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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 22:05:46 GMT -5
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Post by murdock6701 on Feb 26, 2009 22:17:48 GMT -5
read read read!!!!!choosing fish for color and beauty doesn't do any good if you don't spend a lot of time reading TONS of stuff about them - we are not going to chose them for you, that's your fun, but what isn't fun is when they die, od do the other fish in your tank because somebody killed one.....I know you're anxious to get started, but it's your respobsibilty as a keeper to know what's best to ensure their compatability and survival - don't mean to harp on the reading thing but can't stress it enough - take your time - they can live 9 years if you do things the right and sensible way
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Post by brenda on Feb 26, 2009 22:36:46 GMT -5
Are you looking to put these with your other fish or would this be a tank for them only. Tangs "tend" to be quite aggressive. Of course that is not always the case as it also deopends on the individuals personality. I wouldn't mix tangs with your other fish if you are going to do a tang only tank it may work with just those 3. I wouldn't do any pairs and then try to add more tangs because in a tank that size they will kill each other. One tang you could look at also is a alto. calvus or compressicep. They are not teritorial and are pretty mild and I think absolutely beautiful. Give some more info and we can add more help.
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Post by brenda on Feb 26, 2009 22:42:16 GMT -5
Oh also, tnags prefer very hard water and I would recommend a Ph of at least 7.8 which is on the very low end. I have VERY soft water and have to add buffers and use wondershells in order to get my water correct.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 22:51:49 GMT -5
thanks murdock this is going to be a project for the rest of the next 2 or 3 months im definately going to read up on whatever i do end up choosing.
brenda i am going to just get another 10 gallon tank and split my 6 cory cats up and put 3 in the guppy tank and 3 in the new tank with the dojo.
so it will be a cichlid only tank after i get all the essentials for the terrain.
my water is pretty much perfect for the tangs according to jonv.
ill look into those others you just mentioned.
thanks alot everyone
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 22:57:43 GMT -5
this is my stable water conditions
gh = 180 kh =240 ph= 8.5 no2=0 no3=20
amonia is at 0
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Post by bikeguy33 on Feb 26, 2009 22:59:32 GMT -5
you recieved some great advice...especially from our new admin....lol. wish there were more i could add.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 23:00:00 GMT -5
im reading up on tangy's and malawi's im going to do either 1 or the other.
everyones told me so far that with my 28 gallon tank i can only get 1 species of malawi so if i can get more species of the tangy's im more leaning towards the tangy's. im still sticking with my original 3 choices.
so if all 3 can go together that would be great. but if not ill have to narrow it down to just 1 of those 3.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Feb 26, 2009 23:03:48 GMT -5
many tangs canbe a lil more challenging to keep....but they are beautiful....
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Post by brenda on Feb 26, 2009 23:06:56 GMT -5
Africans are tough to tell what will work...Sometimes you just have to try it. You could possibly do more then 1 species of malawi but you would have to do something like a male only tank. You "may" be able to do something like 1 yellow lab, 1 rusty, and 1 acei. They are all pretty mellow....The biggest problem comes in when you add females. If you want females and males of either malawi or tanganyika I would only do 1 species. Which may be the better way to go as you get to see there cool behavior. I would definitely keep reading all you can about the fish you like to see if they may mix. Of the tangs you listed I have only kept the lelupi and they were pretty aggressive.
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Post by brenda on Feb 26, 2009 23:09:11 GMT -5
Your parameters look pretty good...Your Gh is the 1 thing I would say should be a touch higher for africans.
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Post by brenda on Feb 26, 2009 23:11:44 GMT -5
Also, get some rock and stack it around to build caves...either species you go with will like this and they need it to be able to get away. Here is a pic of my tank to give you an idea...I have fish from all 3 lakes but researched intensely to find a mix that would work. I also had to trade in quite a few, as I would try them and they were to aggressive so on to the next fish. You don't have to add plants but I like the look but they also give more places to hide and get away.
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Post by murdock6701 on Feb 26, 2009 23:17:32 GMT -5
not to overwhelm you w/ information here, you've gotten a ton of good material from a lot of people on both postings but I would say that for startes, w/ the size tank you have to start off small and easy and learn from there as you go - I took Jonv's advice and went w/ the yellow labs which I really love - they are hardy and not very aggressive and are beautiful and easy to care for - your pH is ideal - get a tank of 3 males w/ some dither fish and plenty of rocky caves and see how it goes - Brenda and Jonv also mentioned tangs - I cannot speak from experience as I mentioned I too am a beginner at cichlids although many years back I kept red tiger oscars - stick w/ the relatively inexpensive easy to care for fish first and learn from them - that experience alone should help you decide whether or not you want to move up to something else - the others are experienced keepers and you should heed their advice - start slow and work your way up would be my advice
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 23:31:28 GMT -5
thanks alot brenda i will start building the caves and put pictures up as it goes. and keep you updated on how things go. murdock yes it is alot of material and i appreciate everything and i might still stick with the labs since i already have the dither fish. or i may go with the electric blues if i end up gettin a second ten gallon tank for my corys. so once again thank you guys and i will keep you updated on how things go and with what fish i decide to buy for the tanks and keep the information coming! *its helping alot!*
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Post by jonv on Feb 26, 2009 23:47:03 GMT -5
Africans are tough to tell what will work...Sometimes you just have to try it. You could possibly do more then 1 species of malawi but you would have to do something like a male only tank. You "may" be able to do something like 1 yellow lab, 1 rusty, and 1 acei. They are all pretty mellow....The biggest problem comes in when you add females. If you want females and males of either malawi or tanganyika I would only do 1 species. Which may be the better way to go as you get to see there cool behavior. I would definitely keep reading all you can about the fish you like to see if they may mix. Of the tangs you listed I have only kept the lelupi and they were pretty aggressive. That's exactly what I would have said. Sorry have to be on and off again, one of those nights. Looking at the three you are interested in for Tang's, the first one is a big no no. Fronts need at least a 55. They grow slow, almost like a Clown Loach, but best not to jump into that until you are 100% certain you can upgrade. The other two, I'd go with the yellow myself, starting out. Take one species, 1 male 2-3 females and just leave it at that. Be patient, observe alot, keep the water good, and you should be well on your way.
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Post by jonv on Feb 26, 2009 23:50:01 GMT -5
That's not to say you can't do Malawi Mbuna either. You could, but just seeing your water is close to ideal for Tangyangikans and not many do keep them, I just see an opportunity here is all. I would also like to mention again, Shell Dwellers look very promising for you.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 23:56:32 GMT -5
thanks again jonv. im really debating here on all aspects. and is it a huge no no to put 1 male malawi with 1 male tang. or possibly 2 male malawi with 2 male tangs?
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Post by jonv on Feb 27, 2009 0:46:14 GMT -5
Male mixing in general is not really a good thing in my opinion. This is the one aspect of Africans you need to keep an eye on. Males do not generally tolerate other males very well, but there are exceptions as well. To know what males might work out, it's a species by species basis really. The general idea I usually convey is don't mix types that would A: Have the same colors and looks, and B: Dwell in the same areas.
Mbuna and many Vics and Tangs are usually in the substrate area, but Haps and Peacocks tend to dwell higher in the tank and avoid interaction. However, the dimensions on your tank isn't very deep too. You would want to use a milder substrate type in this case to prevent possible aggression. This is where the yellow lab or Acei role would come in. But still if you're going to go that far, you could just as easily stick with that yellow Tang and be just as fine.
Consider as well, the Yellow Belly Alberts I just picked up. Size wise, they work well in a smaller tank, and males are bi-colored and have a nice appearence. The size they tend to grow to works good in the dimensions you have.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 1:58:49 GMT -5
im thinking maybe 1 or 2 yellow lab males and 1 acei male you think thatd be enough tank space?
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 2:03:06 GMT -5
i think thats it. 1 yellow lab and 1 acei they have different diets but that shouldnt be too much of a challenge to feed them both just feed the lab first and then the acie some algae wafers or put some wood in there and let it build up algae.
researched that the acei will stay mainly in the upper half of the tank and the lab will stay in the lower half of the tank.
only concern with this is if the acie is going to be too big to have tank mates. he gets 7 inches and the labs are only 4 inches.
i was thinking 2 labs and 1 acei would be just about right and have lots of rocks and possibly a driftwood for the acie.
any one correct me if this is imposible they both seem to be passive as far as cichlids go so im sure they would get along.
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