Tropheus moorii mates?

[matt1066]

Hi All,

OK, I am going to take the plunge and do a T. moorii tank.

Question #1 Smallest tank adviseable?
#2 number in colony?
#3 Can I add a colony of shelldwellers? if so, how many?

Your input is needed badly.

Thank you!!!

Matthew

[aharris]

Most of the sources I've read say 65g is a minimum for take space.

You would probably want to start with between 20-25 youngsters. If you could get them from several sources (expensive I know), that would improve your gene pool.

I don't know about shellies. I think some of the more "bulldogish" ones might do all right, but then again, they may get pestered and intimidated by over-aggressive tropheus. I'd wait for more input on that. Alternatively, you might think about getting some goby cichlids in a tropheus set-up as they have exactly the same dietary restrictions as tropheus.

[hazard]

I personally wouldn't put a group of tropheus in anything less than a 75g

If I was to get another colony I would do it right and get a minimum of 25 juvies

Currently I have a 75g with 17 bemba, 10 chilangas, 1 eretmodus blue spot. In my other 75g I have 10 duboisi, 16 kiriza, 2 eretmodus, 15 xenotilapia ochrogenys, 6 gold occelutas. All of the tropheus are adults.

I have had gold occelutas and melgries can more than handle themselves in a tropheus tank. I would go with 6 of the shelldwellers.

These tanks are fairly tame. Most of the subdominant male tropheus have died off from bloat over the last 6 months so there isn't alot of aggression.

I hope this has helped
Chris

[matt1066]

Thanks for the info Hazard, just bought a 150g. and I hope to stock the tank similarly to yours. I plan on sucking your brain dry once I get it up and going.

I thought for filtration that I would go w/tidepool II, and add 2 AC500's sponge only, and 2-3 powerheads w/sponge pre-filter.

I am not sure if I wnt to get it drilled or not, what do you think?

My other thought was to add a Viaaqua 750, or a Filstar xp3 or both, and 2 AC's or 2 Supreme Aquamasters(push @ 600 g/h each). I have one now and I love it. and of course some power heads for circulation.

Substrate would be sand. What do you think?

Also what T. moorii would you stay away from? What is your favorite race of T. moorii?

Regards,

Matthew

[hazard]

Matthew

Either of your filtration options look good. I try to have 10x the tank size for water filtration(gph). The more the merrier with tropheus. They love lots of water movement.

I have never used a sump on a tank so I don't know the benifits of it.

I have used sand/sponge filters and also gravel/undergravel filter. Both work good. It all depends on what you prefer. Sand can be a pain because you see all of the crap in the tank and it can also get in the filters. The good thing about tropheus is that they don't move alot of sand and carry it around the tank like mbuna or peacocks. You still need the in flow tube of the back filter as short as it goes.

I wouldn't be afraid of getting any of the tropheus. Some say the duboisi are the easiest and mine seem to be. They are all aggressive and as long as the aggression is spread out the group will be fine.

When you start looking for fish check out jdtropheus.com. He has ten or so varieties. It is all a matter of preference when you pick out your group. I like the black sp groups like the bemba, kiriza, bulu point personally. The next group I get will be the bulu point.

I hope I helped
Chris