N. Leleupi

[Adam]

I have an N. Leleupi, female I'm pretty sure who spends a lot of her time in the top corner of the tank. But really only half of the time, as she comes down and swims around, and then the dominant male shoos her back to the corner. Should I move her to another tank (she is two inches) and would a 10 gallon suffice, or should I give her back to the LFS? And can I return her to the tank after a month or so if i put her into another aquarium, or would she be chased back up to the top again?

[jnorris]

It is possible she could be sick. How long has "she" been in that tank? Are you sure its a female and not just a smaller male? They are difficult to sex. It could be that there are two males in the tank and the dominant male is defending his territory.

The LFS may tell you its a female, but without knowing the age of the fish it could just be an younger smaller male.

Even if they came from the same wholesaler it could be offspring from another pair at a different time. The farms keep huge tanks of species and they ship them based on general size.

[Adam]

"She" is not sick. It is a possibility that the she is actually a he, and only time will tell. She is going more and more into the tank, I don't think she is sick, and she has been in there for about 4 days.

[jnorris]

Sounds like she has new fish syndrome. All new fish get this in my tanks. No worries. Even if it was a female chances are the same thing would happen. You could try moving rocks around to confuse everyone. If she isn't getting picked on too badly she will adjust to the new environment quickly.

Cichlids are territorial (as you know) and it takes time for them to find an area in the tank to call thiers.

How much rock and hiding spaces do you have currently? It seems the more there is the faster they adapt.

Ya she problalby isn't sick...Even if it is a male I doubt there will be any issues in the near future, perhaps when one pairs starts spawning. I know I have a few males in my tank. There is no way to tell unless you vent them, even then it is hard with small species.......

[Adam]

The rocks are piled up with caves to about the halfway line, like a reef, and she seems to be getting used to it. She isn't getting picked on, more like chased around a little, but the little devil (dominant male) thinks that more or less the enitre aquarium is his territory...new fish syndrome is what I am hoping it is, I don't want to move her.

[jnorris]

You may consider getiing another one and have a trio. Perhaps another female? Or perhaps you can get other fish (if your tank is ready). This will help. Either way I am sure it will be fine eventually.

[Adam]

I have 6 n leleupi, of differing sizes and ages, and 4 j. regani and 4 n. brichardi so there is more like 2 trios :)

[jnorris]

Perhaps it is another male? Or mabey he was like the kid that always got stuck in lockers in high school lol.

I guess time will tell. Thats about the same number of Leleupi I have in my tank.

I wonder if fish have social tendencies that make them not as well liked as the other fish.

[Adam]

I think that the leleupi was the one that had the thick glasses and dorky look in school, and everyone shunned them. Like there is the cool group, and the dorky nerdy group? Haha, maybe he is one of the cichlid forums group? :lol: Anyways, I'm sure that time will tell, but if it doesn't get better, what to do?

[jnorris]

If you have another tank I would move him and try to reintroduce him her at a later time.

Have you checked your ammonia and nitrates?

[Adam]

They are all good, I don't think it's that, but I will wait for now, and set up the other tank and let it cycle just in case something wrong happens.

[jnorris]

Its always good to have another tank. Perhaps you can get shell dwellers for the small hospital tank. I think you would enjoy them.

[Adam]

Good idea, you can never have too many aquariums. I want to thank you for all your time helping me through this, you really do know your stuff. Thank you :)

[jnorris]

It is this forum that has given me knowledge. If you have a question chances are people on this forum will have a good worth while answer.

I started keeping cichlids again a little less than a year ago! The internet is worth more than all books combined as far as this goes.

Most books don't convey peoples first hand experiences and perhaps mistakes.

Anytime! Its just a way of repaying what I have gained. I am actually working on setting up a clients aqarium in their new office suite. It will be a really cool aquarium.

[Adam]

Well, all of the n. leleupi settled down, and they all have somewhere to go. I am actually right now washing sand to get another aquarium going, or rather 2 more, 2 10 gallons, for the hospital tank and maybe a small shell dweller place. I have three bettas, two that we sold to me as females, and one male, but one of the females wasn't actually a female, and so he is beating up my other male. I have him floating in a breeding trap, and I'm going to put him in the hospital tank soon. Ahh, the wonders of setting up a new tank, i just love it. It's so cool that when you do, you can have any fish that you want in there, space permitting, and you won't have any worries that they will be incompatible. I think I'll get a 55 gallon sometime soon, make it for malawi or maybe angels and discus fish, I'm not sure if I want plants or lots of rocks. We will see, but I just spent all my money on the fish I have right now. Hey, my birthday is coming up, only a month or so more :), my parents are going to kill me, they are gone for the weekend, and they will come back to 2 more aquariums :rofl:

[SGypsyMermaid]

Good idea, you can never have too many aquariums.
truer words were never spoken... :wink:

[jnorris]

I am still looking for an Aquariium Coffee table....

http://www.kls-discount.com/aqcoftab.html I found one here, but I am concerned that the filtration will be lame.

[Adam]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2308498953&category=20755

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2307755795&category=20755

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&query=aquarium+coffee+table&cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&ht=1&from=R10&currdisp=2&itemtimedisp=1&st=2&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&BasicSearch=

I think you can get the sea mist one here for much cheaper, if you want to go through ebay. I remember looking at these when I wanted a new aquarium, I'm not sure if the filtration is up to par, but no one would mind an AC 500 blasting beside the coffee. How does the air exchange if it's all bottled up?

[jonah]

The one's I've seen seem to have a gap between the top glass and the side piece for the gas exchange.

[jnorris]

Has anyone actually had one or knows someone that currently has one. I would rather see one up close and personal or at least see what filteration they have.

I would rather not have a death trap for a fish tank. It would seem like they would get freaked out having a beer or coffee sat down on it. Sometimes even a cat (he already does it).

700 bucks would buy a 125 - 150 gallon!

[jnorris]

Has anyone actually had one or knows someone that currently has one. I would rather see one up close and personal or at least see what filteration they have.

I would rather not have a death trap for a fish tank. It would seem like they would get freaked out having a beer or coffee sat down on it. Sometimes even a cat (he already does it).

700 bucks would buy a 125 - 150 gallon!

[Adam]

I'm not sure about the fish table idea. Propping your feet on it is like sending a sonic boom through the water, it would scare them half to death. It's like those stupid kids in the LFS tapping on the glass and scaring the puffers so that they puff up, among all the other fish. I'd go for the enormous aquarium 150- 200 gallon, it's tried tested and true, and what are you going to do with 40 gallons? My vote is for the new aquarium 150 or whatever gallons, and then give it to me :roll: