dark substrate

[finz]

Has anyone ever used the black silica found in hotel ashtrays as a substrate?

[SGypsyMermaid]

no, but i did recently purchase some black substrate by seachem called: gray coast calcite/tidal marine substrate. looks very nice mixed with white sand. someone on the forum mentioned that he mixes black and white sand, so i figured i'd try it...i like it!

[finz]

Hmmm thanks I'll see if I can find some. I think my little comps would look great against a dark substrate.

[img:3e6aabe2b6]http://www.cichlidgallery.com/albums/Finz-Fotos/compie.thumb.jpg[/img:3e6aabe2b6]

[jnorris]

Finz,

What do you feed your Comps?

[SGypsyMermaid]

what a little cutie!! :D

[finz]

jnorris - I have been feeding them frozen and live brine shrimp, Hikari cichlid complete pellets, flakes, and newly hatched brine shrimp. They eat well, but they aren't pigs like my julidochromis. They like to wait a bit between bites.

[jnorris]

I just hope my Comp doesn't eat my Frontosa. There has been a bit of aggression today but they are new together so I hope it will run its course. I need to get some brine shrimp, I have been feeding them daphnia.

I just added some more Tanganykans to the tank (from my 90 gallon) and it seems to be helping. The comp has some big teeth on him and it doesn't take much to do damage.

[finz]

Yikes! lets hope the front doesn't get eaten. I plan to feed my comps baby convicts when they get older. I don't seem to have any shortage of those.

[jnorris]

Ya I think they would be a good Cichlid to get if you have breeding convicts or any other rabbit like breeder.

It is strange how the size of fish causes aggression. All of the other smaller Leupi, Julies, and Neolamprologus. Seem to be ok even when they are in the same cave together.

As soon as the Frontosa gets close she gets chased away. I read the compatibility chart and the two species are claimed to be compatible.

Does anyone know if I can transfer the Frontasa in a tank with the following fish. The Aulonocara and Labs should be ok with her. And I can live without the Pseudotropheus anyway.

1 - Hypostomus plecostomus "Common Plecostomus"

3 - Aulonocara stuartgranti "Ngara Flametail" 1 male (6.5") and 2 females

2 - Aulonocara maleri "Sunshine Peacock" 1 male (6.5") and 1 female

3 - Aulonocara maulana "Bi-Color 500" 1 male (6.5") and 2 females.

2 - Aulonocara stuargranti sp. "Cobue" 1 male (6.5") and 1 female.

1 - Labidochromis caeruleus "Electric Yellow" (5.0") male

3 - Pseudotropheus lombardoi "Kenyi"

2 - Haplochromis Livingstoni "Livingstoni"

[SGypsyMermaid]

your frontosa should be fine in that tank, provided she's too large to be swallowed...just lose the kennyi/lombardoi.

[jnorris]

Good. I will be bringing the camera home for pictures.

[finz]

Pictures! Oh yes, I love to see pictures

[jnorris]

Finz just Stop out on Saturday....if you want......Check out my website (the pictures are older).

http://www.goldendc.com/fishindex.htm

[finz]

I'd love to but I have to work. I should be able to after Christmas though.

[jnorris]

What do you do?

[finz]

Front desk manager of Hawthorn Suites hotel

[jnorris]

I did that in a past life.......ugh no one is ever happy..EVER

[finz]

Met Vicki today, she still misses her frontosa friend. Nice store, nice people.

[jnorris]

I just bought some black sand and mixed it (sort of with white sand)

Not sure I like it now............Perhaps I should mix it more or something.

THe colors of the fish seem dark, could it be that I stressed them by adding the sand?

humm