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	African chichlids mixed tank 2
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	That's a bit much, especially for the multis. Any other stores in town with Tangs? Sexing multis: the biggest one is a male, the smallest one is a female. If they're mixing ages this won't be 100% but you can learn to see the difference in body shapes as well. Sexing julies: much more difficult, even at adulthood. I'm not sure what to suggest beyond the usual buy-six-for-a-pair, sorry. Sexing comps: no need, with just one. Plus, I've not the foggiest - I'm letting my Sumbu comps pair themselves up. -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	ok, thanks for the help! Any info on sexing chichlids? I'm somewhat familiar with the oO oo thing, but I could brush up. And for arguments sake, what would you pay for each of these fish? Theye are all $20 each here! Although, I might be able to barter with the guy. Or, if I wind up working there, I could get an employees discount. thanks for all the help -DJ :88)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	If you're sure about sexing them, you could easily start with a trio. They're VERY, VERY prolific. However, you might want to get them and give them some time to populate before you pick up the comp - down the line the colony should be prolific enough and defensive enough to defend fry but the fry of a young trio would be a little easy for a comp to pick off, once they're free-swimming. Add tons of shells, two separate rockpiles, start with the multis then the julies then the comp, and you're good to go! -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	Ok, multis it is! They're easy to find, so I'll be ok. I'll keep the number of comps at 1. It would make a nice centerpiece fish. Since tangs are so darn expensive ($20 per fish!) could I start with 2 or 3 multis and build my own colony? Do they reproduce alot each year like brevis? Or would it take years before I had a colony?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	It's not my site, I just run it. There's a bit of disagreement over comps and tank size. I'd say yes, you're fine. You're on the safer side with one but I think a pair would be fine, and, of course, given how slowly they grow, if it's clear it's not going to be enough you'll have lots of room to plan. The transcriptus (or ornatus, or dickfeldi, if those are available in your area). The colonial shellies are multis and similis. They're not always ideal for communities because in group they can be a bit dangerous, but Julies and comps aren't exactly wimps. If you start with about six multis they'll soon build up a thriving colony. Alternately a non-colonial shellie would work, as a group - something from the occie group, something larger like boulangeri, etc. But multis sound like a nice choice for the tank, since you seem to like the colony idea. -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	Thanks for the links Mousling, I just joined your site What if I had a pair of J. Transcriptus and 1 - 2 alto. compressiceps? I've never seen a calvus in my area. What kind of shelldweller would go with the 2 fish I listed above? Could I fit a medium or large colony of some small shelldweller without overstocking? I was thinking of multis. I definitely don't want brevis, becasue I will be setting up a seperate breeding pair in a different tank down the road. Would multis get along with a 4 inche alto.? Actually, the one at the store was only a 2 inch baby. Anyway, are there better shelldwellers I should be thinking of? sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit excited -DJ :88)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
MR_CICHLID Fish Addict Posts: 770 Kudos: 582 Votes: 124 Registered: 12-Aug-2003	VERY nice collection Kudo's. Always love seeing pics of beautiful cichlids
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	A 30 is indeed much better suited to Tangs if you don't want a species tank. Common species that (not all together) would do well in that tank size: Any shelldweller species barring, perhaps, callipterus. I'd suggest occies, because they're colorful, fairly common, and can fend for themselves well in a community: There are lots of good rockdweller choices, but a few of the most common include the Julidochromis genus, like this J. transcriptus (a species which tends to work well in communities): Or, not necessarily as great for a community but lovely fish and very popular, perhaps N. brichardi: or N. leleupi: A nice setup would be a shelldweller (for more pictures of the various species you can try the Profiles section here or http://www.shelldwellers.com]http://www.shelldwellers.com[/link] or [link=http://www.finsout.com]http://www.finsout.com[/link] or [link=http://www.cichlid-forum.com) and one, maybe two species of rockdweller, perhaps a pair of a Julidochromis or Chalinochromis species plus a pair of A. calvus (which I don't have a picture of but a quick Google image-search will). That's just one option, of course! Hope that helped?[/font][/font][/font][/font] Last edited by LittleMousling at 22-Mar-2005 15:53 -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:25
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