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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 22, 2008 17:44:59 GMT -5
There are home and in the tank – ordered 4, one arrived dead…..2” long including tail, am figuring 3-5 months old from the coloration – so far so good – one has a weird back where it meets the tail, kind of a deep bend – I would call it a deformity – will call the pet lady tomorrow and let her know – they are gorgeous! Am thinking 2 males, 1 female – they keep changing colors – no real signs of aggression since I let them out of the bag – they weren’t very happy in there…..did a 45 minute drip – have to go out and haul another load of wood – hard not to watch them – more later and possibly some pics!
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Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2008 18:00:40 GMT -5
CONGRATS John!  I know you are going to love them!  Sorry that had one DOA  Carl |
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Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 22, 2008 18:20:24 GMT -5
WOOHOO.....there be a new cichlid keeper. enjoy my friend....gonna be so much more fun than live bearers....lil fish big personality
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Post by brenda on Oct 22, 2008 18:58:05 GMT -5
Congrats John!!! Can't wait for pics.
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Post by demfish on Oct 22, 2008 19:04:07 GMT -5
 Sorry to hear they lost one tho.. Picture would be great! |
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 22, 2008 20:01:58 GMT -5
must apologize for the quality of the pics - do not know all the ins and outs of daughter's camera plus they moved everytime the flash went off! without the flash they came out too light - took 20 pics - here's the best 3...    the 3rd one is definitely camers shy - found a cave and is happy there |
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Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2008 20:18:14 GMT -5
I think your picture taking is quite good John!
Nice fish of coarse too, sort of a Gold/Blue Ram.
Carl
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Post by brenda on Oct 22, 2008 20:26:43 GMT -5
They look awesome...Goodluck with them!!!
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 22, 2008 21:52:08 GMT -5
this is almost where they're at - not my pic but shows how mine look in the light - they seem to change colors right before your eyes! and I quit drinking12 days ago!  |
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Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2008 22:01:05 GMT -5
Thanks my friend for the laugh ;D
I almost fell off my chair with this line.
Carl
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 22, 2008 22:14:34 GMT -5
seriously! do they change colors to blend in when they're young, or even older? or is it just their reflection in the light - I know very little and I don't have the DT's either!
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Post by jonv on Oct 22, 2008 22:24:27 GMT -5
Looks good John and I think they'll enjoy the set up you have there. On the color changes, I wouldn't suspect a major color shift like you would see in dimorphic Africans, but you probably would see the colors heighten especially as they reach sexual maturity. I really don't know a terrible lot about South American types, but as a general idea in cichlids, (8 or Bill please correct me if I'm wrong) you see color shifts near breeding times, stress, and as they reach sexual maturity. Water quality I'm sure plays a strong role here as well.
Consider also John, these are new in the tank today I believe right? They are still adjusting and as Bill pointed out on messanger today, stress can even take a few days to go away. You probably are seeing them setting into their comfort zone and as they reach more calmer states, an improvement on the colorations. After a couple weeks, if you still see this going on, I'd wonder.
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 22, 2008 22:44:20 GMT -5
thanks for the tips Jon - I'll keep my eyes open on this one - I have 2 5" plecos in there now for 2 more days and then down to one - they took over the best caves of course.....the rams don't seem edgy or territorial - I think they sent me 2 breeding pairs and one of the females dies - still too early for me to tell what they are - they all look the same for the most part
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Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 22, 2008 22:59:48 GMT -5
they are gorgeous lil critters. jon is right. their colors will change often in the next lil while....but they will stabilize when they get to know the god named john. enjoy them. the tank looks awesome....
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Post by demfish on Oct 23, 2008 9:19:41 GMT -5
Really  John |
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 23, 2008 10:55:43 GMT -5
ok - you guys started me on this so here comes the barrage of questions! am almost positive I have 2 males and a female ram - one is obviously the domonant male - the other remains in hiding most of the time - is this OK? will they eventually become buddies - still think they're too young to be exhibiting sexual dominance but maybe not - will #1 kill #2? is it still too early to tell? if things get bad, can I move #2 into a 20 w/ 1/2 a dozen platys?
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Post by jonv on Oct 23, 2008 11:59:28 GMT -5
Hard to say really this early if there's going to be a major issue or not. Sometimes you can get two males to occupy an area and get along, sometimes you can't. It's going to have to be something you need to just keep an eye on over time. In my case with the Flavus, they got along quite well at first, but as time went on, I picked up that one was not showing much color and staying off in the corner to himself. It's just something you have to keep an eye on.
With Rams, I'm not sure if you'd see a color difference or not, but I'd have to think if you see one of the two hiding off in a corner by itself, it might be a good time to do a re-home. I feel you wouldn't have any issues at all with putting one of those two in with Platties since the Ram would most likely stay near the bottom and your Platties much higher in the tank. Rams are probably one of the better community type options with fish that stay mid to upper levels in a tank.
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 23, 2008 12:08:54 GMT -5
noticed it this morning when I turned the lights on in the tank for the day - he was so still I had to look at him to see if he was breathing - he was fine, just hiding - the other 2 are pretty secretive but hang together - I really believe they sent me 2 mating pairs and one of the females died enroute - speaking of which, what is your game plan for the yellows? - keep in touch and thanks for your help!
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Post by jonv on Oct 23, 2008 15:14:58 GMT -5
Well I had to get the oil changed today and I had everything packed up because I was getting rid of that Albino Channel Catfish. He's been banging around in the tank late at night so either someone's been harassing him or he's telling me he's getting too big for the tank. Had him and the yellow's packed up ready to take care of everything, then I realized, I didn't have your address ha ha. Better just sent on Monday then John, I don't want to risk the weekend with these fall temps out. Not to worry I tell you, all 25 of the ones I have are looking super! I hope they breed back for you too. You should end up with some very high quality offspring out of this group.
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Post by goldenpuon on Oct 23, 2008 15:36:11 GMT -5
Wonderful pics! I swear when I grow up I fwill keep a lot of rams! lol I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe increasing hidng spots by putting in more plants and caves will help. That seems to help a lot with my fish. Also, is your fish acting ill in any other way and what are the water parameters?
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