit: 16 Mar 2011 22:27 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner).
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