Last call!

Ashkat

So I've been gone from here for awhile, working like crazy. But hey, bigger paycheck = bigger tanks, right?

I finally got to a nice balanced population in my tank, and here's the occupancy list:

10 rosy barbs (all named rosy :))
5 emerald green cory cats (not all named yet)
4 blue Paradise Fish (Ginger, Mary Ann, Skipper & Gilligan)
1 yellow lab (Burt)
1 Red Zebra (Ernie)

I'm pretty happy with how the population has worked out, the aggressives seem to be keeping each other in check. Though I can tell Ernie is going to need a new home of his own before too long. He just doesn't put up with the rosies very well.

I am thinking he'll do well in a tank of his own, any suggestions on some potential tank mates? I'm going to use the new tank to try out live plants, so any suggestions there would be great, too.

Glad to be back!

Ashkat

Lupin

Lake Malawi cichlids will never work well with community setups. Rehome your lab and Red Zebra. Keep a close eye on all your Paradise Fish as well. Paradise Fish are no doubt nasty at times and are best kept with other feisty tankmates IMO. What's the size of your tank? Your cories sounded to me Bronchis splendens, is that correct? How many rays do their dorsal fins have? If 11 rays, that's your clue that it's a bronchis otherwise having 7 is a corydoras. Bronchis species can reach 3-4 inches compared to cories at no larger than 2.5 inches for most species.

Ashkat

Actually, Bert does very well with his tank mates. I did end up getting a new tank today, only 10 gallon tho. I am considering putting the Paradise Fish in there instead of downsizing the cichlids to a smaller home. Ernie doesn't have any problem with the rosies or the cories, mostly he just chases the Paradise Fish around. So perhaps I'll leave Bert and Ernie in the big tank with the rosies and the cories and put the Paradise Fish into the new tank, maybe with a different species of cory or some other bottom level swimmer.

Meanwhile, I'm setting up the new 10 gallon with fluorite substrate and some anachris to get started with. I'm jump starting the cycle with a filter from the established tank, and some of the tank water from this week's water change. With the anachris and some nice top level plants like watersprite it will be a nice spot for the Gilligan's Island gang.

~Ashkat

Ashkat

Oh, and to answer your questions, Lupin:

The emerald greens are indeed bronchis splendens. I have five, they are such fantastic little guys! Right now they are all under 2" so I know I'll need to free up space in the 28 gallon to accommodate their growth. Right now I've just set up the 10 gallon and will be letting it cycle for the time being. When it's ready I'll be moving all of the Paradise Fish over into it. None of the other 28 gallon inhabitants will be moving at this point in time.

I have a either a 55 or 75 gallon tank that will be arriving here eventually, that will become the final home for the yellow lab and the Red Zebra. Hopefully I will be able to find some other suitable tankmates. I'd like to try an all male mbuna tank.

The Rosy Barb school makes a great centerpiece for the 28 gallon, especially because the bowfront gives them so much swimming space. Once the Paradise Fish are out of there, I'm going to be moving some of the higher level decor out of the tank to give them a bit more room to wander. The bottom of the tank is also pretty heavily decorated, I think I'll be moving the less cave like decor out of the big tank to give the greenies more feeding room, without taking away their hiding spaces.

So, the new question becomes, what to put into the Gilligan tank? The Paradise Fish will take up most of the available bioload/tank space, so something small/low bioload, and something that swims at the bottom. Pygmy cories, perhaps?

~Ashkat (who is denial about the raging MTS case she's coming down with)

okiemavis

The reason lupin says african rift cichlids will not work in community settings is not just because of temperament. They also have extreme water parameter needs that most other fish cannot stand.

For instance, Paradise Fish are SUB-tropical and require soft, acidic water.

African rift cichlids require tropical, extremely hard, alkaline water.

Inevitably you are not serving the needs of one of these fish by housing them together.

Ashkat

Well, good thing they're moving out then, I guess :)

I'll have to look up water parameters for the cories and the rosies to see how they'll do. The cichlids I have are tank raised, so they are somewhat more tolerant of water parameters, but you are right, I want them to be as happy and healthy as possible, so the parameters have to be monitored.

~Ashkat