CICHLIDAQUARIST--TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR TANKS (III)

[SGypsyMermaid]

well, here i am again with my favorite ice-breaker. i'm a gypsy because i love colorful fabrics and lots of jewelry--i sew and make beaded jewelry. a mermaid because i love the water, though i'm terrified of it and can't swim. as a little girl, i drew mermaids and wanted to be one. i love to look at, hear, smell and touch water. i saw my first aquarium as a kindergartner and finally got my first tank at age 12(i'm 44 now).i moved back in with my dad in february 2001--haven't unpacked--the only thing up and running is the tanks--i have 11, my dad has 3 into which i slip extra fish all the time.

i have:

90 gal mbuna tank filled to the gills with a wide variety of mbunas, hap. nubila, (imitation)hap.(labrochromis) ishmaeli, red back scraper, pundamilia sp., d. compressiceps, various synos, 1 crawdad.

55 gal utaka tank with peacocks, c. moori, red empress, l. caeruleus, 2 frontosas, red back scraper, mystery tanganyikan catfish(schilbe intermedius?), astat. aeneocolor, paralabidochromis chilotes zue, syno nyassae.

55 gal. planted tank, tetras,rasboras, barbs, rainbows, otos, sae's, dwarf crayfish, red-fronted shrimp, gold whisker shrimp, corys.

33 gal. peacocks, labs, ps. acei ngara,rustys, hap. pseudonigricans red(lithochromis rufus), ast. latifasciata,hap . 44 redtails, syno.

30 gal. ps polit,hap. nubila, l. rufus, n. buescheri, albino n. brichardi, 1 julie, hap. velvet black(neochromis greenwoodi), syno petricola.

29 gal. brackish 1 rope/snakefish, pr jade gobies, 1 sunfish, spotted raphael, cory.

20 gal. 1 l. brichardi, 1 c. brichardi, 2 a. compressiceps, pr julies, 2 small schools tanganyican barbs, 1 single tang. barb, 1 tang. tetra, 2 tetracanthus, (pseudo)hap. ishmaeli, syno petricola.

10 gal.--planted endler's livebearers, sparkling(dwarf croaking) gouramis, dwarf cories.

10 gal.--planted leopard ctenopoma, an algae-eater whose name i've forgotten, brochis

51/2 gal endler's, cory paleatus

29 gal.--empty. (future occupants are in a rubbermaid tub(largemouth hap fry) another rubbermaid tub has aeneocolors and syno. multis

and yes, i know i have overstocking problems, so i spend my life doing water changes! and yes, i know that i am as mad as a hatter!

***beginners please note: the only reason that i get away with these high stocking levels is because i perform massive water changes frequently. this is not the right way to do it, but somewhere along the line, i lost control...

***also note that in the 29 gal "brackish", the only brackish species is the pair og gobies.

[chennes]

Well, I hate to have to follow SGypsyMermaid :), but here goes:

My name is Chris Hennes (hence the username chennes, not very creative, I know :)). I'm just finishing my undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering, and will be starting in on my Masters shortly.

I have two lonely tanks:

1 29g with two females (I think): a pseudotropheus zebra and a labidochromis caeruleus (formerly 3 zebras, but I had to get two agressive males out of it).

1 10g fry tank with 3 zebra-lab hybrids, each around 1" right now.

Unfortunately, my little one-bedroom apartment won't take too many more!

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

are you kidding? you're getting a degree in aerospace engineering and you think i'm a tough act to follow? now that's rich! my dear, you are a rocket scientist, and i'm just a crazy old sea hag!

[harmonic]

hi everyone! my name's Robert. im 28 yrs old, married 8 years, and a stone mason. my wife and i have three kids, 7, 9, and 12. we're both into cichlids and our first tank was setup mar. 1 this year. ive recently gotten into american cichlids, and my home board doesnt have much of a following as far as americans go, and so im exploring. :wink:

so heres the list:

55g with a pair of 8" black belt cichlids, sand substrate. fluval 304 + penguin sponge powerhead for filtration.

40L mbuna tank with yellow labs and kenyi, sand substrate. hot magnum 250 + penguin sponge porewhead.

40br tang. tank with leluopi and very young frontosa, gravel substrate. fluval 304.

20h grow out tank with 5 1.5" beaneshi and 6 1" german red peacocks, and 6 1" johanni, gravel substrate. Ugf + generic hang on back filter.

10g guppy breeder tank (on my desk) with about 15 assorted guppies and even more fry. these poor guys are food for the black belts. milineum 3000 h.o.b filter.

5g hospital tank with a common air powered sponge. right now it houses an injured sub-domminat male kenyi.

and my daughter keeps an acrilic 10g kit with some rosey barbs and goldfish.

well thats me and mine. ill see ya in the american forums . :wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the home for wayward aquarists, robert. we've had some problems recently, but i'm sure that all the folks that share your love for american cichlids will re-join us soon--in the meanwhile, post away!! :mrgreen:

[harmonic]

i did notice this board was kinda bare... what happened? did i catch the board during a server change?

anyway, nice to meetcha Gypsy. 8) i have a good impression of this place thanks to you.

i have a digital cam and keep many fish pics. can i post 'em here? i tried the [img] link above, but it didnt promt for a source. do i have to link to a pic thats already on the web? [/list]

[SGypsyMermaid]

we've been under attack by peta terrorists and hostile machinery for about a month-- :twisted: ...no seriously, we were up and running fine for about five months and wham!!--2 crashes in the space of a month. all those wonderful posts down the drain. we've got a great bunch of people here(when they all find their way back)...real friendly, and loads of laughs. so i'm just kinda keeping the home fires burning while tom(admin) and whoever's working with him gets all the stuff running again. unfortunately, i am one of the ones who knows diddly about posting pics, but tom's working on the image gallery today, so i guess it'll be ready soon. again--welcome, and i can't wait to see those pics!

[harmonic]

great gypsy! nice to see sonebody who cares. ill keep postin' and hopefully ill get to see things get big here.

i havent been keeping cichlids very long, but ive spent a lot of time and money on this hobby, and i hope to share and learn as much as i can.

i dont know the board very well yet... but anyone can email me at harmonic@win.net with any questions, any time. ill tell what i know. if i dont know, ill pass it along.

:wink:

[Beaker]

Hi, my name is Dave and I am a fishaholic. I hear that admitting it is the first step, right? I'm 23, married for a little over a year, and run a Pizza Hut in between water changes. I have three tanks 10g, 18g, and 125g. I would have more, but my wife, my money, and my space prevent it. A wise person once told me when I first got into the hobby with my 10g tank to always purchase a new tank that is twice as big as your previous one. Basically, the reasoning being that it would be that much bigger and therefore fulfilling your need to expand. I didn't think I would have the need for anything more than my new tank, it was big enough right? It could hold like ten fricking cartons of milk, that's a lot of liquid. (I never used milk if anyone was wondering.) Well the time came, as you all know, when you need another tank to house all the fish you bring home. So I splurged and listened to my friend and bought the 18g. Almost, but not quite twice as big as the 10g, but close. I was happy, but still wanted more! Well let's say I skipped a few steps later on and went for the 125g, damn I was gonna need my own cow to fill this sucker! I'm not sure what's next, but I'm thinking I still want bigger. I'm satisfied at this point, but there's always that itch. I'm thinking I'm gonna need a bigger house. As for my fish, I have a community tank set up in the 18g and 125g. In the 10g, with the advice from someone in the last forum, I am starting to breed some Convicts. The 18g houses the community with a Molly, 2 Gouramis, 2 YoYo loaches, and a Gold Nugget. The 125 has my Bicher, Central/South Americans (pics in gallery), Tire Track Eel, Clown Loaches, Tiger Barbs, Butterfly Pleco, and Pictus Cats. I have a name for all of them, Beaker (my username) is the name of the Tire Track Eel. He's my new friend because he loves to eat out of my hand, it's pretty cool. From the last forum, Beaker is the one I snuck in the house past my wife. Later when my wife saw him she thought it was some mutant blood worm that grew really big!

-Well that's my story!

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome back, beaker--you're in good company here--we're all fishaholics to one degree or another. i loved that story about your wife and the mutant eel! :mrgreen:

[thomas]

Hello. I am 28 years old, married, and have three little terrors I call sons (4, 3, and 1). Actually, they are the light of my life. I am an aviation mechanic in Lexington, Ky. I am just returning to the hobby of fishkeeping and have kept cichlids before. I joined the first forum a week or two before it crashed and only got a sample of all that knowledge before it disappeared. What a shame! Anyway, I have learned a lot over the last month or so and I know it's only the tip of the iceberg. I have a 55 gallon with three unidentified juvenile mbuna in it right now. I am just itchin to get it cycled so I can start stocking it with more fish. 8)

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome thomas--glad you came back. have you given any thought to what you want to put into your tank once it's cycled? maybe you should try to find out what you've got in it before you start buying. have you tried looking at fish lists at sites like armkes'?--you can find a lot of fish pictures with their names that way. what kind of rock/substrate do you have?

try this link for starters to i.d. your fish:

http://malawicichlids.com/mw09000.htm

[harmonic]

armke's is great. my mother ordered a slew of tanganykans from them a few weeks ago. somehow the freight didnt arive in town till after the pick up office had closed, so she had to wait till the next moring to pick up her fish. a $100 pair of cyps were delivered listing but alive, as per the guarrentee, but died about 5 hours later. armke's agreed to give her $100 worth of credit on her next order. :) the company didnt have to go that far, but they did. i plan on ordering a group of 8 altolamps in the next few weeks from them. good company to deal with.

[thomas]

Ive tried to do some studying about what I want to stock this tank with. The fish that are in there are going back to the lfs as soon as this tank cycles. The mbuna are cool, but not really what I want. Here's what I've come up with. I plan on starting probably one species at a time and with juveniles.

1 trio Protomelas Ornatus
1 trio Labidochromis Sp Honji Island or Sp Caeruleus
1 trio Aulonocara Sp Rubescens
1 trio Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi "Lemon Jake" Mamelela
1 trio Copadichromis Sp Mloto Flourescent
1 trio Copadichromis Sp Mloto Midnight
1 or 2 Synodontis
1 Plecostemus

Really, it's just something to start with and will probably change over time. I know I might have a hybridization problem so I might not get 2 species each of the Aulonocara and Copadichromis.

[SGypsyMermaid]

if you're worried about hybridization, you definitely don't want 2 fishes of the same genus, and truthfully, there is a risk of hybridization between [i:1971f0873f]any[/i:1971f0873f] of the fish from the same lake. the only way to prevent hybridization is to have a tank with all males, a species tank, or a tank with fishes from different lakes. many people don't like the idea of mixing lakes, but i don't see a problem with it. all of these fish are very adaptable and the lakes range from 7.0 to 9.0 in ph, but most if not all of them can be successfully kept at about 8.2. the only thing that you need to consider is aggression levels, and dietary needs. all of this is, of course, my humble opinion. :D

[Chet]

Hi, my name is Chet Cotten, I'm from Baytown, TX, and I am just as hopelessly addicted as the rest of you. I've been married for a year and a half now and recently starting working as a realtor. Currently, I have four tanks running, with more on the way:

55gal: 6" Green Terror, 6" Jack Dempsey, 5 gold gouramis, 4 opaline gouramis, snakeskin gourami, 4 yoyo loaches, 2 giant danios.

35 gal: 6" Managuense cichlid, 4" common pleco

10 gal (office tank): 6 giant danios, 4 tiger barbs

5 gal (my mom's classroom's tank): 4 sunburst platies


I would say that I love all cichilds, and damn near all fish, but I'm really hooked on American cichlids, especially BIG American cichlids. Future plans include a 240 gallon aquarium for some real tankbusters. I'm glad to see that the forum is quickly returning to its prior glory. This is one of the best, if not the best American cichlid forum on the net, as far as knowledge goes, and it is definitely the best forum of any kind when it comes to comraderie and attitude. Welcome everyone, and post away!

[SGypsyMermaid]

well said, chet. hear, hear!

[wkwan]

Hi, I'm William Kwan, 37, married with a 9 year son. I have two tanks, a 72 and a 58 and currently looking for a spot to put my 20 and 5. In my 72, I have the following:
3 L Trewavasae Thumbi West (Marmalade cat w/2 females)
3 Ps Zebra White Blaze Mandas (1 male, 2 females)
3 Ps Masinje (1 male, 2 females)
4 Yellow Labs
4 Cyn Mbamba Sang Sanga (1 male 3 females)
and soon to add 3 Polits (1 male, 2 females)

In my 58 I have the following:
6 Lab Hongi SRT Kimpuma
2 Ps Zebra White Blaze Mandas
2 Perlmutts
3 Cyn Afra Jalo Reef

[SGypsyMermaid]

ooooh--i'll bet those tanks look fabulous!

[Rudy]

Hello my name is Rudy and I'm and alcho..... :oops: sorry wrong board


I have smallest to largest

10 gallon with

2 pair of n. brevis sunspot ikola
5 black neon tetras
1 zebra snail.


33 gallon with
1 jaguar 5 inches
1 4.5 inch flowerhorn
3 tinfoil barbs

50 gallon wiith
1 A labiatum (true red devil)

66 gallon with
4 Cytacara Moori
1 breeding pair of Paratilipia Bleekeri
1 clown pleco
1 bristlenose pleco

90 gallon with
Pair of red fin A compressiceps
1 yellow A compressiceps
1 Pair of juliochromis transcriptus
1 pair of juliochromis dickfeldi
5 various Frontosa
1 Neolamp obscurus
2 brichardi
1 male sunshine aulocarna
1 male sulphurhead aulocarna
2 clown loaches
1 sailfin pleco

Damn proud, really addicted and if you will excuse me I have to go convince my wife that we have always had these fish, they have just been hiding.

[tom]

[quote:6619803d79="Rudy"]

if you will excuse me I have to go convince my wife that we have always had these fish[/quote:6619803d79]

:lol:

[SGypsyMermaid]

betcha as soon as rudy gets back, he's probably gonna rearrange his tanks--any takers?

[Chet]

I will go so far as to guarantee that, what with the health issues some of his fish were facing prior to his most recent departure. He'll come home with some more ".99" fish and sell some of his current stock on aquabid. He's just as bad as me. I see a fish and just have to have it, so I start plotting to figure out a way to make it work. Quite often my plan involves trading in a few fish to make room for the new acquisition. Funny thing is, I get the new fish, but never seem to get around to making the trade in. :?

And I wonder why my tanks are overstocked...

[Rudy]

Oh yee of little faith mermaid. For I have just got back from three days of hunting (nothing to show for it by the way). I am in the good books right now if I rock the boat and bring home more fish my wife will definately kill me......Although I have been thinking about Mbunas these days......they also have a festae that would look good in my 90.


How about Guppies? I am tired of these cichlid things. I can see it now
www.guppyforums.com
:P

[Chet]

The Festae, the Festae, go with the Festae. You know you want one, you know I want one. Hell, I think secretly everyone wants one. Go buy the fish. I don't mind being a negative influence. I want to see pictures next week of your new Festae in your tank. I may not have one yet, but I can look at pictures of yours...

Um....I must be seriously sick. Here I am losing it completely over someone else getting a fish. Maybe I should seek some sort of professional help. Oh wait, that's why I joined this forum in the first place.....

The best part is, I clicked on the guppyforums link expecting to find something. :shock:



(Get the Festae!) :twisted:

[chennes]

[quote:5d15454257="Chet"]Here I am losing it completely over someone else getting a fish. Maybe I should seek some sort of professional help. Oh wait, that's why I joined this forum in the first place.....[/quote:5d15454257]
Boy did you come to the wrong place!!! :lol: You aren't going to get cured of your fish addiction hanging around with us!

(I agree, go with the Festae :))

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

i clicked on the guppyforums thing, too... :rofl:

[Rudy]

Gypsie may be right as always. I talked to my wife today who suggested rather than having 3 african tanks, why not have one big one. I said two bag full so here we go again.


I am thinking having only 2 large tanks at home would be great as it is low maintenance. (the other being Moe my red devil)

I think I will go 180. Could I filter the thing with say 4 ac 500's rather than a sump or canister?

I am thinking 5 frontosas 4 c Moori my bleekeri of course some rock dwellers and 3 compressiceps. Maybe a coulple of others. What does everyone think?

[Blue Mage]

Hey everyone. I have had fishfor quite some time. I am currently atttending Michigan Tech University so my tanks are in the care of my mom back home in the soutern penisula. I also would like to mention that I overcrowded my tanks on purpose to reduce aggression but I am working on upgrading since they are growing well.

My tanks:
29gal:
1 Ps. Acei-male
1 Yellow Lab-male
1 Dim Compressiceps-male
1 Ps Demasoni-male
1 Blue Johanni-male
2 Chilotilapia Euchilus-pair
3 M. Auratus-unknown still
1 Synodontus Eupterus
1 Plecostomus

20gal:
1 Ps. Demasoni-male
1 Red Zebra-male
3 Yellow Labs-unknown still
1 Plecostomus

10gal
1 Red Rubin Peacock-female
1 Alunocara female of some kind, was sold as a red rubin but definatly is not.
1 Plecostomus

[SGypsyMermaid]

boy, are you lucky to have a mom whose willing to take care of three tanks!! you better appreciate that lady!...ya know, you're probably going to have problems with the m. auratus--nasty characters. when you upgrade, you might consider setting them up in a species tank. i am currently having problems with a singularly ill-mannered d. compressiceps.

[SGypsyMermaid]

there goes rudy!!... :rofl: :shock: :rofl: i got no takers--guess everybody knew it was a sucker bet! :mrgreen:

[Rudy]

You might say I am scaling down though! That doesn't count does it?

:lol:

[SGypsyMermaid]

yeahhh---suuurre...and how long before you have to set up a new tank for your new acquisition which has different requirements from the main tank, huh?

[Rudy]

Nope I swear that is it.

I found a deal on a 180 $350 with stand 2 ac500 and heater. I want it but the deal is I have to sell 2 before.

My 90 and 66 are on special today :D :D :D :D

[SGypsyMermaid]

sorry, kiddo--i've seen you in action--hey tom--ya think he can stick to it?...please re-post taylor's pics--i wanna see them in the slide show!

[Chet]

Rudy,

You know a 180 is the perfect size for a breeding pair of Festae. Keep your 90 for your africans and then you can have your cake and a pair of Festae too! You can get some F1 juveniles from Jeff Rapps, just check out his parent fish. Come back to us Rudy, come back to the American side. Just think about a 20"+ Festae male trying to kill you through the glass. Now that's a show tank! 8)

[SGypsyMermaid]

no proselytizing, chet! :evil: :wink:

[Rudy]

Chet :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

No way man I can't stand violent fish other than all of them.

Chet on the other hand is in the process of designing a 240 gallon submission wrestling ring with no referee.

[Chet]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Yep, that's me!

[iluvstartrek]

Hello Everyone:

I'm really impressed by everyone's tanks. I am a beginner and have only had fish for a little over a year. I bought two used tanks, a 29g and a 55g. The 29g was empty and the 55g came with Cichlids. I was only moderately into at that time.

One day while in Barnes and Noble I decided to see if I could find a book on Cichlids. I did. I also went on to buy 5 other books on Cichlids. I found out that the people who we bought the tanks from didn't really know what they were doing. So I decided to do it right. I sold all of the fish in the 55g tank and started over. I bought two filters for it since it only had an undergravel filter (which I threw away), and one really tiny one from Walmart, which I am using in my 10g quaranteen tank. I put a Aqua Clear 300 and a Fluval 304 on it. I took out all of the green/black/amber gravel and put natural fine sand and 1/4 gravel in it, 50/50 mix.

I live around 7 hours from Portland, Oregon yet, that is where I get all my fish. I go to The Cichlid Exchange's retail store in Portland Oregon and get the Cichlids there. That's normal right?


In my 20g tank I have:

A m and f pair of Convicts (female is currently in quaranteen tank)
two Pseudotropheus a male and female but I don't know their species name. I got them from a LFS and he said that they were the same kind, but didn't know either. I am thinking of selling them and having the tank just for the Convicts, but these two fish are so pretty...

In my 29g tank I have friendly fish
4 Angel fish
6 danio's
2 catfish
1placostamas
and several other kind I can't remember the name of.

In my 55 gallon tank I have:
10 Aulonocara sp. 'Malari - Chipoka'
10 Copadichromis Azureus 'Ovatuas'
8 Copadichromis Borleyi 'Red Fin Kadango'

In my 125 g tank I have:

6 Pseudotroheus Lanisticola's
9 Cyrtocara Moorii
3 Iodotropheus Sprengerae 'Rusty'
7 Cynotilapia sp. 'Jalo' 'Jalo Reef'
5 Neolamprologus Sexfasciatus 'Gold'
5 Neolamprologus Pucher 'Daffodil'

I also have a 10g quantee tank and my daughter has a 29g tank, which has 14 juvenile Cichlids in it.

I know that my 55g has too many fish in it. Both the 55g and 125g have juvenile's in it. I am eventually going to have 4-5 of each kind of fish in the 55g tank, but I have to wait until I know what sex they are.

I have had a little bit of trouble with my 125g tank, it is new and has not finished cycling yet. Everything tests out normal now, but it is still cloudy. In the meantime I have lost some fish :cry: I have a male and a femal Rusty that I have bought from a LFS, that I am going to put into the 125g when I am sure everything is normal. Hopefull the three I have in there are females, but knowing my luck they'll be all males. Anyway, with my 125g tank I am going to have 4-5 of each kind, except for the Neolamprologus. They pair up so I am thinking of just having two pairs of each. Or should I have one pair of each? If I just had one pair of each, could I get another group of fish in there? I really want some kind of fish that is spotted, like N. Livingstonii, or something like that.

I really want another tank, a 55g or so, and have all males. I have to wait though because I don't want my husband to kill me. So far he doesn't mind, as long as I do all the work.


SGypseyMermaid, I have to ask this. Where do you keep all those tanks?

[SGypsyMermaid]

:rofl: :shock: :rofl: --welcome to the funhouse, sherri!! 10 of my tanks are in the basement(which used to be a studio apartment), the last one is upstairs in the dining room with my dad's 3 tanks.

hmmm...there's a couple in brooklyn who have a 70 gal. tank with stand and hood for a cheap price...now if i could just straighten out the sewing room, so that i could get the fabric out of the basement...then i could make room for another tank...then i have to convince my sister and my brother-in-law to drive me out to brooklyn...

[bgeorge]

[color=blue:7f57357640][/color:7f57357640]
Hi! My name is Beth and I am REALLY new to fish. I never knew what people saw in fish (you can't cuddle them, they won't sleep with you...) until my oldest daughter gave me a 40 and helped me set it up. I started with 3 little cichlids (she said I probably wouldn't kill them). Now my 40 has a holding pair of auratus, a dolphin moori, an electric yellow, 2 electric blues, a bushy nosed pleco and 5 other cichlids I haven't classified yet. I also have a 10 with my "mellow" fish (m/f sunshine platys, m/f dalmatian mollys, 3 skirts and a tiny tiger barb). I know that's alot for a 10 but I have an UGF and a TopFin 30.

This sounds tame, I know, but I am planning a hex 50 in my office (my boss will get over it) if I can figure out convenient water changes, at least a 60 cichlid, and as many reef tanks as my husband will let me get...

Is this curable?

[SGypsyMermaid]

sorry, beth--there's no known cure, and it's contagious as well as infectious, virulent, really...it goes into remission occasionally, but then it comes back with a vengeance--worse than before! :D

. the only solution that i can think of for your office hex dilemma is if you can talk your office mates into forming a bucket brigade when comes time for water changes. :?

[bgeorge]

No bucket brigade unless I can figure out a way for them to bill their time (and give them healthy raises... :( )

I am hooked. I am SO into my fish. I miss them when I'm out of town (I'd like to think they miss me, too).

A quick question, should I move my female auratus? She seems to be doing well and dad hasn't kicked everyone else's butt yet, but the other cichlids are pretty aggressive.

[SGypsyMermaid]

it's just lucky that the auratus pair haven't shown their true colors, yet--especially since they are breeding--i think that you should consider another tank for mom, dad, and all their kids, cuz they tend to get very 'unpleasant'. the other fish that you have should be fine together--they are actually some of the milder ones.

[bgeorge]

Yeah, so I've heard. The guys at my LFS told me NOT to let them breed (ok, how do you do that :?: ) because they'd push all the other fish to one side of the tank.

Can't really afford a new tank right now :( and don't want to turn my mellow fish into cichlid food :evil: , any suggestions?

[SGypsyMermaid]

hmmm--let's move this conversation to the 'african tank' section--why don't you describe your set-up and re-pose your question there?

[bgeorge]

Will do, thanks :D

[kbmackie]

Hi! My name is Keith. Iam a 26 year old Security Gaurd from Edinburgh in Scotland. I have only just recently got back into fish (cichlid) keeping and have a 80 gallon tank with South and Central American cihlids (and two plecs). The South's being 2 Green Severums, 2 Chocolates and 1 Triangle.
The Central's being 1 Trimaculatum, 1 Synsplum, 1 Maculicauda, 4 Nics (my faves) and two salvinis. The Plecs are a Prince Tiger and a Royal (chocolate) Panique. All juvenile.
I am just using this tank as a nursery whilst saving up for bigger tanks but it will be a while untill my collection is as impressive as your's.

[SGypsyMermaid]

hiya keith--welcome to the gang--looks like you fit right in! glad to have you. :D

[kbmackie]

Thank very much. Glad to be a member. :D

[kbmackie]

Or should i say [u:dc3c8a09f9]Thanks[/u:dc3c8a09f9] very much.

[fitch]

An introduction,

27 year old Mining Engineer. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...Opinionated, and a bit of a jerk at times.

21 tanks ~ 600 imp gallons.

2 50 gallon comunities, one tanganyikan, one malawian.

1 socolofi breeding tank, 1 male 2 females

1 perlmutt tank 1 male, 1 female

1 victorian hap44 tank 1 male 5 females

1 yellow labid breeding tank

1 juvanile grow out tank for the above malawi and victorians

1 post juvanile grow out tank for the above mentioned juvaniles

1 peacock tank, just juvaniles... future showers

1 rock krib tank, just juvaniles future breaders

1 grow tank for eggs salvaged from tang community tank

1 brichardi breeding tank

1 brevis breeding tank

1 breeding tank for OB peacocks, and wild caught eduardi's

1 empty tank (cycling)

1 breeding tank for malieri

1 grow out tank for tanganyikans

4 growing tanks for tang. fry

Cheers

Jay

[chennes]

[quote:21246710a9="fitch"]Opinionated, and a bit of a jerk at times.[/quote:21246710a9]
Well, you and I should get along just fine! :) (Or we'll hate eachother's guts :twisted:) Welcome back, Jay.

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

my kinda guy! :wink: --ditto on the welcome back, fitch!

[jnorris]

I snuck my tank in the house becuase I told my Girlfriend that it was actually for the cat to be entertained while we were gone. He does like it, but I think I have been found out since I spend more time with the tanks than the cat.

[jonah]

My name is Michael, I'm 34, born at Subic Bay, Phillippines, raised in San Diego, California and for the last 8 years I've lived with my wife, Sandra, and our 3 children, Brian 14, Kevin 10 and Christina Anastasia 5, in Oklahoma. I work for an oil equipment manufacturer in Oklahoma City.

These are my tanks:
125g mbuna, haps and loaches
75g reef with yellow tang, yellow tail damsels and a mandarin
20g high nano with live rock, macro algae and a hermit crab
20g high planted with a Betta splendins and ghost shrimp
29g albino zebra species tank
10g Betta tank
10g empty
and a 125g growout tank in the garage with electric yellows and electric blues


I'd have more tanks, but I've got to get rid of the kids first. :wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

one day i'm gonna get to try my hand at saltwater. i've been doing research, but i'm not ready yet. i love mandarin dragonets, reef tanks, and nano reefs. i want to start with a 20 gal. nano reef with an algae blennie--i think that they are like cute little animated aliens! eventually, i'd like to establish a full-scale reef tank and let it run for a few years, then get a pair of mandarins and a pair of sea horses---ahhhh, someday...

[jnorris]

I had a nice one while I was growing up. It's not as hard as people make it out to be. Just get really good testing equipment and some good technical books.

It is really expensive however....

[SGypsyMermaid]

[quote:2c5895def9="jnorris"]

It is really expensive however....[/quote:2c5895def9]

that's one of the reasons that i have to wait--i need to get out of debt, first. i also don't have the space, since i'm unwilling to part with any of the tanks that i already have going! :?

[jnorris]

Ok here is what I have been pondering while at the Zoo this weekend...

Build a fish tank that is made of the same spray concrete that they use in zoos for the back and sides. Then get a thick 2" glass front. I am thinking like a 500 - 1000 gallon "tank".

Of course I would have massive Cichlids in them. Perhaps the next house (pref. with a basement). The funny thing is I have a friend that does the concrete work for these zoo displays he is all over the place.

I would imagine the filter would have to be custom. Any links to people who have done this? My insurance adjuster prob. might have some issues....

[SGypsyMermaid]

maybe that guy with the 4000 gal reef tank would have some tips for you--i would die for a tank like that.

[jnorris]

Who is that?

Could you imagine having to swim in your tank to clean it?

I think my friend could help me out with a plan. It would be the LAST tank I SWEAR!...ok just practicing for the pitch with the far better half.

[jonah]

www.mr4000.com

I saw a guy with a couple of 1000g malawi tanks, but I can't remember the site. He used concrete with a big piece of glass up front.

It's quite tempting if you have the space. :)

[iluvstartrek]

Regarding saltwater aquariums...I would love to have one too. The trouble is that I would never be able to pick which fish I wanted. All of the saltwater ones are beautiful.
I've also heard that they were a pain, but then someone that works in the best fish store in town has three and she says that the key is when you are going to do a water change you prepare the saltwater a couple of days ahead of time and let the water 'cook' for the two days. She keeps a couple of big barrels in the garage for that. She pumps the water into the aquarium with a powerhead and tubing that fits over the end. Of course, when you have had them for a while and are good at it it would be easy huh?

[SGypsyMermaid]

i forgot to mention my bathtub pond in the back yard with a ton of plants for vegetative filtration--a million mosquito fish, 2 female bettas, a pair of paradise fish and a pleco.(plus half a million snails). and about ten fishbowls at work with bettas and dwarf mystery cichlids.

[Maingano]

[color=violet:171bb7359c][/color:171bb7359c][color=green:171bb7359c][/color:171bb7359c]
Hi all,

I live in Melbourne, Australia am 27 yrs old and work full time as a news editor. Also have a partner and 2 lovely kids aged nearly 1 and 4. When not working cichlid keeping is a great way to pass time for me.

Currently i have 2 tanks, first one is 3 ft and has 5 Maingano cichlids in it, they are currently pairing up and digging caves all that courting type stuff. My other tank is 3 ft as well and is cycling at the moment getting ready for the fry. Going to grow them up and sell back to lfs, they are not that common in Australia so are quite sought after.

Maingano ( Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos ) come from Lake Malawi off Likoma island, a small village is there hence the name Maingano. They are mouth brooders and should breed quite easily.

I've also kept and bred Bricardi Neolamprologus, that was cool and they are great parents. Many generations of fry were in the one tank a great first cichlid to breed . Very graceful looking fish.

Any how hi to every one nice to meet you all, look foward to talking and sharing pics with you in time.

Cheers fry.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome, maingano! :D looking forward to talking 'fish' with you.

[jnorris]

Maingano,

Any tips on Brichardi for me? I have some nice adult ones that haven't gone into spawning yet.

They bred in my friends tanks, but I fear that I don't have the right stuff.

[Maingano]

Hi jnorris,

don't worry you will do fine. Just takes a little time. When i got my first pair of Brichardi i thought damn these things are never gonna breed. But they did, one day after i came home from work i noticed about 50 or so tiny fry in the tank. It was very cool.

I had had the pair for approx 2 months before they bred, and once they started they just kept on spawning. But i did notice after about 4 generations of fry were in the one tank the spawns started getting smaller, natures way of keeping the population low.So i suggest you get a grow out tank for the fry after a while. Once you put the fry in another tank the pair will breed again soon and they will have lots of babies. Must say though they are great parents and eventually you'll have a whole tank full of Brichardi.

Getting them to spawn, i fed mine flake food, brine shrimp and a mixture of frozen meat cubes which had extra vitamins in them. Then i kept doing water changes say once every 3 days. then you'll notice them sought of like shivering and quivering in front of one another, like a pre spawn dance. They will start building caves and once this happens you know somethings gonna happen. Main thing i noticed when the pair first bred was that the fe male dissapeared pretty much for about 2 wks, always in the caves and out of site this is a good sign.

Anyhow good luck, and any more specific questions let me know.

Maingano.

[Maingano]

Hi Gypsy,

yeah cool look foward to lots of chats.

Maingano.

[jnorris]

Ok these are rather silly questions BUT


Are they mouth breeders

if not

what kind of substrate do they like?

[Maingano]

Nope there not mouth brooders,

they will lay their eggs somewhere on a rock, usually digging a pit under some rocks and laying them on the under side of the rock which acts as the roof of the cave.

Then they spit them into the pit and watch over them, you wont have to do a thing.

Dont worry as long as you have male and female it will happen.

Maingano.

[Maingano]

By the way forgot to say i used just a normal light brown color gravel from the lfs for the substrate, with a normal ug.

Maingano.

[jnorris]

I am using crushed corel. I think I am done adding rock now, starting to get concerned with the weight. I have a 90 gallon and the rock (lace and river rock) is piled 3/4 of the way up now (has the reef look)

What do you have your PH at?

[NyassaeMan]

Man what a great thread and wonderfull posts.

I am 30 years old this year........and unbelievably the threat of doom and dispair I feared from leaving my twenties has passed. I am a marketing manager for a real estate title company and a father of two wonderfull boys and husband to a fiesty Red Head ( it's her own special recipe of red) :lol:

I have been in the hobby for about 15 years now and have kept African Cichlids the entire time. It became an obsession shortly after getting my first tank and after a few years it was obvious that having more water per cubic foot than air space in my bedroom was not going to be acceptable to my parents. Since I could not have all the tanks I wanted, I got everyone I know to buy a tank and I lived vicariously thorugh them.

I am currrently going through home renovations and have most of my tanks broken down or sold, with plans for the garage to be the new fish room. I currently have up and running a 180 gallon, a 55 gallon and a 29 gallon.........holding all of my indoor fish. I also have 2 outdoor ponds with a hundred or so African cichlids, and a kiddie pool grow out pond of babies. .......mostly mbuna that I will have to make room for inside this month....so I will prpbably set up a couple of 125's until I can get the plumbing worked out in the garage.

I am a certified finatic when it comes to my fish and hobbies....I did allow work to come between me and my hobbies, only because I heard the voices saying " if you don't work you can't afford us :!: " I'm still not certain if those voices were coming from my cichlids or my wife......either way I listened and devoted alittle extra time to work. Now I'd like to play alittle more.

I hope to get to know each and every one of you fine folks and maybe we can all work together to increase the "in home pounds per square foot" floor average. I know I will do my part :lol:

[Maingano]

My ph is pretty much 7.4 so it's nice and blue, reef look sounds good. Ph was 7.4 roughly when Brichardi bred as well.

Maingano.

[SGypsyMermaid]

WELCOME BACK, NYASSAE!! :mrgreen:

[Maingano]

Hi Nyassae,

I think we can increase that tank space lol, nice to meet you.

Maingano.

[catfishes]

Hello Everybody :)

My name is Aubrey and I'm a senior at the University of New England double majoring in Aquaculture/Aquarium Sciences and Marine Biology. My love for Africans began over five years ago, and during the years since then I've kept a variety of different tanks. Unfortunately I had to break everything down a year ago (dorm rooms are SO small these days) and I'm now starting fresh again in my brand spanking new apartment.

20 gallon

2 breeding gold angels
4 bleeding hearts
5 Corydoras sterbai
2 lemon tetras
1 gold nugget pleco

33 gallon L (bought two months ago and just finished cycling! )

2 Cearuleus
1 J. transcriptus
1 black calvus
1 L. trevawase

10 gallon

micro reef tank

In the meantime, I work at a fish specialty shop, and help care for 250+ tanks ranging from your common fancy goldfish, community s. americans, s. american cichlids, african cichlids, brackish and saltwater inhabitants. And YOU thought you were sick of water changes?!?! :shock:

I look forward to learning something new every day. :wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

[quote:84483802c6="catfishes"]And YOU thought you were sick of water changes?!?! :shock: [/quote:84483802c6] :rofl: point taken! welcome to the gang, catfishes!

[kameronesdiablo]

well as you can see I have been a member for a very short time, but I truly do enjoy this forum! I log in about 5 or 6 times a day..yes I have no life...

ok..here goes..

My name is Kenia and I was born in Nicaragua but moved to Texas when I was about 4 1/2 years old (I think it had to do with a war or something..??? I mean that sarcastically by the way). I grew up in Sugar Land. I use to get lots of jokes about being from Sugar Land..especially during my "single" days. I am married to a fabulous man named Kris who is just as big of a dork as I am (YEAH!!! :lol: :lol:) and currently live in the Katy area of Houston. I work for a marine navagation company as an administrative assistant (that is why I get to play all day on line)

I cannot say that I began the fish keeping...10 gal for my husband about 4 years ago as a b-day present...he was into it for like 48 hours and then I got the responsibility...occationally he would fall back into interest but then just like a kid, he would fall back out..

about 6 months ago, my beloved bala shark got stuck in one of the orniments my husband bought. I had had him almost 2 1/2 years and he had almost doubled in size! Well the silly willy got stuck and could not get out..so of course I paniced!...I grabed a tall salad bowl (desperation is a funny thing) and then grabbed this bread holder that was larger than the bowl and I filled the bowl with tank water and carefully lifted the orniment and fish and ran to pet smart...some guy there some how got him out and there I was pushing a cart with a fish in a salad bowl and a bread holder...well in my crazy state I bought another 10 gallon for him ...keep in mind this is before I REALLY knew about fish.

Husband flipped and of course the bala passed away about 3 days later...
..well then my lovely but fish dumb husband went and got "mixed african cichlids'.

To make a long story short (...too late :lol: ) I became facinated with these new fish. They were not scared or bothered by me watching or sticking my hand in the tank..actually a few times I have been able to pet them :shock:

ok this is what I had ..

10 gall (I know I know..too small for cichlids!!)

1 female red zebra
1 male kenyii
1 female kenyii
1 bumblebee
1 male bristlenose

of course they were juviniles so sexing did not happen until later..

well I started doing research and research and finally convinced my husband I NEEDED ANOTHER LARGER TANK!!!

Well the male kenyii ended up dying thanks to the RZ who basically left him a stub for a tail..

I finally got my 20 gal long tank (got it and the stand free...from brother and pop in law) cycled (I know ..still not big enough..but wait it gets worse :oops: )

20 gal long
same as above minus the male kenyii...

then husband went crazy again...

added 1 krib
1 acei
1 yellow lab
1 chinese algee eater / catfish

I almost killed him!!!

The krib kicked the RZ's butt :twisted: ...she was not too happy and was quite shocked...but she got him back (overnight 3 days later) and half a tail later I decided that it was enough..I actually took the krib back..and complained to the lfs guy ...husband said that he had told him it would be ok to that many fish in a 20!!! Must admit he told my husband TEMPORARILY!!!

Well now my search is on for at LEAST a 55 gal....husband has agreed to it, though poor man should know by now he has no choice...

so hopefully I will soon be able to add a 55 gal to my list..

oh..both original and new 10 gal were sold because husband did not want more than 1 tank in the house (like he maintanences them... :P )

if you want to look at what I have and possibly the hopfuly soon 55 gal (if not bigger ..if I can find a great price..) www.geocities.com/kameronesdiablo and go to the aquatic link

[SGypsyMermaid]

:mrgreen:love that story, kam--and your website, too!

[kameronesdiablo]

thanks SGypsyMermaid !!! Its a work in progress...one day I will have it completed..or at least updated...and soon..hopefully a happy new larger home for my fishy babies...

oh..see that you are from Queens..

Use to spend a couple of summers there when I was a kid...use to think i was so cool because I was riding the bus and hanging out with the older kids (they were my cousins friends and they were maybe 2 years older..but that is old when you are a kid)! I use to love it!!! Have not been back for almost 10+ years now...

[SGypsyMermaid]

what part of queens?

[kameronesdiablo]

i knew you were going to ask that....I cannot remember and I just tried to call my mom and see what it was called...ok..here is what I remember and it is going to be very very vague...

My psuedograndma (mother to an uncle by marriage) owned this house and it was three floors..about 2 or 4 blocks away was a high school and down the street was an ice cream shop....aghhh...they were/are dominican and there were alot of spanish ..mainly island people...

I knw that is soooooooooooooo vague..but it was over 10
maybe even 15 years ago!!!

I will find out and let ya know

[kameronesdiablo]

ok...sorry I took so long..actually had to do some work...gosh...I cannot believe the audacity of these people actually wanting me to do work!!! hee hee :lol:

My pseduo grandparents home was in woodside...My brother said he believes it was 57th and broadway...

he is probably all wrong..but it does sound pretty right..heck he was there maybe 8 years ago..so maybe he is correct

[SGypsyMermaid]

that sounds about right for the neighborhood make-up that you described. when i go to woodside, it's usually so that i can check out the stock at MARSHALL'S!!

[kameronesdiablo]

man I use to love going to visit...was great...actually almost all of my cousins friends had no clue I was from texas until I said Ya'll! They died laughing! We would play some game called I think hinny (like you bootie)..but it was kind of like dodge ball against a wall but instead of dodge ball it was like a racket ball ...


I really need to go back..I actually should of gone this year but we went to San Francisco instead...bad part was my italian grandfather passed away the same week we were in San Fran. (he is not really my grandpa but a really good long time family friends dad...but I have known him my whole life and we kids always called him grandpa or poppy...I was upset but I know that he is no longer in pain...I miss him alot though...) ...

sorry did not mean to make this note depressing...

how far is that from you???

It is so funny because I remember running around all over the place, just us kids, and no one every said anything...then I would come home and tell my friends and they were all like..oh my god you ran around new york without supervision...where you scared??!!?!? I never was...I guess that is just how kids are..

[SGypsyMermaid]

sorry about your grampa; losing a loved one is always tough. all my relatives from texas think that you can't move around in new york cuz it's too dangerous, but it's really just pockets that are bad--not the whole city. woodside is a couple of towns over from jamaica. a quick subway ride. :wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

come on folks! introduce yourselves!

[finz]

Hi all,

I have kept tropical fish since age10 (now 44) but until recently, never had a tank larger than 20 gal. I have always wanted to raise cichlids but never had much luck in a 20 gal tank. Biggest mistake was to plop an Auratus into a community tank. Sorry - I had no clue. Fishy homicide ensued. I now have a 20 gal with 4 zebra danios and 6 baby julidochromus ornatus - I'm hoping to get a breeding pair and sell the rest.
My latest addition is a 55 gal with two pairs of convicts and a lone serpae tetra (will get him some friends soon). The convicts are still settling their territories.

I am also into photography and have been experimenting with photographing my fishy friends. I wonder what they think of those sudden lightning flashes :?: I usually hang out on a photography forum but have recently been surfing cichlid forums for more info on keeping large tanks.

[SGypsyMermaid]

photography, eh?...you and overawed will have lots to talk about. :D

[finz]

yep - photography. You can see a few of my pics at http://www.home.earthlink.net/~jimkphoto/

[img:889f9de3ea]http://www.home.earthlink.net/~jimkphoto/julie2.jpg[/img:889f9de3ea]

[SGypsyMermaid]

your photos are beautiful--i would, however, like to see a [i:790d9dae5e]few[/i:790d9dae5e] more fish! :P

[finz]

Thanks! I just started the fish page so there aren't many photos there yet.

[Boilermaker]

I second that Jim, awesome pics :) I would like to pick your brain now and again. Seems each time Debbie and I get ready to take a photography class something else comes up.

[finz]

Sure- I'm always ready to discuss photography, it's the one hobby I have that seems to support itself. :lol:

[ReesaPie]

hello!
i'm 16, and though my mother hates them, i have 4 tanks in my bedroom. (though one is unoccupied) Currently i work at petsmart (yes yes i know we all hate petsmart... but it really does depend what store you're at... plus i get discounts on all my fish supplies) and i hope to go to collage for zoology. i'm also realy into photography, so you'll probably be seeing photos of my fish soon (whether you want to or not :) )

i have a 30 gallon hex with

3 Labidochromis caeruleus (electric yellow)
1 Pseudotropheus socolofi (i think) (fairly certin)
1 Pseudotropheus lombardoi (kenyi)
1 Pseudotropheus Zebra (he's got a cute black spot around his eye...)
1 "albino red zebra" (i'm not sure if that has a different sci. name)
3 Sciaenochromis ahli (electric blue)
1 Copadichromis azureus female (i think... not sure)

*laughs* don't worry.... all this guys are real young still (about an inch) and about half of them are leaving as soon as they get large enough to safely live in my friend's 100 gallon cichlid tank. i also plan on getting a larger tank in less then a year, so hopefully this guys will do ok until then.

my 20 gallon long tank has 6 very gorgus goldfish
1 black moor (Big Lenny)
1 orange Ryunkin (Chester)
1 white and orange Ryunkin (Rita)
1 black and orange Oranda (Snidely)
1 Blue Scale Oranda (Locke)
1 screwed up Shubunkin/ calico fancytail somthing (Rodney)
oh! and my... snail.... Geoffry... who's really large

again.... planning on a bigger tank... in need of funds

my 5 gallon has
two 1 inch koi

yup... there're going in a friends pond come summer.... they were a find in the feeder fish tank (usally comets) and i had to get them (hey... 25 cent koi) they're beautiful fish.

and an un occupied 2 1/2 gallon


so there... not too impressive of tanks... but i'm hopeing for bigger and better things in the future... right now my mother doesn't think my 10ft by 10 ft room should hold anymore fish

[SGypsyMermaid]

:lol: welcome reesapie--sounds like you fit right in with the rest of the fishaholics! looking forward to seeing your photos.

[angelhf13]

Greetings to all my fellow fishaholics!! My name is Angel, and although Im fairly new keeping cichlids, Ive always had at least one fish tank for as long as I can remember! Im 30 years old.....I hate saying that....just turned 30 recently...AHHH!!! Im getting over the shock a little now though.....its not so bad! :D I manage a veterinary hosptal, so after being around all the crazy dogs and cats all day, its nice to come home and just relax in front of one of my fish tanks!

I have 3 tanks right now....

29 gallon has 2 peacocks (1 male and 1 female), not sue what kind exactly, 2 male blue cobalts, 2 P. Saulosi ( 1 male and 1 female), and one Placo.

Another 29 gallon with 2 yellow labs(male and female), 2 clown loaches and one big angelfish (I know the angel doesnt belong, but Ive had him for 4 years, and he was all alone until i put the other fish in there...they do just fine!)

I have a 10 gallon waiting for fry! (2 of my females are holding right now)

Anyway....this is only the beginning!! Im trying to learn all I can before I get another tank.....but Ive got a place just waiting for a 55 gallon!!

A special Thanx to SGypsyMermaid for all your help so far!! Im sure Ill be posting lots more questions!! :D

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome aboard angelhf13--and you're welcome! :lol:

[Adam]

Ahh, well, hmm, so many tanks, and such nice ones that all of you have. I have 3 tanks, although maybe today or tomorrow i will be going to get the 75g i have been wanting for the past couple months. And after that cycles, i will have a lake malawi or tanganyika habitat in it, but I'm not sure which one. I'll have to look at the fish again, and again. I'm 16, and my name is Adam, and I have had fish since I was 10.

10 gallon
-Soon to be broken down, too small
-1 harlequin rasbora
-2 miniature plecos
-1 guppy
-1 male swordtail
-2 ghost shrimp

20 gallon
-2 firebelly toads
-2 firebelly newts

33 gallon (my pride, until this afternoon :lol: )
-3 corydoras
-1 white cloud
-4 buenos aires tetras
-3 ghost shrimp
-2 australian rainbows
-3 pearl gouramis
-2 three spot gouramis
-2 golden panchax
-3 bettas 2 female, 1 male
-4 cherry barbs
-6 bleeding eye tetras

I think that's it, and they are all my favorites. Although it may seem overcrowded, many of the fish are very small, and filtration and water changes abound. I have had the tank up now for about 3 years, and I haven't had a fish die in about 3 years. Which is good, because I hate having to flush them down the drain.

[Chet]

I just love gouramis, especially pear gouramis. They are one of the nicest looking fish when they get large. How well do your three-spots and pearl gouramis get along in their tank?

Oh, welcome to the forum!

[Adam]

Thank you, the gouramis are very peaceful. There is no fin nipping, nothing of the sort. In fact, they are about 4 inches each, not including the tail. And they are very beautiful indeed. Very peaceful, like gentle giants.

[Adam]

They get along really well with all the other fish, even the tiny ones, and they eat anything and everything, if only I had got the pink kissers, they like to eat the algae on rocks and the glass. Oh, and the aquarium plans fell through until the weekend, supposedly they don't want to have it until then.

[aharris]

Hi, my name is Angela Harris. I'm 28 years old and I've been married for 7 years this May. We don't have any kids, but since I teach eighth grade English, I get to "borrow" about 30 to 50 kids from other people every year. :lol: In fact, when they find out I don't have kids, they tend to ask if it's because of them.

I got hooked on cichlids when I "accidently" bred my first brood of kribs. I wasn't trying to spawn them just trying to get the conditions right and get a compatible pair (one of kind looks lonely to me, and I love watching fishy behavior and interactions). Prior to the kribs, I'd been keeping fish off and on since my parents brought home that first goldfish bowl when I was three.

My only really bad experience with fish came when I was trying to keep mollies (I was in 6th grade), and they got piscine TB. I don't want to remember how much money I worked hard for and wasted on antibiotics before someone finally told me what was wrong.

Currently, I only have two tanks set up and running.

135g - This tank is in transition. I've got a breeding pair of marlieri in it. I'm getting the sand substrate changed out gradually and having to get an AC 300 going with more biological filtration to help out my Emporer 400. The other Emporer quit suddenly last week (my husband's pretty sure it's the motor). Can the motor (not the impellor) be changed on those? I'm hoping to get 8 Cyprichromis lepto. Utinta and eventually a group of 6 Cyathopharynx furcifer to go with my julis and their newest youngsters.

55g - This is just a community set up. I have one large angel (we call him BP, Bottomless Pit, as he's always hungry), some raspboras, 4 upside down catfish, 4 albino corys (they spawn on the sides of the tank regularly, never saved any youngsters though), 4 pygmy corys, one kuhli loach who absolutely refuses to die, and I'd like to get a nice trio of some type of apisto to replace the really spectacular pair of A. agassizi tefe I lost recently.

30g - You know you can't pass up more tanks when you rescue one from the complex dumpster. I haven't put anything in this tank and it's not set up. I'm thinking of taking it into my classroom next year (no space in my apartment).

20g - about to become a quaratine/grow out tank although the 30g my take over those duties and the 20 may go to school.

1g hex - not really sure what to do with this but I have it just in case!

Aside from my fish, I have three cats, two nephews, and my cousin's little girl to shamelessly spoil.

[Adam]

Welcome :lol:

[SGypsyMermaid]

all right!! more fishaholics!! i just love it. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :rofl: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Adam]

Apart from the 33 gallon and the 20 gallon, I have a newly acquired 75 gallon, with dual 150w heaters, and 2 AC 500s.

-6 N. Leleupi
-4 J. Regani
-4 N. Brichardi
-2 Plecos
-2 Whiptail Catfish

[Ekliptix]

I guess I better get in on this one.

I'm Graham, 22yrs old, a Mechatronics Engineering Technologist (robots and automation, but I don't really get to use any of my skills at work). I build Fuel Cells. [size=9:70a4256373]and live at home w/ my parents :oops: [/size:70a4256373]

I have a 33gal African Tank and a 55gal American Tank. The American fish dwellery has been going for about 4 yrs and the African one for ~2 months.

I also enjoy mountain Snowmobiling in the Canadian Rockies,
my website: www.geocities.com/powderaddict
digital photography, import cars, the internet, watersports, and the internet.

:go me:

[JB wind]

I'm John and I'm 28. I'm a foreman for a construction company that works all over michigan. My wife and I have been married for 7 years now. I bought my first fish tank when I was 17. All our friends have fish. They just have one tank set up, and as for me I just can't seem to stop at one LOL. I just love watching them. I just moved in to a new house so I don't have many fish at all. but it was nothing to have 5 tanks up and running. My wife is a garage sale nut and she brings home all sorts of fish tanks and some equiptment home. at the moment i have these set up

40L gal the wifes tank. 3 Ruby clown rams, 8 white clouds, 4 cherry barbs, 3 blood red gouramis, 1 male betta, 6 lemon tetras, and 2 cory cats

75 gal is going to be a mbuna tank. so far only 6 yellow labs to help cycle.

30 gal species tank with 5 hongi, just waiting to grow up and breed

100 gal for water changes for the uncichlid tanks, my water is very hard and it has a ph of 8 so i doctor the water in this tank.

1 30 gal the ICU tank/holding tank

10 gal with cherry barb fry.

tanks not set up

4 10 gal show tanks/ breeders
1 55 gal thinking maybe giving salt a go around
1 125 gal will be a south american cichlid tank
2 20 gal show tanks/breeder
1 15 gal show tank/breeder.
sad thing is I want more. I thought i was bad until I went to go pick up the hongi's from a guy that i know from the fish club i just joined. This guy has more tanks than the lfs, he turned his whole basement into a giant fish room. well over 100 tanks. from 10 gallons to a 500 gallon. I could have stayed there all night.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome, welcome, welcome...oooohhh, i just love fish nuts!!! :D

[angelhf13]

WOW!!! Thats a lot of fish tanks JB!! I wish I had the room for more :cry:
I just love reading posts about everyones tanks. Im so envious! (did I spell that right?...envious)....oh well. :roll: . Gypsy...if you read this, I know what you'll say...but I love furniture too!! My 2 weaknesses, furniture and fish. Im just going to have to buy a bigger house!

[SGypsyMermaid]

believe it or not, i did not throw out the furniture to make room for the tanks...i threw it out to make room for my fabric stash(i am a recovering sewaholic). :wink: :shock: :wink:

[Glaive]

Aquarium:
A few of you are already familiar with this, lol.
20 gallon Long
1 Sciaenochromis fryeri
1 Altolamprologus compressiceps
2 Julidochromis ornatus <1 male and one female
1 Peacock a Eureka Red I believe
1 Synodontis cat <still working on his/her exact type>

As of today my female Julie has been hanging out around the holes I drilled in the lava rock center piece. <woot>

Viquarium:
50 gallon regular I guess lol
2 fire bellied toads
2 fire bellied newts <one is a full grown newt the other an eft still>
1 eastern newt <still an eft>
1 green tree frog
1 grey tree frog
1 house gecco
4 albino cory cats <the older firebellied newt eats non albino corys?!?!>
2 feeder gold fish one big one little for now
2 different mollis
1 black widow tetra
4 female feeder guppies <soon to be less I'm sure :twisted:
1 freshwater crab
10 household spider plants, several wandering jews including one that is in a little flower pot suspended in the middle. a few lucky bamboo and many clippings of plants from around the house.
Dispites how it sounds the viquarium is so much simpler than the aquarium, only have to pay attention to the toxin levels from the firebellied toads.

Side not the 20 gallon long cost $80.... the 50 was $50 at a garage sale... my gf rocks <her find

[StructureGuy]

Hello all,

My name is Kevin and I'm a structural engineer (how else would I come up with such a lame screen name?) I'm originally from Quakertown, PA (near Allentown) went to Penn State and then ended up in Columbus, OH in 1976. I used to do the structural design for buildings but I fell into the tower design business and now mostly design cell-phone towers. (I even wrote an aquarium weight on wood framed floors article for another forum.) I'm married with three kids (22, 18 & 16 years old) and this week I turn 50 years old myself.

I just bought a 180 gallon tank (and am trying to sell my 75 gallon tank) and I have 55, 40 & 10 gallon tanks set up. I keep mbuna and victorians almost exclusively as you can see by clicking the www button below.

Kevin

[Overawed]

HI Kevin! I remember you from the uk resource forum! Welcome to the cichlid forums! I think you will like it here. Can't wait to see more posts from you! Also, you pics and tanks look great! :D

[tediumsdream]

Hey guys,

My tanks are:

10 gallon feeder tank
15 gallon piranha grow-out
20 gallon vacant - was a dovii grow-out
30 gallon vacant - was salvini and firemouth tank
New 90 gallon - Home of my Red Admiral Flowerhorn and Texas, who will probably be taken out shortly due to the agression of the flowerhorn lol.


John

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome aboard!! and happy birthday to structure guy kevin!! :party:

[jonah]

[quote:eda3a3f654="SGypsyMermaid"]welcome aboard!! and happy birthday to structure guy kevin!! :party:[/quote:eda3a3f654]

I want a happy birthday too! I'll turn 35 Saturday. :D

[SGypsyMermaid]

:emb: i was wondering how other board members knew it was your birthday! well, happy belated birthday...even though i did wish you a happy birthday in that other thread!:D

[DG]

Bit late but:

Hi all,

My name is Dilesh. I live in Hayes, Middlesex (West London). I'm 25 (just turned on March 18th). Just resigned from my techinal manager job :D (best thing i ever did). I mod pc's and get them running faster that they should. For about half a year, my pc was one of (if not) the highest overclocked pc percentage wise (i think it was running around 75% faster than the cpu core speed) thanks to my vapochill and a voltage mod.

My current p4 2.5 is running at 3.06 but because its water cooled, i can clock it up to near 4G's but cant because limited by my 431 enermax psu.


My tank details are:

http://www.cichlidforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1417

DG

[RedDeviL]

Hey,

Since im going to be on here alot I guess you guys should know a lil about me :)

My name is Michael :) Well im new to cichlids in general but ive always had at least an Oscar cause ive always liked them.. Well due to extremely stupid reasons I have the worst luck when my parents were together and the power would go out while we went camping for like a week never always lost it while it was about 8"- 9" sadly... Anyways now im older and wiser hehe :)

Well these are my tanks

1 50 gallon
1 55 gallon
1 29 gallon
1 40 gallon

Well i have 2 Oscars 1 in a 29 gallon getting fat and growing hes about 2" and 1 4" oscar blissfully swimming in his 55 gallon :)

I have 1 Red Devil and 1 Black and Yellow Midas in a 50 gallon tank and they about are 3" and happy with their pleco buddy...

In a 40 gallon i have
2 Red Empresses 2.5"
1 Electric Blue Lamibochromis 2.5"
2 Fire Mouths 2.5" and 1 3"
1 Mystery Cichlid ( I have no way to take a pic so ill describe the best i can Its black with blue coming out around his cheeks and yellow fins sometimes stripes show in his dark body and hes long fish he doesnt look like a South American...)

Well thats about it.. My room is full of fish tanks hehe but its cool i like looking at my fish at night and the oscars are my favorite :)

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome aboard, guys!:D (i know, i'm a little late :oops: )

[Acara]

I'm 13 almost 14 In July. My name is Jarrod (Pronounced as Jered)
I have a 30g Aquarium with:

Green Terror: 2"
Jack Dempsey: 3-1/2 inch.
Texas Cichlid: 1"
Firemouth: 1 1/2 inch.

Not crowded, all small fish but upgrading to a 55 soon.
My brother has 2 55 gallons with a 5" Pink Midas and a flowerhorn in the other. The Flowerhorn is about 8-9in but his friend's tank cracked and leaked so he's holding him for now.
I have 2 turtles. A red ear slider and a snapping turtle. I have a parakeet, a dog, and a cat. I've recently ordered a Blue Acara from my LFS and hope to get him in the next month.
Thanks.
Acara

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome aboard, acara!:D

[fishmommy]

I am Jen, 32, Mechanical engineer, and aquamaniac.
I started out as an aquatic plantaholic, and now am a riftaholic too!

75g heavily planted - chocolate gouramis, rams, and angels

75g heavily planted - congo tetras and angels

180g planted - large Malawi haps - Protomelas spilonotus, Champsochromis caeruleus, Protomelas steveni 'Taiwan Reef', Placidochromis milomo

75g growout tank for fish too small to live in the 180 yet - Placidochromis phenochilus, syno petricola, Pro spilonotus & steveni 'TR'

30g, Three 10g, and a 5.5g all empty.

[cichgirl]

I've been so rude... :oops:

I'm new to the forum and never introduced myself. Forgive me, please. I am Stef a 29 year old Graphic Designer/fishaholic/artist/musician/constitutionalist/I can't think of anything else right now. My birthday was yesterday and I have been married for a little over 2 months. I WAY surpassed my Mom's fishaholic influence. I've kept fish my whole life. I was in kindergarten with a 10 gallon and had the standards-- swordtails, guppies, mollies, betas & such. When I was 10 I got my first firemouth. It was all over then, bigger tanks, bigger books, etc... I've been addicted to cichlids ever since. In another few months I am hoping to get into a house where I can actually get EVERYTHING and more up and running again!! :D My husband actually doesn't mind... He's got more guitars than I have fish right now.. He plays guitar for them and is entertained because my JD, and O really seem to like it (or so he likes to think :drink:). My africans (2 electric blue johanni alpha and submale, 2 female melanochromis johanni & 6 pseudotropheus lombardoi), aren't as impressed...

I cannot leave out my plecos they work so hard for me... :lol:

Sorry it took so long to introduce myself. This is by FAR the best and friendliest cichlid forum on the net. It actually recognizes that there are different fish for everyone as well as different preferences in the keeping of fish.. I get a lot of different information and I have found it is the most helpful site on the net. Thanks for the site :D

Stef

[jonah]

Originally posted by cichgirl
This is by FAR the best and friendliest cichlid forum on the net.

Stef

That's because we crush troublemakers with an iron fish, I mean fist.:sygypsy:

Glad to make your acquaintence.:drink:

[cichgirl]

thank you, jonah :D

[tom]

Originally posted by cichgirl


Sorry it took so long to introduce myself.

Hi Stef

Are you kidding? I've been here since..um...well, for a while, and I still haven't introduced myself. :lol:

A belated Happy Birthday and congratulations on your recent vows (the marriage, I mean, not the fish).

Guitars, eh? I still have an old J-45, but if I played in the fishroom, I believe the little aquacritters would wet themselves even more. :rolleyes:

[cichgirl]

:rofl: :rofl2:

To his credit, the americans do watch him and seem to dance, I know it's a stretch but it IS funny... But I don't know for sure if they really like it or not. He's got a Valley Art's custom, a custom Strat, a Charvel, a PRS, an Ovation, a Martin... Shall I go on?? No... :D No wonder I have to do more water changes lately! He doesn't dare complain about the fish-- thankfully he enjoys them.

And thank you, tom, 29 isn't that exciting but the marriage is.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome, cichgirl! don't mind our fearless leader(tom)...he gets little weird sometimes, but he's actually quite lovable...in an odd sort of way.:twisted:

[cichgirl]

Thank you SGM. :D

I'm not worried... We're all a little weird compared to all the other freaks we live with on our planet :hehe:

[jims2cool]

Well I suppose I better tell you about me so... I'm 25 married with 2 kids 5months and 3and a half yrs. $ tanks
46 bowfront:
2 breeding pair of firemouths, 1 Green texas, and the trusty pleco that eats all my sword plants:(
20: Breeding pair of true pink convicts, and 2 black mystery snails the convicts kill everything else
20: About um... well over 12 cory's spotted and skunk trying to breed at the moment no luck:( and 2 highfin spotted plecos

And a 20 hospital wich is used for temperasry home for my fish that Im selling always something different ask me I can probably get it.

That is all I have time for since I'm still a college student and live in a apt

Thanks for reading
2cool:cool:

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the forums!:)

[Serious4play]

Well, I joined the forum a bit ago and I'm finally getting around to introducing myself. My name is Kim. I am a 32 year old railroader. I am married and have 2 beautiful boys ages 6 and 4.

As if the kids weren't enough to keep me busy I came across this hobby by way of a gift that my kids gave to my wife last fall. I've fallen in love since. The boys picked out a fountain for their mother as a present and it sat in the garage over the winter. When we set it up this spring my neighbor thought it would be amusing to the kids to watch fish swimming around in it, so he dropped in on of his feeder fish. After a couple of days my wife figured the little guy need companionship so off we went to pick up a few more feeders. Soon there were 10 in the fountain and they lived there all summer. By the end of summer it was starting to get chilly at night and my wife decided that the fish needed a new home. I was going to return them to my neighbor but on a whim I took the kids to the pet store and before we knew it we were back at home setting up our new 50gal tank.

The feeders were used to cycle the tank and today we just lost 1 of the remaining 5 feeders. He was brutally beaten and couldn't gave up the fight. It's time now to move the last 4 to another cycling tank as my cichlids are starting to become territorial and these golden targets don't stand a chance.

Here is my setup:

50gal tank with powerglo fluorescent
fluval 303
Aquaclear 300
Aquaclear 500
Stellar w60 air pump with 2 stones
250W Marineland visi-therm heater
playsand for substrate
decor consists of broken granite pieces stacked up with featherstone that I carved caves and tunnels into as well several plastic plants scattered throughout the tank.

Tank occupants:

5 x Labidochromis caeruleus (electric yellow)
3 x Blue Peacock I don't know if these are male or female, I don't even know what species they are. I wish I could find more info on them. I asked for 2 female and 1 male when I bought them but I'm starting to think I've got 3 males.
4 x Jumbo Feeders (GoldFish)
1 x bristlenose plecostumus
1 x Synodontis eupterus
1 x blood red parrot - I know this one is target for purists but my wife wanted it and it makes her happy. I only have one and I don't plan to breed them nor is it one that has been dyed, so please keep your opinions yours, I'm not looking to debate anyone.

I am currently attempting to repair a 48 gal tank that was given to me with a leaking seam. We are also looking for a 10gal quarantine/hospital tank. I lost 3 clown loaches a few weeks ago to a case of ich that I picked up from a LFS that was having a massive sale. Needles to say high volume turnover meant no quarantine and I learned my lesson.

That's it in a pretty windy nut shell. I look forward to spending time in these forums. I have already pulled a world of useful information from this site.



Thanks all, http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2003-11-06/18608-001.php?set_albumName=serious4play_1&id=PICT0945

[kitszoo]

Well, thought I'd reintroduce myself (though I never really said much before).

I'm Hope, have two tanks, and several other critters that live with me. My nickname is Kit, hence the user name of kitszoo. I started off with one of my coworkers giving me a bunch of his old equipment including a really nice 55g oak stand. Which still isn't set up, I've yet to be able to get a 55g fish tank home as it won't fit in my car and my friend that lives near me with a truck ... well, let's just say that we've had many many scheduling conflicts :D

The second tank is 28g (wierd, huh?) and it is up and running with 4 leopard danios in it. The danios aren't my interest, they were just cute while I figure out what kind of cichlids I want in that small of a tank. It has a crushed coral substrate and decent filtration, though I might pump that up some. I used to have so much water flow through there that the danios kept doing end-overs. :D I'm thinking of getting some julidochromas reganis ... and maybe some labidochromis cer.... who am I kidding, I can't spell regular words ... yellow labs ;) The tank is sitting at 8.0ph and is ready for occupation.

I've not decided on what to do with the 55g (once I finally get it set up), but I'm thinking some shell dwellers at a minimum.

The rest of the zoo consists of a beagle, 4 cats, and a parakeet. And we all live happily together in a 700 sq/ft apartment :P

ETA: Almost forgot someone! On my desk at work is a small 1.5 gallon tank with Joe. Joe is a pink & blue Betta :D

=^..^=

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to our fishy family!!:D

[chucks_cutie]

Hi, my name is Ashley and I'm a begginer. I have a 55 gal. tank with a variety of fish in it. 6-8" Jack D., one 3" green terror that I've raised from a little 1/2" thing, two convicts that are about 1/2", a white ciclid thats about an 1", two Parrot fish, one red and one green, I'm picking up a Blueberry Parrot tommorow thats suppost to be a large one, one ciclid that I'm not sure what its called. It's blue with two dark blue stripes running horizantle with its body and it had yellow spots on its fin and it had bred with my green terror. I also have two bala sharks and two angus cats and two pecos. I had two Clown Loches but my Jack made a meal out of them after a week of living with me. There a lot of fun!!! I'm planning on getting a bigger tank as soon as space provides!

[tom]

Hi there, Ashley. Welcome!

[Animal]

Oooh look, not been this far down the board before, but never mind.... I'll get over the nausea in a minute..........
K, My name is Ivan, I been keeping trops for around 10 years before I got into Discus. I have 2 tanks, 1 50 uk gall, with 7 Discus filtered by fluval 4 prefilter and an Eheim ecco. I also have one smal trop community tank too.
with my discus I have one albine bristle nose, she is about 4 years old now, and a small group of various corrys.
In the small trop tank there is 2 congo, 3 bleeding heart, 2 neons (there where 7 - dunno where they went!), 3 Khulis, 1 serpe and a small bristle nose.
As soon as I can I wil have a fully planted discus tank like theone I used to have (picture) This tank suffered a huge pH crash over night and left me with 1 Discus out of the guys you can see. also the plec survived and the corys oh and the cardinals.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome, animal!:) what a shame about your tank crash...that was an awesome tank.

[giraffe hap]

Hello everyone:D .
I just happened across this post and thought I should introduce myself to all the members here. My name is Brian and as my user name implies, my favorite fish is the Nimbochromis Venustus.
I am not so new to the hobby but compared to some I guess I might be since I have only been arm deep in fish poo for two years now.
My interests outside of cichlids are quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, programming, and electric engineering but for now I am a material's engineering/chemistry student at the University of Minnesota.
As for tanks:

75-gallon:
Filstar XP3
Emperor 400
Powerhead

1M/1F N. Venustus
2M/1F A. Stuartgranti "flametail"
1M A. Swallowtail
1M/2F C. Borleyi “Red Fin Kadango”
1M D. Compressiceps
1M/2? C. moorii
1M P. taeniolatus
1M A. Latifasciata
1M A. Compressiceps “Orange Face” F0
Synodontis multipunctatus

40 Gallon:
Filstar XP1

5 juvenile Dafodils
1M P. Phenochilus (a victim of those pesty blue dolphins)

[Animal]

Yeah, was quite upsetting that. The wild blue you can see was a few " short of 8"! Never mind we live and learn.

[cjbots]

Hello, my name is Christopher, living here in Connecticut. I am married for a year and a half, I have a three month old baby boy, I work for a well known restuarant as a server/ Food and Beverage Assistant, looking to be a full time F&B. I just joined this group maybe last week. My brother in law (cichlid_fan) introduced me to this group, its the best one yet, I have a few going at yahoo, but dont care for them so I am going to cancel them.
Im my 55 gallon tank I have the following:
(1) Albino Zebra male
(2) Tilapia buttikoferi
(1) Red Zebra (holding) :)
(2) Texas Cichlid
(1) Red Fin


No clue on the sex of the other fish
Nice to meet all of you!!!!!!!!

[Cichlid_Fan]

Well I did this before, but it was in the wrong forum and my tank has change a bit since then so here goes...

Some of you have seen me post it, my name is Matt, I'm 32 and I live in Bridgeport, CT with my wife of just over a yr. I am a shop foreman at a local lumber yard in West Haven, CT.

All glass 75g:
1-Sciaenochromis ahli (http://www.cichlidgallery.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Cichlid_Fan&id=Image002_001) (this has been depated, but I believe it to be true)AKA Maleri Island White Blaze
1-Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus
2-Labidochromis caeruleus(yellow lab)
1-Tilapia buttikoferi(W.Af. river cichlid)
1-Aequidens portalegrensis(port acara)(S.Am.)
3-Aulonocara hansbaenschi(red shoulder peacock)
2-Iodotrophues sprengerae(rusty)
1-Pseudotropheus estherae(red zebra)
1-Melanochromis auratus

All glass 10g-to be moved to a 30g
2-Heros severum(green)
1-Heros severum(gold)
1-Pseudopimelodus bufonis(giant bumblebee cat)

There has been a bit of a depate with ths correct naming of the Sciaenochromis. If anyone can help, there is a link to my fish on the name. It seems the Sciaenochromis freyeri and Sciaenochromis ahli are the same fish.

Matt

[ticman]

Hi I am Mike. I too live in CT and am, unfortunately, older than dirt. Married 37 years with married daughters and 2 granddaughters.

I have had fish since some time during the last millenium but have just become interested in South American dwarf cichlids that I can introduce into my community tank--54gal all glass corner tank. Have a great LFS nearby but mainly for Africans and not many dwarfs.

Find this forum to be fun and certainly informative.

Happy holidays to all.

Mike

[tom]

A belated but nevertheless from the chest welcome to Giraffe Hap, and to the three Nutmeggers: cjbots, Cichlid Fan, and ticman.

Good to have you folks on board.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome aboard, guys!:D tom, what the heck are "nutmeggers"?

[tom]

Connecticutters :xmas4:

[SGypsyMermaid]

they grow nutmeg in connecticut?:confused:

[tom]

Blame/Credit the Connecticut Yankees, "nutmeg" pirates
:xmas3:

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by SGypsyMermaid
tom, what the heck are "nutmeggers"?

YA!!:mad:




:wink:

[Tony Jenkins]

My name is Tony. I live in Dallas, Texas. I am a professional breeder of african cichlids. My favorite are frontosas.I currently have several types in stock, i.e zambian blues, mpimbwe, ranging in sizes (1"- 3"). I also have some young sunshine baenschi and golden blue berry peacocks. I raise aulonocara lwandas which are very striking. (I can't seem to keep these in stock)
If you would like to view these captivating cichlids, please go to www.tonystropical.com and let me know what you think.
I have many 10 gals. for starting fry, many 29 gals., several 55 gals., 20's, 125gals., and 30gals..I am a biologist by profession and have bred every cichlid there is. I started when I was about 8 yrs. old and began breeding bettas, tetras, gouramis, barbs and a vast array of tropicals, including non-tropicals such as goldfish and kois.

[ticman]

Connecticut is the nutmeg state because of the following and the fact that nutmeg trees existed in the state. CT is also the Constitution State.
Nutmeg, the powder used for seasoning foods, is ground from the seed of the fruit of the Nutmeg Tree, Myristica fragans. A couple of stories exist as to the origin of this nickname. One story has it that this nickname came about as a comment on the ingenuity and shrewdness of the citizens of the state. In a story, perhaps originated by Sam Slick, it is claimed that the people of Connecticut were so ingenious and shrewd that they were able to make and sell "wooden" nutmegs to unsuspecting buyers. A variation on this story maintains that purchasers did not know that the seed must be ground to obtain the spice and may have accused yankee peddlars, unfairly, of selling worthless "wooden" nutmegs. It may be that these wooden nutmegs were whittled by idle sailors on ships coming from the spice island and sold as souvenirs.

Now tell me isn't that more information than u ever wanted to know?? LOL

Mike

[cjbots]

thank you mike, I was just about to tell them also!!!! LOL

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by ticman
Connecticut is the nutmeg state because of the following and the fact that nutmeg trees existed in the state. CT is also the Constitution State.
Nutmeg, the powder used for seasoning foods, is ground from the seed of the fruit of the Nutmeg Tree, Myristica fragans. A couple of stories exist as to the origin of this nickname. One story has it that this nickname came about as a comment on the ingenuity and shrewdness of the citizens of the state. In a story, perhaps originated by Sam Slick, it is claimed that the people of Connecticut were so ingenious and shrewd that they were able to make and sell "wooden" nutmegs to unsuspecting buyers. A variation on this story maintains that purchasers did not know that the seed must be ground to obtain the spice and may have accused yankee peddlars, unfairly, of selling worthless "wooden" nutmegs. It may be that these wooden nutmegs were whittled by idle sailors on ships coming from the spice island and sold as souvenirs.

Now tell me isn't that more information than u ever wanted to know?? LOL

Mike

Did you sleep at a Holiday Inn last night or what?!!

LOL

Matt

[supafreak]

hi all!
i'm also turning into a fish freak. I started with a 55g tank filled with mostly mbuna. socoofi, cobalt, red zebra, bumble bees, electric yellow, and one sad lonely front
Next i aquired a 10g that houses my kribs, and some south american severons (sp)
Turned out that the socolofi and the red zebra really like each other, so in return we had to get a tank set up for fry. We set up a 40 g tank and it has about 45 little buggers
about a month ago we set up a 130 g, and it has 5 calvus in there, and eventually, i'd like to get a few fronts in there.
for christmas this year, my husband got me another 55g tank, and we are toying with the idea of setting up a tropheus tank.
And a little about me....i'm 24, and have been married for almost 3 years. I have a 1 1/2 year old little girl, and a brittany spaniel, and a lutino love bird that was rescued from my back yard from some nasty crows. I work for the association for community living, that is devoted to keeping the developmentally challenged in the communtiy, and out of institutions.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the world of cichlid mania!!:xmas3:

[ChrissyMariko]

Hello, my name is Chrissy (I know, tough to figure out, right?) and I've really appreciated everyone's help since I've joined.

I've had fish tanks since I can remember but they were mostly filled with 12 cent feeder fish. My mom was pretty frugal.

Currently:

29g
1 F Yellow Lab (Lulu)
7 fry of half yellow lab, half mystery orgin
3 mystery Rainbow fish
2 Danios (started w/6, 2 left)
1 Rubber mouth catfish (Stinky)
Lots of rockwork and some live plants

I tried to put a Pleco in there but Lulu ate him. I'm now in search of a larger Pleco. All the fry are quite small so there is plenty of room....for now.

15g
4 feeder fish, 2 of them are 6 years old :) The other two were used to re-break in the 29g...I was too much of a weenie to flush them.

I'm 21. I'm very easy-going. I ride motoX (nothing fancy, I have a 125), I'm absolutely obsessed with automobiles ( I'm one step away from building my VW Corrado its own shrine, even though I spend WAY too much time trying to keep it running), gardening, needlework, pottery, beadwork, shoe shopping (200+ pairs and growing!), and book collecting.

I also have a 140lbs Rottweiler, Milo, and my boyfriend's "show" cat, Ashen (she cost more than my dog!).

I live with my boyfriend his mentally ill mother who we care for. Its a lot for our little duplex, not to mention our little income, to handle. However, like most of you here, I have grand plans for bigger and better tanks. One day...

I hope you've all enjoyed your class in Chrissy 101. I look forward to everyone's helpful advice in the future.

[Cichlid_Fan]

Originally posted by ChrissyMariko
I hope you've all enjoyed your class in Chrissy 101. I look forward to everyone's helpful advice in the future.

Hey, that's humor! I recognize that!

Welcome aboard!!

Matt

[dwarfcat]

I have a 10g tank with a dovii, red belly pacu and 2 plecos. LOL I live in a dorm room what can i do. My roomy has a 35 gallon with 3 convicts, 2 yellow african, sunshine cichlid, firemouth, Jack Demps and a huge pleco.

[Cichlid_Fan]

Welcome to the site.

Matt

[Solace]

Well after posting on the forum a few times I guess it's time I introduce myself.

My name is Dan I am 36 years old... well will be on January 30th, I live in the western mountains of North Carolina. If you have ever seen the movies Dirty Dancing, The Last of the Mohicans, Firestarter you have basically seen my back yard. Since I was a young boy I have always had a facination with fish. My parents built my childhood home near a fantastic creek/stream. I grew up running up and down that stream trapping minnows/crayfish or anything else I could chase down. To this day I sadly fault myself for my younger brothers distaste for the natural outdoors. I literally forced him to accompany me on my many adventures. I can't tell you how many times my mom spanked me because I brought a snake,bug,spider,turtle,frog ahhh man you name it I brought it into the house or she found my pockets stuffed with earth worms. I can remember being turned over to dad for that special 'spankin' when I had stocked the bath tubs with minnows/turtles from the creek.

Later on my dad built a 20x40 foot in ground 4-9 foot deep swimming pool in the back yard.. as you can probably guess I tossed as many fish into this pool as possible. Eventually my parents gave up essentially leaving me with a 35,000+ gallon aquarium. To this day that pool is its own working pond every spring the top of the water is covered in bream, bass, crappie, catfish fry. Before my grandmother died I would take her behind the house and let her fish in the pool (she always loved to fish). These are some of my fondest memories of my grandmother sitting out on the patio furniture fishing in the pool with my grandmother. The Clampits ain't got nuttin on meee. :D

Oh man I guess I have rambled on a little too much. Time to shorten it up a bit.

25+ years of practical fishkeeping learning as I went along voraciously reading every book I could get my hands on. Making pretty much every mistake known to man along the way as well. Took 3 years of Latin it was my plan to become an Ichthyologist but fast cars and women put a stop to that. :rolleyes:

Have had as many as 60 aquariums going at one time. Was a local breeder of many of the tank busters. (Oscars, Jags, Discus, Severum, Chocolates, Jacks, Angels...) Sold to individuals as well as pet stores in the area. (Before the time of the dreaded super shops i.e. Petsmart)

I was for the most part out of the hobby with only a single tank here and there for a few years but am now back in it in a slightly adjusted manner. Wife would kill me if I had 60+ tanks like before. :(

Currently:

200 Gallon
90 Gallon
10 Gallon X 4
29 Gallon X 2
2.5 Gallon X 2

Various other water containers.

Fish I currently have range from Discus, Severum, Apisto's, Julidochromis, Yo-Yo's, Rainbow Sharks, getting fairly addicted to the corys at the moment, Neon's, various barbs.

Will be getting a breeding colony of N. Mutltifasciatus at a gathering at Bernie's in TN on the 31st.

Guess I better stop now, I tend to ramble.

Wife is already getting 'antsy' she knows I am fixing to get back into the hobby/addiction full swing.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the forums, solace!:D

[red64toy]

Hi, my name is Chase and I thought that I would introduce myself. I am a full time student up at Humboldt State University and my major is marine biology. My main passion is my toyota land cruiser but my second favorite hobbie is my fish Sam. He is a texas cichlid and I have had him for over two years and he is about 6-7inches. He lives in a 20gal. tank by himself. I have already posted a lot of questions and I have many more. I hope I don't drive you guys crazy.:D

[SGypsyMermaid]

always room for one more, chase...welcome!!:dance:

[socolofimatchmaker]

I have a 25 gal. tank with 5 socolofi and 2 labs.(elecctric yellow) I am looking a upgrading to another 20 gal for the labs or possibly a 55 gal. for the socolofi

[SGypsyMermaid]

go for the 55!!:sygypsy:

[barramundi]

Well I've been pestering the guys & gals on the American board, so figure I should officially introduce myself. My names Justin, as you can tell by my sign on I love Barramundi, also known as Nile Perch. I have a pair in a 1000L pool out the back called Boof & Baz. I am 30yrs old, live in Western Australia, work for our local water company. Had my first fishtank at 5 & have been mad keen all my life about fish. Did Marine Biology at Uni but ran out of money so couldn't finish the degree. Am gradually working my hobby to the point of paying for itself, then hope to move into aquaculture full time & breeding ornamentals of all kinds. Thankfully I have a very understanding wife!:)
I currently have the pond outside, with Australian natives, the two Barra, Black Bream, a Silver Pearch, and a multitude of little fish, Australian Pygmy Perch etc, mostly all for food.
Moved into Cichlids Christmas last year with a small colony of 6 Firemouths. Aim to be my first step, get them breeding, then trade the fry, to facilitate a tank for say, Jaguars. And so on. My ultimate is a colony of Zambian Frontosa.... :rolleyes:mmmmm, one day. For now learning as quickly as I can, reading everything I can, & bugging hell outta the folks in the American rooms. Am building a big shed in the backyard that'll be my fish room, and my first major step in being the local fish guy!:)
My fav fish of all times was a Barra I'd also named Boof. (Named after the way they strike their prey.) I'd trained him to take fish out of my hands. Was such a character. But when he reached 12" had to trade him in as couldn't afford a bigger tank, and felt was too cruel to keep him in the 250L tank he was in.
Basically I am a fish nut. Love all types. I've been told by many people I'm a nice guy. I try not to offend anyone, & basically not cause hassle. Don't always succeed, but they say it's the thought that counts.:wink: Am really impressed by the quality of the information given and level of expertise available on these boards. Am honoured that people would share that info with me.

[SGypsyMermaid]

hello and welcome!:D

[usafschue]

Hello,
I'm Tony, I'm 21 years in July, and I work for the USAF as a Russian Linguist. I have gotten a late start in the aquarist hobby, but I have studied and read more about fish in the last year than I have anything else at one time in my life. I am truly mesmerized by the chaotic serenity it can present at times. I purchased my first cichlids about 8 months ago (jewels) and I am stunned by their grace and intelligence, and by their ferocity as well. I really like this forum already (I usually don't average 10 posts a day at any forum) and I hope through this and much more study that I can become an accomplished cichlid aquarist, as I have adopted them as my favorite fish :) I want to say thank you all already for the help, and that I plan to be part of this great forum for a long time to come.

[Solace]

usafschue,

Russian Linguist? Impressive :) sounds like your off to a great start. Boy this hobby is addictive in every sense of the word. I have been involved in the hobby for quite a few years yet still learn something new all the time.

/salute

Edit:

Btw Nice shirt... u a metal head 2? :rofl:

[usafschue]

Why h@ll yes I am as a mtter of fact, what do you listen to?

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by usafschue
Hello,
I'm Tony, I'm 21 years in July, and I work for the USAF as a Russian Linguist. I have gotten a late start in the aquarist hobby, but I have studied and read more about fish in the last year than I have anything else at one time in my life. I am truly mesmerized by the chaotic serenity it can present at times. I purchased my first cichlids about 8 months ago (jewels) and I am stunned by their grace and intelligence, and by their ferocity as well. I really like this forum already (I usually don't average 10 posts a day at any forum) and I hope through this and much more study that I can become an accomplished cichlid aquarist, as I have adopted them as my favorite fish :) I want to say thank you all already for the help, and that I plan to be part of this great forum for a long time to come.

thanks and welcome!:D

[usafschue]

thank ya Sgypsy :D

[crazyfishlady]

Well, I figured I'd finally introduce myself... My name is Jill. I'm 29. My first job is water changes, my second job is elementary art specialist. (I teach art to grades 1 - 4. Brats! :) )
Well, I first started my fish problem with bettas. I got the nickname crazy fish lady from a friend over 5 betta bowls! Ha!
(BTW I like to picture the crazy cat lady from The Simpsons throwing fish at people instead of cats)
Anyhoo, the bettas have gone but the asylum has grown to contain the following.
10 gallon - brackish - 1 puffer, & 1 molly
20 gallon - tanganyikan - colony of L. Ocellatus
30 gal - coldwater - 3 orandas & 6 white clouds
30 gal - hospital - salvini w/ HITH
39 gal - community - 3 boseman rainbows, 1 dwarf ram, 3 honeycomb tatias, 2 kribs, 7 panda cories
55 gal - community - 1 african butterfly, 1 blood parrot, 4 LF rosy barbs, 4 sm clown loaches, 2 hill stream loaches, 2 angelfish
125 gal - neotropical cichlid community - choc, nicaraguense, severums, geo surnamesis, pleco, sm blood parrot.

Planning my next tank. Really really really think I want a Mbu Puffer. (dreamy sigh)

Whew! Props to anyone who read all that!
Jill aka crazyfishlady

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by crazyfishlady
My first job is water changes...

:rofl:

[LadyMirage]

Okay for the 3rd time now. This computer is a pain. HI i'm Angel I'm 21 and live in Florida. The story I want to tell is about my Albino Tiger Oscar named Sushi. He's had a rather tough life I guess it started about 15 months ago when my now ex decided he wanted a fish tank. He got a 15gl, treated the water with only chlorine drops, and put about 12 fish in to it including a 3inch Sushi. He feed them all the same thing Tropical Fish Flakes never tested or treated the water, never changed the water and put metal objects in the water that started to rust and turn the tank a reddish brown color. Now I knew nothing about fish and he said he did so I let him do as he wished. Then the pump broke and he decided to use a straw and blow into it while stiring the water and he said that was the same and just fine for the fish. Well it wasn't long and all the fish but sushi died and sushi wasn't far off he was laying on the bottom of the tank on his side gasping. When my ex and I split about 3 months later (not because of Sushi) the conditions of the tank and the fish had not improved I believe that in the time up till then he had only grown about 1 inch. I knew something was wrong just like I had been knowing and I didn't have the heart to feed the then unnamed fish to the cat. So I went to a well respected pet store and asked them they were amazed the oscar was still alive. I got a new pump and set it up cleaned every thing in the tank down to the gravel and removed all the metal objects. I did 50% water changes for the next 3-5 days till Sushi began to swim around and eat. Within 1 and a half months I knew he was going to out grow his tank at the rate he was going so I got a 55 gl tank. When I set it up and put him in it the next day he went straight to the bottom under the gravel and layed their, I couldn't see any of him. The first thing I thought was I just spent $300 on this fish and he's going to commit fishicide(suicide) I don't think so I hated touching fish at the time but I put my arm in the water and moved him not the best to do I believe I should of used a net but I paniced. Well he layed on his side on the bottom for about 12 hours or so after that and then he started swimming in his new home and eating. Well that was about a year ago and now Sushi is about 10-11 inches long. And as far as I can tell healthy as can be. I never thought he would live to get as big as he is now. And I've grown quite attached to him I never thought I would get attached to a fish but one of the highlights of my day is feeding him and watching he seems so happy. Even though he has killed all but 1 fish I have put in their I believe he ate 10 of the 12 i've put in the tank. Well I think I've taken up enough of your time. If you have any questions or comments feel free to share them with me.

[Vip]

My name is Damian i live in melbourne australia, im 24 years of age and i have degree's in real estate, computer operations and market sales..but im a forklift driver, why? because i love it! no point on doing a job if you dont like it i say. my g/f brought me a figh bowl a little over a year with a blackmore and a blue siamese fighting fish in it, i used to think they were the toughest fish out there! well the bowl moved onto a 1ft tank with the fish, then i added two pink kissing fish, then it moved onto a 4ft tank (mind you this is all in our bedroom) all those fish went in it with some mollies, then i noticed this fish called a blue ram so i brought 4, all dead! so i brought some acaras and read up on them and i new word was introduced to me it was "Cichlids" it then blew out to another 4ft then a 6ft two 2ft's and one 3ft, i now have over 300 fish and breed rare ones down here, most of them are cichlids but my pride and joy are my oscars.............oh and my girl who opend my mind so much :)

[SGypsyMermaid]

ladymirage and 2quik4u, welcome to the forums!!

[CichlidSane83]

Hi, My name is Erma. I'm 21 and I live in Florida. I have been showing and breeding bettas for 6 years. I have only kept cichlids for 2. I have a passion for keeping south and central american cichlids. I just recently started my african tank. I have 15 tanks as of right now. All up and running. I find the boards really informative and the advice very helpful. Although I dont post alot doesnt mean I'm not reading!:cool:

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome cichlidsane...glad to know you're out there lurking!:D btw--i love your sig! sounds like me talking.

[CichlidSane83]

Thank you SGypsyMermaid:)
Lurking:rofl: Never thought of it that way! I feel like some sort of
Internet Fish Stalker! :oops: I swear I'll post more:wink:

[SGypsyMermaid]

"lurking" is actually the term for reading a forum/message board/chat room but not posting.:D

[CichlidSane83]

I'm so glad thats what it means!:D I knew that:oops: lol

[kimkat]

Well, hi!

I've been lurking around, too, for a couple of weeks now! I just discovered cichlids about 2 months ago, when I got my first tank, a 46g bf. I'm in love (and dh thinks I've gone over the edge!)! My pets are: 3 red zebras (one king of the tank), 3 yellow labs, 3 rusties, 3 electric blues (mixing haps with mbunas -- not smart?), and 2 clown loaches. A 40 whisper and a 280 emp for filters. Not enough rocks and hiding places; my alpha fish is making several others overly neurotic and I'm worried about them.... (am I overstocked?)

I'm 41, 2 kids, 1 parakeet, 1 kat, 1 dh, I love music, I am a research psychologist, and already have an overwhelming urge to get another tank.... :)

Kim

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by kimkat
My pets are: 3 red zebras (one king of the tank), 3 yellow labs, 3 rusties, 3 electric blues (mixing haps with mbunas -- not smart?), and 2 clown loaches. A 40 whisper and a 280 emp for filters. Not enough rocks and hiding places; my alpha fish is making several others overly neurotic and I'm worried about them.... (am I overstocked?)

...already have an overwhelming urge to get another tank.... :)

Kim

welcome , kim!:) sounds like you already have cichlidiot status. your particular mix of mbuna and haps might work since you don't have any of the really aggressive mbuna. you should be fine as long as none of your red zebras turn out to be homicidal maniacs. get some more rock work.

[Ding]

Hello, My turn....Yes I'm a "LURKER" too & kinda bashful :nervous: Trust me you guys would want me this way :rofl: anyway.....My name is "Ding" I'm 41 and live in Vancouver Wa. New to the "Cichlid" world, I have a 49 g ( I think) starting out with 2 Gold & 2 Green Severums, 2 Firemouths , such personality! My Husband and I are already thinking about a larger tank! (with what we have I'm sure were overstocked) I also have: 2 dogs a Pug & Greyhoung, 3 Birds, 3 Cats...heck shhmaybe we need a bigger house! :eek:

[SGypsyMermaid]

hello, ding! nice to hear from you lurkers!:D

[salty]

hello, my name is matt. I am 28 years old, and am happily .unmarried with 0 kids. I work at a bicycle shop part time,as well as an Italian resturant at night. I currently have a 65 gallon high african/convict setup. I also have a 20 gallon long tank that is not up an running but I would like it to be. I started with the big boys like jack dempseys, an jaguars, but quickly realized that they needed more space than a 65 g. so i sold them and started over with smaller species. One day I will have a nice jaguar cichlid tank set up because they are my favorite,but due to space requirements an $$$, I think that will be a while.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the forums!:)

[Oscarbaby06]

Hi everyone! I'm new here. I'm also new at fish too and hope i can learn even more at this forum. My name is Vicky and im 15. Im from massachusetts and I love Oscars. I had one but my jack dempsey beat him to death and I was real dissapointed. I hope to get another Oscar and a Pleco today.
My other Hobbies:
I love to horse back ride. I love horses. I also go to a Miniature horse farm and drive miniature horses in carts around the city ( which is funny considering i live in a city) I also love dogs. I have a Black Lab and we do agility. I Basically just like all animal We have many at my house. Is anyone else on this forum my age or around my age? I'm glad to be part of this. I have learned something already from coming here! Great Job on this forum!
I also do Scottish Dancing. I love to dance and I compete and I have one many firsts as well as seconds and thirds. My dad has a forum like this too! Its a Celtic Radio Station. (he has his own 35 gallon fish tank too!) If any of you would like to learn more about your heritage if your irish/scottish. And would like to listen to some relaxing music then go to www.CelticRadio.net!
and remember...
~Fish are friends...Not food!!! lol

*This place is awesome!:dance:

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome oscarbaby! get in touch with redparrotbubbles--he's in your age group.:D

[Oscarbaby06]

Thanks for the Warm Welcome SGypsyMermaid. I'll try to get in touch with her.

Happy fish!

~Vicky

[Idealconcepts]

Hello everybodies, my name is Ryan, I am 26yrs old, live Sacramento CA, I work for the electric company as a Market Researcher and bought a home June 2003 with my girlfriend (we just finished 90% of the landscaping in the backyard this weekend – by ourselves). Currently myself, my girlfriend, her 11year old son, 4 fish tanks, and Gabby the cat (aka Gremlin, aka Monkeybutt) live in the house, which is already getting too small so we are planning to move to a larger home (+2,600sqft) in about 2.5 years. I am currently a fishaholic, and I was previously a caraholic but my care kept getting vandalized (I have a 2000 Integra Type R) and more recently a Home Theateraholic, but it is very expensive so I have wait to pay off the credit cards before I can buy more Home Theater Toys. I first started out with a 20gal tank my friend gave me about 3 years ago. I did not know there was so much chemistry involved with tanks (i.e. ammonia, nitrate, nitrate, ph, etc) so I dump about 10 fish in there and they survived for a while and one or two would die every few months. When we moved to the house the fish did great for about a month or two until I changed the water out and they all died within 4 hours. Then back in October of 2003 my aunt and uncle gave me their 135gal tank and since it was a new larger tank I got hooked again and I think it has gotten worse.

My current tanks;

Fry Tank - 1x10gal bare tank with 5 baby convicts who parents are in the larger American Cichlid tank

Quarantine Tank - 1x20gal bare tank with 4 clown loaches that will be moved into the larger American Cichlid tank

African Cichlid Tank - 1x135gal Pool Filter Sand substrate, with Vengeance Creek Stones, 1 250watt Ebo J heater, 2 Rena XP3’s
Now the fish
1 Rubbernose Pelco 4in
2 Chinese Algae eaters 3in each
1 Striped Rafael Catfish 4in
9 Yellow Labs 1.5 in to 2in
6 Kenyi (5F&1M) 1in to 2in
6 Red Zebras
6 Cobalt Zebras
(and looking to add the 5 baby convicts when they get larger)

American Cichlids Tank - 1x300gal tank converted from saltwater to freshwater (bought it from a restaurant that went out of business – got everything except the salt water fish), pebble river rock for substrate (180lbs for only $7.00), lace rock from my uncles 135gal and from the restaurant, 2 medium pieces of driftwood from LFS and two very large pieces of drift wood from See Ranch (just about San Fran), sump with two 1100gph pumps and one 300watt Hydro heater (the pumps do most of the heating for the water).
Now the fish
1 Australian Arowana 4 inch (Aggressive as He**)
1 Silver Arowana 5 inch (killed by the Australian Aro about 4 weeks ago)
1Common Pelco 6in
2 Clown Loaches 2.5 inch (the four from the 20gal will join them in the next couple weeks)
8 Silver Dollars 2.5in to 3in diameter
2 mating pair of Convicts 2.5in
2 Firemouths 2in
2 Green Terrors 2.5in
2 Texas Cichlids 3.5in
2 Jack D. 1.5in and 3in

I really want the American Cichlids to grow as large as they can in the tank with out being over crowded. I also like seeing a lot of fish in this size tank, but since all the fish are so small, it looks like there is so much open water. Should I add a few more fish to the American tank or should I just keep what I have in there now that way the fish will have more room to swim and grow? If yes, what are some suggested fish I can add to the tank and approximately how many?

I look forward to learning and sharing from this forum and hopefully keeping my fish safe from me.
:D

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the forums, idealconcepts. i don't suppose you'd let me have your 300 gal? just figured i'd ask.:wink:

[Idealconcepts]

Thanks for the welcome SGypsyMermaid, I will let you have the 300gal if you trade it for a 600gal, as well as helping me convince my girlfriend that the larger tank will fit in the livingroom.

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by Idealconcepts
Thanks for the welcome SGypsyMermaid, I will let you have the 300gal if you trade it for a 600gal, as well as helping me convince my girlfriend that the larger tank will fit in the livingroom.

good comeback!:D

[highplainsdrifter]

Casual aquaintances believe me to be an extremely gifted bs artist. They refuse to believe that someone of my general character would know the scientific names of every fish in an aquarium labeled only with "mixed africans." I'm a walking contradiction; I drifted here from another fish forum that recently crashed...this is now the only one that I visit. Age 24,I love all things of nature, but am an avid cichlidaholic, a struggling one at that because I'm currently only running a 55. Things of priority to me include (other than studying cichlids),friends and family, martial art, partying, learning, thinking, movies, reggae (too which I am listening now) and maintaining my "high" spirited philosophy. I play the didgeridoo occasionally and also paint houses. Recently re-aquired my license after not having it for 16 months, so you could say I'm "back in the game" (hello ladies!) For those of you who took the time to read this, here's to you! :drink: You'll encounter me here frequently. :smoke2:

[highplainsdrifter]

I suppose the contents of my tank deserve mentioning...! A jewel, chipokae and auratus (the three kings) preside over a group of texas-convict hybrids, which I refer to as "los caballitos." Not an impressive mix by mosts' standards, but they are what I have so I enjoy them, and continue to learn form them.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the bunch...you've already fit yourself in nicely!:wink:

[Fiddlehead]

Hey guys. My name is Cindy, and I am 24. I live in Toronto Canada. Like highplainsdrifter I also a m into the martial arts. My favorite thing to do is play with and train my 3 German Shepards. I also love music , reading, and anything science ficton related. I am pretty new to fishkeeping.I moved in with my boyfriend and his fish a couple years ago and only then realized how cool fishys are. They actually have personalities.As for tanks contents we have a 20 gal. with 1 angel, 2 rino plecos, and a couple neons.
The 60 gal is quite barren now with only one huge 10 inch common pleco, because the red devil we had passed on only a couple weeks ago. So now were getting that tank ready for a new fish, or fishes.
The end

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome cindy! african cichlids are the way to go. stay away from the dark side(american cichlids)! :twisted:

[skiitswitch]

Just noticed this thread... So yeah, I'm Walt - going to grad school in Colorado in Civil Engineering as an excuse to ski. I'm trying to get sponsored as a freestyle skier, we'll see if that works out... but I'm originally from Chicago and still work there in the summer. I started keeping cics of my own when I broke my arm off skiing (it's back now with a bunch of titanium) and was bored. Can't wait to be back in Chicago this summer and have access to decent Cichlids (all of the lfs's around here do marine tanks and not much else...) yeah... I got nothing...

[jonah]

I'm surprised there isn't more up there. Colorado's got a pretty active cichlid club, Rocky Mountain Cichlid Association. They're hosting the ACA this Summer.

[skiitswitch]

yeah - I just checked them out - they're down on the south side of denver, about 45 minutes away, but I'm going to contact them and see where the good stuff is - thanks jonah

[RedParrotBubbles85]

HI my name is michael and i am form NY (on long island) I am 14 years old and i am kind of a fish obsessor and i like to act on impulses (especially with fish so when i see a pretty one i buy it and thats why my tank is so overpopulated). i am in the 9th grade and i first got into cichlids when i got a 20 gallon tank where i put angels and parrots in it along with non-cichlid species and them when i got my 55 i bought all of the fish i could find(which was a really stupid thing of me to do)

[SGypsyMermaid]

it wasn't stupid, michael...just a mistake that many of us made when starting out.:wink: and some of us still do it!:oops:

[jonah]

I don't do it anymore, but I can certainly remember doing stuff like that when I got started. There's just too many cool cichlids out there to say no to all of them.

[RedParrotBubbles85]

yup i see it and i buy it but im kinda over that and now i gotta seperate them so they will have adequate room

[dawnmar707]

HI. I'm Dawn don't have anything so exciting to say as others, but I am new here. I just got my first tank up and running last weekend and I have my first 3 fish ever. Had to get cichlids due to my parents fish that I love so much. Not really sure of what my cichlids are as I am new. So far this forum has really helped me in my beginning stages and I look forward to getting to know you all..

[skiitswitch]

Welcome and nice start with a 75! you should pm tom for a gallery and then we could check out your new tank!

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to the forums!:D

[Jason_S]

Just noticed this thread. I've been registered for a little while now. These are my tanks:

--10 gallon:

currently empty. usually holds live crayfish used to feed puffers

--20 gallon tall:

1 pr. Thorichthys sp. 'Mixteco Blue' male ~2.5"/female ~1.5"

--20 gallon tall:

several juvie albino bristlenose
convict fry

--20 gallon long:

8 juvie Theraps wesseli ~2-2.5" ea.

--29 gallon:

Arrowhead puffer (Tetraodon suvatti) ~4"

--29 gallon:

Arrowhead puffer ~4"

--29 gallon:

Congo puffer (Tetraodon miurus) ~3"

75 gallon:

8 Cryptoheros sp. 'Honduran Red Point' ~2-3" ea.
14 Thorichthys helleri ~1-2.5" ea.
2 L124 Para plecos ~5"/~2"
1 L106 spotted orange seam pleco ~4"
1 Male bristlenose pleco ~4"

125 gallon:

1 pr. Red terrors (true A. festae) male 6"/female 4.5"
1 pr. Convicts male ~4"/female ~3"
1 male Convict ~3.5"
1 Red devil ~3.5"
1 spotted Raphael catfish ~2.5"
1 Male bristlenose ~3.5"
1 Royal pleco ~4"
1 Channa gachua ~3"

150 gallon:

4 Thorichthys sp. 'Mixteco Gold' ~2-2.5"
4 Astatheros robertsoni ~2-2.5"
1 Astatheros robertsoni ~4.5"
1 Thorichthys maculipinnis female ~3.5"
2 Geophagus brasiliensis ~2"
2 Vieja synspilum ~2.5-3"
2 Botia striata ~3"
1 L93 blue finned thresher pleco ~5"
1 L151 Venezuelan flathead pleco ~3.5"
4 albino bristlenose pleco ~2"

The stock of some of these tanks, primarily the larger 3, will be slimmed down as the fish get larger and pairs form, etc.

Jason :D

[SGypsyMermaid]

woooo hoooo...another bonafide fish nut!:)

[Jason_S]

woooo hoooo...another bonafide fish nut!

Yeah, you could say that :D. My goal is to someday accompany Rusty Wessel on a collecting trip. Incidentally, this is not too far off as I've met him on more than one occasion, toured his fish house and briefly spoke with him about going on a collecting trip :D.

Jason

[bigdaddy]

Hi all I am new here and thought I would say hay to everyone.
I am into African Chchlids(mostly Malawians)I have way to many fish to list so I will just list my tanks.

1-180
1-125
1-75
1-72
30-50's
2-40's
5-35's
1-29
2-20's
8-10's

Current project: building my fishroom.

Looks like a cool forum, see ya all on the board

Bigdaddy

[skiitswitch]

wow bigdaddy!! that's quite a few tanks! Do you own a store??

[SGypsyMermaid]

hey bigdaddy, welcome to the forums. is that thirty 50 gallon tanks or a typo?:jaw:

[bigdaddy]

Thanks, skiitswitch & SGypsyMermaid

No, I don't own A store and that is not a typo.:)

Just a little bit of a fish nut. :nervous:

Also, wanted to say this seems like a friendly place, I am glad I came across it and look forward to sharing knowledge.:cool:

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by bigdaddy
Thanks, skiitswitch & SGypsyMermaid

No, I don't own A store and that is not a typo.:)

Just a little bit of a fish nut. :nervous:

Also, wanted to say this seems like a friendly place, I am glad I came across it and look forward to sharing knowledge.:cool:

so, can me and my fish move in with you?:sygypsy:

[bigdaddy]

Originally posted by SGypsyMermaid
so, can me and my fish move in with you?:sygypsy:

I have a buddy that wants to desperatly bring some of his fish over cause he is way over stocked. I owe it to him because he has helped me so much in buliding my fishroom.

I have all the tanks running currently except for the 50's they will be the first ones running in the fishroom when it is done and then most everything else will get moved in there.

It will be nice the room is heated instead of the tanks and all the tanks are run off a blower, they will get fresh water daily from a drip system and automaticly drain through bulkheads.

[SGypsyMermaid]

sounds like a dream!:D

[Kolorfinz]

Aloha from Hawaii! My husband is currently stationed here at Pearl Harbor. My hometown is Washington State.

I WISH i could have more tanks but due to moving around...mmm...I'm going to wait till we retire and settle in our own house before I build my fish room :D

Currently i have a 55 gallon Acrylic Split Tube style tank with 2 Geo Brasilienses and 2 Blue Dempsys.
an indoor goldfish pond the GF are celestial eye
2 Bettas: Standard VT and a ST Blue Butterfly
glass vase with live plants and 4 neons
outdoor pond with guppies who make live food for my cichlids.
Been keeping fish for about 15 years not counting the tanks my mom had off and on when I was growing up.

As far as other pets I have 2 Jack Russell Terriers(one of them we got in Guam and was born in Austrailia so hes already been around the world in his short 5 years of life) and a Siamese cat which we adopted when we got here.

No kids yet but working on that soon ;)

[SGypsyMermaid]

aloha and welcome, kolorfinz!:dance:

[highplainsdrifter]

Welcome, and aloha:smoke2:

[superrob750]

Hey everyone..

Right now i have 1 55 gallon tank w/ 2 doviis in it that are 2"s.
The tank used to house a pair of oscars that have since passed on. Now in the process of locating a larger tank...

Living in Grand Rapids MI..

I work as a courier for DHL.. Spare time is spent on the water either boat or jet ski..

[tom]

Hi, superrob750


Welcome aboard!

[flutterby]

hello there
I'm fairly new to Cichlids.. i chose Malawi............just started my first tank about 2 months ago. I'm doing a male display tank to start with, I want to see which are my favorites.
I have a 150L , 3' tank.....my fish so far...........sorry,I only use common names
kingsizei (was our favorite fish, lost him about 10 days ago due to whitespot, all other fish recovered)
cobalt
mpunga
4x electric yellows
taiwan reef
hongi
aurora
mara rock
one other little guy i call tanzania cause i cant say its name, but its from that region
am loving my new hobby :)

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome!:)

[muffinwitch]

Well I am new here too, and just stumbledd upon this thread! And btw you guys have been awsome!
I had an african tank about 6 years ago and about 1 1/2 a ago me and my boyfriend got a 2 55 gallon tanks and a stand for free. That was the begining of the addiction! We now have 6 tanks going, and 2 turtle tanks. And for those of you who don't know we just had our first batch of fry spit out this week!
I had 3 dogs and a cat coming into the relationship and we just got another cat and a puppy. He's a st. bernard mix and our pride and joy! I'm a dog groomer here in ohio and lover of all things furry and aquatic!

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome to you, too!:dance:

[MRP]

Hi, I have been checking out this site for about two weeks now, and I like it. My name is Tom, I am 28 married w/ no kids. But have two dogs. I am from MI. I am currently trying to start my own custom upholstery bussiness. In my free time I like to worship Satan, and sacrifice chickens to the Dovii gods(j/k:lol: ) I am in a band called MRP hence the name. I would tell you what it means but I am not out to offend anyone here. I have just got back into the tropical fish hobby over the last year. And yes I am deffinately an addict. I only had one tank a year ago and this is what happened. I satarted out with the normal 60gal and two oscars and when I remembered I like big mean fish, and alot of research later.

1- 60 gal 2 juvie festae, and juvie orange pike cichlid
1- 85 gal 2 crenicichla johanna, and 1 wild female dovii
1- 85 gal 1 giant male cren. johanna wild, one flowerhorn, and one (what I thought was a uro cichlid) trimac:oops:
1- 190 gal 2 male dovii, 1 female F-1 dovii from Jeff Rapps, 1 red devil, 1 dovii jaguar hybrid, and 1 venezuelan pike cichlid

As soon as I get some time to do some ordering I will be getting at least one more 190, and deffinately something in the 330+ gal range

BTW I got the hybrids just to see what the adults would look like:wink: I don't really like hybrids

[Seedy]

Welcome MRP....if you think new world cichs are adictive...try Rift Lake Cichlids!!.....

Welcome! :ok:

[Matt V]

Originally posted by Seedy
Welcome MRP....if you think new world cichs are adictive...try Rift Lake Cichlids!!.....

Welcome! :ok:

Yeeeeess.....

Get Africans.... Join us.

:twisted:

[MRP]

I am actually thinking about getting rid of my pikes and getting a trio of bleekeri(sp.?) My brother keeps africans, and until a few months ago I had 6 frontosas. But I really like CA cichs:twisted:

[Chewy]

I am an electrician in the IBEW (Internastional Brotherhodd of Electrical Workers) Local Union 43. From South Otselic, transplanted by way of Syracuse to SHerburne New york where I am married with a two year old fish fiend Kayleigh. I graduated from Syracuse University in 2003 (a shade under a decade....the're called doctors or tommie boy [I like the tommie boy angle better]) I have been a fish fiend for about 5 years. started with some oscars and graduated them to a 55g tank after about four months. I have been reading everybook I can possibly get my hands on (not much selection in Central New York) and have been trying to swing up to seven aquariums as inexpensively as possible. Currently five are running and they are:

55g standard some peacocks and an exasperatus (i think)

44 corner mount pentagon (2 small fronts; two juvie duboisis; two leleupi's, two haplochromis (?) "super vc-10", an albino african frog (with claws), and a chinese algae eater

55 slate bottom old school tank all new world cichlids devil, oscar, dempsey, blackbelt

15 and an extrahigh 30 to be used for future stuff.

In my field of work I travel around Central New York quite a bit so I have a pretty good idea as to what is a good fish store and what is just a standard fish store. Around here they range from cichlid heaven type stores, to one that only carries angel fish as their "cichlid" slection. So if you are looking for a fish store or would like to give some info on one, please dopn't hesitate to send some info my way. (selection is good; very very very good)

[recycling goddess]

Hi All,

I'm the Publisher and Editor of Timeless Spirit Magazine. I'm also a homeschooling mom to 2 of my 3 kids (since my eldest graduated in the spring).

My hubby and I are fish crazzzzy. We currently have 4 tanks in the living room and 2 more in my eldest daughter's room. 3 of the tanks have a crayfish in them and they are also the smaller tanks.

Our larger tanks (90 and 77 gallon) are freshwater community tanks. Our desire is to have as many varied, unique fish in our tanks as possible while keeping everything peaceful at the same time. So far we've achieved this.

We have flower shrimp which are amazing to watch - as their fingers constantly clean the water. But our main love is loaches and plecos. We have alot of rainbow fish and cories with a small variety of gouramis and cichlids as well.

We also have 4 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 2 cats and a dog.

I've been posting for a few weeks now and hope to continue.

[SGypsyMermaid]

WELCOME!!:D :dance:

[skiitswitch]

Wow RG - sounds like you almost have a zoo!! :D welcome to the forums :dance: :xmas3:

[SuperDave9x19]

I am 38, married 10 years with 2 kids, 9 and 6. I am a Sr. Design Engineer who makes protective equipment and similar. I contribute to much on the Shuttle Space Suit...

Although I was an aquariast around 1971ish to 1981ish, High School, college, moving and a new career put fishkeeping on hold. In Late 1999 I got a 55 gallon tank at Wal Mart. Began anew with a fairly crowded community tank, where the Paradise Fish were the stars.

Eventually I got this thing called a Kribensis (P. pulcher) and had my first cichlid-spawn schooling experience. It was short lived, as my tank was, to be blunt, crowded.

Soon I tried to migrate to West African Cichlids, and had a wonderful 2-3 years with Jewel Cichlids spawning on a quarterly basis. They did a good job of clearing out my tank of other fish, and I began to emphasize oddball catfish. It was an excellent period in my tank's history.

To alleviate the open sp[ace, I foolishly bought a group of 6 young "Green Terrors" under the assumption that 4 would be eliminated and a pair would survive.

Well, my PetSmart misIdentified, and I was not too keen (who is) on IDing 1-1.5" young. They were Jack Dempseys.

I was dissapointed then, and I messed up by adding more fish. They were an oddball I always wanted. Nicaraguan cichlids... And I got a young adult m/f buy that turned out to be pairing.

Clearly I was overstocking, so I pawned off a few Jewels to LFS, and a pair of Jacks to a co-worker.

Now, I have 1 pr Nics who are currently courting, a pair of Dempseys that are subordinate to the Nics, and a single Jewel that will not be intimidated. Supporing these fish are 6 giant Danios, 2 Spotted Raphaels a Striped Raphael, 3 plecos and a B anjo cat. I need to thin out the cats.

Additionally, I have a 5" goldfish named "Fishy" which should be called Rocky as it is the sole survivor of a bag of 20 feeder goldfish a few months ago. He wasn't the biggest. He was simply the smartest (hmm, that is not Rocky-esque) and toughest.

I also have a 2-3" painted Turtle that I rescued. It is clearly the star of my tank (remember, I have kids. They all like the turtle and goldfish best cause they have cool stories) and a right clever little fellow. He sleeps on a little suction cup toothbrush holder under my lamps.

Lately the Nic Cichlids have been playing "Turtle Volleyball" when he creeps around their nest region. It's neat watching them bat him away while the turtle pulls in head and feet as the cichlids clear him out.

[rowley02]

Im steve im 15 yo and a high school student and i live in Australia.

Im also fish crazy. Im more into the american cichlids than the africans. I have 4 tanks, 240 gallon with 2 cichla monoculus and 2 plecos, a 55 g with a ZZ flowerhorn, a 90 g with a oscar, pleco, bala sharks, tinfoils and silver dollars and an another 55 g that i use for a growout tank.

I also have a passion for soccer and later this year im off to england for 4 weeks to try my luck at getting signed up for a club.

I also love fishing with my dad and hope to catch a mangrove jack one day to keep in a tank. im not sure if you americans have heard of this fish:confused:

My other pets include 2 dogs, a galah, cockateil and a rainbow lorikeet.

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome, steve!:D

[skiitswitch]

welcome guys!

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by SuperDave9x19
Lately the Nic Cichlids have been playing "Turtle Volleyball" when he creeps around their nest region. It's neat watching them bat him away while the turtle pulls in head and feet as the cichlids clear him out.

what an image!!:rofl2: :rofl: :rofl2:

[SuperDave9x19]

Tried unsuccessfully to photograpoh the V-Ball game. It happens often enough that I WILL GET IT.

[Cheesehead]

Hello everyone,

My name is Steve, I'm 21 and I live in south central Wisconsin, USA.

Currently have a 29 gallon housing 3 Electric Yellow Labs.