Denman

I have a Columbian Shark in with my cichlids. Is that ok? There is a picture of him in my album. Any input?

Red1313

If I've got the species right Columbian sharks will eventually need brackish water and a huge tank.
Here's a link with some good info on them.

P.S. WELCOME TO FISHLORE!!!

CHoffman

Yup I agree Red...They need at least a 75 gallon and are very active..Fishlore's info on them...http://www.fishlore.com/profile-columbianshark.htm Says they need Brackish and moving slowly into full marine.

Angela_96

Not only does the columbian shark not belong but your cichilds are not compatable. You have some malawi mbuna mixed in the tank with cichilds from other lakes/area of the world which is a no-no in cichild keeping.

You should research your cichilds and decide which to keep.

Here is a page which can help you stock your tank properly:
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q...p-f=ISO-8859-1

Denman

Well right now they seem to be getting along. I don't no what to do. I guess ill leave them in there cause i have no other place for them.

Angela_96

Thats the problem with people buying cichilds from fish stores, they get the impression they are compatable especially when the cichilds are juvies. When they become adults the africans will kill the other fish.
Not to mention african cichilds and convicts are from different lakes, and sides of the world. The african malawi's have to have high pH hard water, the convicts like softer more acidic water. So you are keeping one or another in an enviroment they will not thrive in.

Also I noticed your tank has only been up for 7 days, its not cycled. You need to buy a test kit and test the quality of the water. When you see the ammonia/nitrites spike w/ fish in the tank if they live you need to do waterchanges everyday until the cycle is over (can take about a month at longest).

Denman

I didn't add any fish until 2 days after i set it up. I let the water cycle through.

Angela_96

That is too soon to ad fish. The nitrogen cycle takes weeks. Here is some help: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Denman

Yeah its pretty obvious that this is my first Cichlid tank. I have read many different articles on them but i guess i should buy a book. I want a very colorful tank. What type of cichlid would you recomend?

Angela_96

I am a huge fan of malawi mbuna. The only book I swear by is more like a nerdy text book that will really bore most people. Its Ad Konings Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat vol 4. I use it for reading about the malawis and how they live, where they live in the lake, etc. And identifing them.
However there is a ton of info on www.cichlid-forum.com for aquarium care of them and all the different speices besides mbuna.

Welcome to fishlore btw, and my advice would be to study not only the cichilds you want but the nitrogen cycle. If you know the nitrogen cycle you can take tip top care of your fish not mater what species.

Denman

Ok thanks for the Info. I have a 14 gallon community tank now with fish in it. Could i use them to feed my cichlids cause then i could put the convict in the 14 gal. I am sorry if I sound like a complete idiot.

Angela_96

NO, african cichilds are veggie eaters. Low protein food, and algae flakes is what they eat. Not feeder fish. It will cause them to have "bloat" or "fish dropsy". Their are no stupid questions! I am ashamed of my first 2 tanks and what I put in them, but we learn in this hobby. I killed a ton of inocent lives in the process.

Denman

Can you idenify what kind this is. He slammed a ghost shrimp i dropped in there.[/IMG]

Angela_96

the pic isn't coming up

Denman

I no. If you click on the Camera Icon under my name its the one labled Ghost shrimp eater

Angela_96

I commented on it, its a mel aurartus http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ies.php?id=750