Rescape of our 33 Gallon Community

[BlowPhish]

We're now the proud owners of cichlids in our 33 gallon. We thought we'd give our new fish some hiding spots. Here are some pictures.

[BlowPhish]

Here are some of our fishies.

[Shawnie]

awesome tanks and fish! great job aquascaping

[BlowPhish]

This is our most recent addition, a juvenile firemouth. We think he's a boy but we're not sure. Hope you enjoy the photo's!

[CapeKateskid]

thats a great looking tank!! my mom (capekate) has cichlids. great fish

[BlowPhish]

Thank you! I've been trying to get a photo of the kribensis female doing her mating dance for the male but no luck so far. It hasn't even been a week yet. The male claimed the cocunut shell as his home and doesn't let the female in. She keeps dancing for him but I don't think he's ready yet because he will chase her away when she does her dance.

[Angela_96]

WOW I love the firemouth, and the Krib!! Really pretty!

[BlowPhish]

It's my first time keeping cichlids. They act completely different than the community fish I've had in the past. They do seem like more intelligent fish. I wonder when the red will show up on this firemouth?

[Gunner11]

I was wondering the same thing! The two I have were pretty small when I got them and they have always had the red under their mouths. Which flare out at times.

[BlowPhish]

We've just added a green terror to the mix. If he gets out of hand we'll be bringing him back and getting a convict.

Gunner: Yeah I'm suprised there is no red on him yet. He had a tiny bit at the store but hardly noticeable. He's about 2 inches and I'm curious how old he is at that size? Maybe he's not T. Meeki?

[Gunner11]

to be honest he doesn't look like a firemouth..nice fish though. As far as the green terror you know that they can grow up to 12 inches? They grow fast and will out grow your tank..He might get along with your fish for now if he's young but as they get bigger will wipe out your whole tank! If I were you I would bring him back tomorrow and get 1 convict before he does real damage.

[BlowPhish]

We're buying a 70 gallon tank this Wednesday . I was planning on adding a lone convict today instead of a terror but the convicts tank today were infected with ICH. Funny thing is the "green terror" doesn't look much like a green terror to me but he is juvenile too. I've read that sometimes blue acara's are sometimes mislabled and sold as terrors but he doesn't look like a blue acara either. I'll post some pics maybe you guys can help identify him. The "firemouth" does do the gill flare is that common to other fish as well?

[Nick G]

Terrors are sometimes confused with Jack Dempseys , can you post a pic? And to be honest the firemouth doesn't look like a firemouth either! It's a great looking fish though!

[BlowPhish]

Here's some pics of the green terror as sold by the LFS.

[Nick G]

That isn't a green terror. It's a Jack Dempsey. Still a great fish though!

[BlowPhish]

Ohh boy the LFS has everything in the store mislabled...I bought the JD today at one store and the firemouth at a different store and both places were mislabled then! Well I'm upset with the LFS and have no faith in 2 out of the 3 anymore. On the bright side the Firemouth fish or whatever he is is my new favorite fish :P

[Nick G]

The Jack Dempsey is a great fish to own, and probably a little easier to care for than a green terror anyway!

[Nick G]

Actually looking closer it could be a Green Terror. Maybe start a new thread to ask other members what they think? JD or GT?

[BlowPhish]

I think you are right its a Dempsey I found a pic of a Dempsey here that looks the same.
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Den%26sa%3DG

[Gunner11]

I think it is a def a Jack Dempsey and agree with Nick that you would be better off with a Dempsey in your tank than a green terror! Very Nice Fish!
Blowphish your right it is hard to trust your LFS...When I got my firemouths from my LFS there were only 2 in a tank with a mixture of other SA Cichlids. So I just told the girl I wanted the 2 firemouths in that tank and continued to look at other fish on the other side. Well I didn't notice until I got them home and was ready to put them in my tank that she gave me a firemouth and a convict! Which turned out... because the convict is one of my favs..beautiful female with amazing colors!

[BlowPhish]

Ohh so thats how you got your single convict! This fish I think is a Central America Thorichthys but not a Thorichthys Meeki. It looks like maybe Thorichthys affinis. I don't know.

[Jess]

BlowPhish nice tank! What is the beautiful fish with the pink stomach?

[BlowPhish]

Originally Posted by Jess

BlowPhish nice tank! What is the beautiful fish with the pink stomach?

That's a female Kribensis Cichlid. They are very nice and can work in a community as long as you have robust fish with shorter fins and at least a 36 inch long tank. My female is trying to pair up with the male but he keeps chasing her away. She swims a few inches above him, curves her body and vibrates showing off her pink belly. The males try to pick the female with the biggest belly. She is so persistent I'm sure she'll bag the male in time.

The male has claimed the cocunut shell on the right side of the tank and chases any fish away (no damage) that comes within his borders. I think the java fern is his marker to where his territory ends. They are beautiful fish and prolific breeders. Just make sure you don't have any slow moving fish and a big enough tank because once they do start breeding they can get really protective. http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/prof...kribensis.html

[Jess]

Well good luck, hope she catches her man.

[BlowPhish]

Well I'm going to head to the lfs and see if i can trade in this fish for an actual firemouth! I want some red in the aquarium!

[Gunner11]

lol Blowphish..let us know how that goes! While your there you should give them names of a couple websites to study from!

[BlowPhish]

Originally Posted by Gunner11

lol Blowphish..let us know how that goes! While your there you should give them names of a couple websites to study from!

I'm going to wait until Wednesday when they get new stock. My girlfriend and I are going to have a look at a 3 year old 70 gallon tank on the same day too. The fellow who owns it is moving to Ontario and is giving away alot of his things. He's looking for first decent offer gets the fish tank. Wish me luck!

[Gunner11]

Good Luck!