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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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When spouses get interested.....
So, I've been looking for a bigger tank for my hooligans. Well, tomorrow I am going to look at a 110 and I'm rather excited about it. It comes with a lot of fish, unfortunately, and most will need to be rehomed if I want to create the aquarium of my dreams. Among the many fish already in the tank are two large Frontosas. I had a plan to give them a friend or to an LFS, but I made a BIG mistake! I showed my husband a picture of a Frontosa online. Now he wants to keep them - love at first sight! He's never taken an interest in my fish before, but he's gotten hooked on the idea of these.
Even if I abandon my dreams of a tank full of Mbuna, I *think* these fish require a larger tank than a 110, right? Also, with their dietary needs, I couldn't possibly keep them with the Mbuna, right? Am I correct in assuming they will need around a 200 gallon tank to be happy and healthy? I am still dependent on hubby's goodwill to get my tank, so I need the right information to convince him to rehome these beauties. I'm doing the right thing, aren't I? We can't keep them, can we?
Thanks!
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August 2nd, 2008
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King of Curt
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You are correct that the Frontosa should not be kept with mbuna. Also they do best in a 200g and larger due to their size and activity level. The ones I saw at the ACAs (American Cichlid Association) convention a couple weeks ago were beautiful, but from what I hear they are quite aggressive and http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=8572 as per Fishbase, which is a VERY reputable source, in my opinion, they should be kept 1m to atleast 2fm if keeping mixed genders.
Dino knows SOOOO much more than I do about larger cichlids, so I will try to direct him here after he gets home from work.  |
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Don't abandon your husband's dream yet! Frontosas like most Tang cichlids grow incredibly slow. You would be able to do a small colony in that 110gal. In that article itself it even says it takes 3-4 YEARS to even just reach sexual maturity.
Go for it! However. If it were me i'd probably just re-home those currently in there and start with juvi fish. Just so you can get a good colony and watch them grow over the years. They are one of my favorites and there is nothing more breathtaking then in a nice frontosa tank. If you have the right mix they will be like Gentle giants.
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to keep a small colony in that tank. However you could tell your husband they get to big and just keep your Mbuna.  |
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Here is a picture of the tank. I'm guessing the Fronts are around 5" long...? I haven't seen them in person yet, but I am going over there at 5:00 (it's 11:30 now) so I will know for sure. Surprisingly, they are currently kept with a variety of other fish, including yellow labs, plecos and some sort of catfish. I don't really think this will be workable for me, but it's good to get everyone's input. I did price some of these fish at the LFS and my jaw dropped!
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Correction: I'm thinking 4" - I was looking at the wrong fish! I'm not sure what those big blue ones are.
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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They look like Dolphins.Cyrtocara moorii. Lake Malawi hap.
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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What did this guy do? Walk into the LFS and say "give me one of everything"...?!? Thanks for all the advice, guys. I will post an update after my visit. |
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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There are a lot of people that mix the lakes. While i don't advise it, its not always wrong. Especially Haps and Tang or Peacocks in Tang. Mbuna have more of a problem mixing because they are more of a grazing fish that eats plant matter, while the haps and peacocks are opportunistic feeders that feed on just about everything. Thats why Mbuna are "Rock Fish", they hang near the rocks and scrape the algae off for food.
Tangs are much more docile then Malawi fish, specifically Mbuna, and Peacocks and Haps are the more docile Malawi species. So mixing Peacocks, Haps, and larger Tangs isn't all that bad.
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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We're finally back! My car battery died when I stopped for gas and we were already way out there. Long story.
Anyway, first things first, it is not a 110 XH like I was expecting. It's five feet long and much shorter. 110 Oceanic, according to one website. Because I did not realize the dimensions of the tank, I did not guess correctly at the size of the Fronts. I only saw one, but it was about 6 inches long.
Tankmates included: 3 plecos (one "rhino" and two unidentified), 2 "Blue Dolphins," 4 "Yellow Labs," 1 large black catfish, 1 clown loach, 1 Johanni (I think), 2 of those light blue, faintly striped guys with the orange dorsal fins (can't remember the name right now), and two I did not recognize. One was fairly small and was white and orange blotched. Coloring reminded me of koi, though the body was wrong. The other was much larger and brighter colored white with reddish pink. I took some pictures, but I don't know if they came out well enough to ID. It may have to wait until I get the tank next weekend.
In the 55 gallon he had 2 tinfoil barbs, about 6-8 inches long, two red parrots, a large pleco and a couple of strange looking guys that reminded me of mutated discus. I have no idea what they were.
Comments, anyone? |
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August 2nd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Okay, my memory was a bit off. There is no koi-colored fish. Must have been all that time in the heat before we got the battery changed. Here are the photos of the mystery fish. Can anyone help identify them?
Thanks!
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August 3rd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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1. OB Zebra (Metriaclima estherae "OB")
2. An albino type ruby red peacock (Aulonocara "Rubescens Albino"). Not a real albino, but just the white base.
3 and 4. Spotted Silver Dollars
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August 3rd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Thank you, again, Slug. I am proud to say I was kind of close this time. I knew the first one was an OB something, wasn't sure about the second and for the third I suggested Silver Dollars to my friend when we first saw them.
What do you think about this mix? I know I need to re-home a lot of these fish and husband seems to be relaxing about the Frontosas (thankfully). I am not sure what I should keep and what I should sell or give away! |
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August 3rd, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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I love the peacock! He is so pretty
I think the tank being shorter is not such a bad thing. It will be WAY easier for you to clean.
Blue dolphins are a cichlid that I would love to own one of these days. They remind me of little whales, lol. Personally, I wouldn't keep the frontosas unless you are planning on keeping only that species. They get really large and aggressive and I think they would bully any other fish in the tank. You could do a tank with peacocks and haps which tend to mix well. Not to mention that their colors are stunnin |
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August 3rd, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Thanks, MissMTS. I think he's very pretty, too, or would be if the others would quit munching on his tail! Unfortunately, I think he will have to go, along with the Frontosas, Blue Dolphins and those other guys with the blue and orange. I can keep the labs and possible the OB zebra, but I'm not sure about the rest. They are all nice fish, but I still have my mbuna stuck in a small tank and they are the reason I'm getting the larger one. I can't get distracted by falling in love with new and incompatible fish!
I am happy that the tank is shorter. It is also a foot longer than I expected and we all know what that means - MORE FISH!  |
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