Wow, that’s high praise! I will say, I essentially learned everything about how to do this from reading posts on this forum.
The experiment continues!
210 gallon Frontosa build
- Thread starter Caperguy99
- Start date
The experiment continues!
The tank has been stocked for four months now and all seems to be going well. Homer, the tank boss, seems to be around 3.5 inches at this point - and the smallest is around 2 inches. Is it normal for the small ones to grow so slow? It seems like the biggest fish are far larger than the two smallest.
In terms of feeding, I give them Northfin and Hikari pellets most of the time, and mix it up with some frozen krill or brine shrimp. No problem getting them to eat anything. For the last few weeks, once a week I’ve been finely slicing up a tiny piece of raw, uncooked, peeled market shrimp and dropping them in. They stuff their mouths with it and retreat back to their caves - it’s pretty fun. Does anyone else try mussels or anything?
Behavior wise, they seem to get along. Homer puffs out at some of the next-largest, and sometimes I come down in the morning to some frayed fins, but they all heal right away. One thing I did notice periodically is “flashing” - it seems like some of them do it once in a while. It isn’t a repeated behavior, and it’s not the same fish each time - so could it just be scratching an itch?
Another question - does anyone have any idea how old baby c. gibberosa are when they ship out? I should have asked Alison when I ordered them, but didn’t think to - but I’d like to have an idea of approximately how old they are overall.
Overall, I’m loving the rank and the fish. Prepping for some FX-6 maintenance before the holidays - but not expecting much - they are still small, after all.
Some new pics:
In terms of feeding, I give them Northfin and Hikari pellets most of the time, and mix it up with some frozen krill or brine shrimp. No problem getting them to eat anything. For the last few weeks, once a week I’ve been finely slicing up a tiny piece of raw, uncooked, peeled market shrimp and dropping them in. They stuff their mouths with it and retreat back to their caves - it’s pretty fun. Does anyone else try mussels or anything?
Behavior wise, they seem to get along. Homer puffs out at some of the next-largest, and sometimes I come down in the morning to some frayed fins, but they all heal right away. One thing I did notice periodically is “flashing” - it seems like some of them do it once in a while. It isn’t a repeated behavior, and it’s not the same fish each time - so could it just be scratching an itch?
Another question - does anyone have any idea how old baby c. gibberosa are when they ship out? I should have asked Alison when I ordered them, but didn’t think to - but I’d like to have an idea of approximately how old they are overall.
Overall, I’m loving the rank and the fish. Prepping for some FX-6 maintenance before the holidays - but not expecting much - they are still small, after all.
Some new pics:
The tank looks great. It is definitely normal for Gibberosa to grow at different rates. What I have found is typically the quicker they grow the more likely they are males. When I was breeding and growing out juveniles to sell I would notice that trend.
As far as how old the babies are I would say likely 6-8 months to get to around a inch and a half. I would raise up the fry in a 40 breeder as free swimmers until they would consistently eat and then I would put them in a 75 gallon.
I have always kept it simple for food, a staple pellet, frozen krill, frozen Mysis, and market shrimp. I'm sure however they will eat any clean and fresh seafood.
Flashing is something I would see after doing water changes from time to time. However if you keep your parameters consistent and keep nitrates below 20 ppm you should be fine.
As far as how old the babies are I would say likely 6-8 months to get to around a inch and a half. I would raise up the fry in a 40 breeder as free swimmers until they would consistently eat and then I would put them in a 75 gallon.
I have always kept it simple for food, a staple pellet, frozen krill, frozen Mysis, and market shrimp. I'm sure however they will eat any clean and fresh seafood.
Flashing is something I would see after doing water changes from time to time. However if you keep your parameters consistent and keep nitrates below 20 ppm you should be fine.
Thanks for the information - very useful. And yes, in terms of the flashing you are correct - I only see it a little bit after water changes.
Homer, my biggest fish, suddenly developed what looks like a pimple on his top lip. Having never kept cichlids at all before, I’m probably paying too much attention to it - but can somebody let me know if this is just a flesh wound from a little tussling, or is this something I should be at all concerned about?
Do you see a behavioral change? Is the fish behaving normal, eating, swimming, and social with the other fish?
I have had fish with torn fins and cloudy eyes. The best thing to do is to monitor and have great water. If you are worried or if the fish is not behaving normal I would do some salt.
I have had fish with torn fins and cloudy eyes. The best thing to do is to monitor and have great water. If you are worried or if the fish is not behaving normal I would do some salt.
Check and post your current water parameters plz mate.
It is very possible it is a wound from lip locking or even from sand sifting given the location.
I agree w B Bwirtz regarding clean water and I would definitely add salt at 1tbsp/5gal to reduce bacterial load and decrease the risk for further infection. I would keep the salt at that concentration for 7-10 days, replacing w any water changes you perform, and then let it dilute out with regular water changes after that 10 day period is over. If the sore bursts you could catch Homer and put a dab of betadine or methylene blue in the wound, but tbh the salt and clean water should be enough at this stage
It is very possible it is a wound from lip locking or even from sand sifting given the location.
I agree w B Bwirtz regarding clean water and I would definitely add salt at 1tbsp/5gal to reduce bacterial load and decrease the risk for further infection. I would keep the salt at that concentration for 7-10 days, replacing w any water changes you perform, and then let it dilute out with regular water changes after that 10 day period is over. If the sore bursts you could catch Homer and put a dab of betadine or methylene blue in the wound, but tbh the salt and clean water should be enough at this stage
danotaylor
B
Bwirtz
Thanks for the feedback, gents. I think we can chalk it up to a worried new fish keeper.
I checked the levels in between holiday visits and everything seemed fine. When I went down today to consider adding some salt, I noticed that the wound is far less noticeable - seems to be disappearing on its own. Maybe a little scrape from lop locking - but at the moment seems to be doing fine.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both!
Back again for another installment - I hope everyone is having a great 2025 so far.
A quick behavioral question for those who have tread before where I now dare: my smallest fish, which has always sort of been the runt of the bunch, seems to have gotten more lethargic and nervous. He moved from hide to hide, and I’ve noticed that the last few days he isn’t coming out front to eat or to go for pellets or shrimp.
I’ve tried feeding from opposite ends of the tank at the same time, to no avail. Even though the rowdier larger fish are on the other side, he still doesn’t really venture out to eat. I feel like it’s been a few feedings now where I haven’t seen him get anything, and I feel like I’m starting to way over feed to try and ensure he gets a piece.
I don’t see a whole lot of chasing or bullying going on, but the small fish definitely hangs out in the corner or tucked away somewhere most of the time. Also, this fish definitely has not kept up with the others in terms of growth - while the other 5 have all grown at least an inch, this little guy has grown some finnage, but hasn’t put on a whole lot of size at all.
Is this normal for the runt of the group? Will he eventually come out and eat, or will he waste away without more significant intervention?
No signs of torn fins, and no real extensive bullying that targets him specifically as far as I can tell. Thanks in advance!
A quick behavioral question for those who have tread before where I now dare: my smallest fish, which has always sort of been the runt of the bunch, seems to have gotten more lethargic and nervous. He moved from hide to hide, and I’ve noticed that the last few days he isn’t coming out front to eat or to go for pellets or shrimp.
I’ve tried feeding from opposite ends of the tank at the same time, to no avail. Even though the rowdier larger fish are on the other side, he still doesn’t really venture out to eat. I feel like it’s been a few feedings now where I haven’t seen him get anything, and I feel like I’m starting to way over feed to try and ensure he gets a piece.
I don’t see a whole lot of chasing or bullying going on, but the small fish definitely hangs out in the corner or tucked away somewhere most of the time. Also, this fish definitely has not kept up with the others in terms of growth - while the other 5 have all grown at least an inch, this little guy has grown some finnage, but hasn’t put on a whole lot of size at all.
Is this normal for the runt of the group? Will he eventually come out and eat, or will he waste away without more significant intervention?
No signs of torn fins, and no real extensive bullying that targets him specifically as far as I can tell. Thanks in advance!
How much does he eat, for example within a week? Does he/she readily eat food that falls right in front of her or very nearby? I've always seen a big difference in growth rates of Moba within groups where the males eat alot every feeding (everyday) and some females eat as little as 2 or 3 times per week.
