My new 115G Cichlid tank - What you think? - Page 14 - Aquarium Advice

DizzCat · 07-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Out of all my fish, my Acei are my favorite because they are always so busy and always swimming in a big group. Even their tiny fry swim in groups! My biggest problem is that the tank is on the same wall as my TV and they are forever distracting me! I took that video last night laying on my couch. I had my camera sitting there on the coffee table and just picked it up and zoomed in some. Thank goodness I can pause live TV

I just love them even more now that they are big. People walk in and say "whoa! Those are huge fish!!"

My Reds and Yellows started spawning at about 3". My Acei started at over 4". That might be because I had no male until recently and the females started spawning together.

spoonman · 07-03-2009, 05:03 PM

So, Dizz, check out these pics of my Yellow Labs and tell me if you dont think that I have one male and three females. The one that I think is a male has a very pronounced black line on his dorsal and very dark lower fins. He has even developed a dark "beard". I think I got really lucky. The other Labs are less pronounced. Tell me what you think.

DizzCat · 07-03-2009, 05:16 PM

Looks to me like a male and 3 females. The only sure 100% way to tell is to find a female holding. Another way to tell is to vent them. You hold them in your palm and look at the holes on their tummy. A males holes will look like this oo an female like this oO. If you try this, start with the male so you can see what a male looks like, then the others. If the others holes are one small one big, that is a female. Here is what I mean:
Malawi Cichlids, Malawi Species Profiles, African Cichlids, Lake Malawi, Malawi Forum, Tanks, Articles, Books, Videos

spoonman · 07-03-2009, 08:13 PM

Check out what they do when my daughter stands by the tank!!! They all come to say "HI".

DizzCat · 07-03-2009, 08:33 PM

OMG! That is so cute!! Is she the only one they do that to??

spoonman · 07-03-2009, 08:39 PM

Me too, but not as much. She is the one that feeds them the most. I feed them when she forgets or doesnt have time. She also spends alot of time watching them so I think they actually recognize her!

DizzCat · 07-03-2009, 08:48 PM

For sure they recognize her! The best way to get the fish over being shy is to spend a lot of time watching them. I bet she talks to them too huh?

This is why African cichlids are so much fun! I actually have a little Hongi that will come out of his cave if I call his name! He will stay in it watching me, but if I say "Zeus!" he comes out and swims right up to my face!

That is just a precious picture! You should frame it and put it over the tank

Sicklid · 07-05-2009, 12:27 AM

Isnt there something to male yellow labs having the black eyeball stripe, and the females lacking said stripe?

DizzCat · 07-05-2009, 12:43 AM

So they say. But both my male and females have the eye stripe.

spoonman · 07-09-2009, 01:03 AM

Hey all you cichlid keepers. What kind of substrate do you have and what are you using for filtration? I am thinking about taking out the UGF and going with a finer substrate. I do like having the powerheads in the tank moving the water around though. Please tell me what you all use. Right now I have 2 HOB's with biowheels and the UGF with 2 powerheads. Was thinking of going to possibly a cannister.